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LOT 1208
Exceptional Henry Nettleton Inspected U.S. Cavalry Model Colt Single Action Army Revolver with John Kopec and Factory Letters - Serial no. 48225, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This highly desirable U.S. Colt Single Action Cavalry Model revolver was manufactured in 1878. This revolver is one of 3,000 Colt Single Action revolvers inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Henry Nettleton and Ordnance Inspector Captain John E. Greer. Colt Single Action revolvers that bear the “HN” sub- inspection mark of Henry Nettleton are some of the most collectible of all U.S. contract Single Action revolvers. The revolver has the Colt military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer, and loading gate have a color casehardened finish. The trigger and screws are niter blue, and the one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The ejector rod has the “bullseye” head found on U.S. contract Single Action revolvers below serial number 113,000. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”The underside of the barrel is stamped with a “P” proof mark and the “H.N.” sub-inspection mark. “C” and “G” are stamped on the barrel immediately behind the ejector housing stud. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt “three-date/three-line” patent markings. The patent markings are followed by the “U.S.” property mark; the property mark on this revolver is typical of Nettleton-inspected Single Action revolvers and does not have periods after the “U” and “S” and has the upset marks that indicate the property mark was stamped on a casehardened frame. The bottom of the frame is stamped with the “H.N.” sub-inspection mark above the serial number. “H.N.” sub-inspection marks are also present on the cylinder, the trigger guard, back strap and the right heel of the grip. The side of the cylinder is stamped with a small “P” proof mark, and the rear face is marked with a “P” and a “O”. An “S” inspection mark is visible in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number “5954.” The matching serial number is located on the barrel, cylinder bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The trigger guard has the later Colt triangular “VP” verified proof indicating later work at the factory. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date “1878” above the final inspection mark which consists of the script initials “JEG” with an oval border. The lower right side of the grip is stamped with the script sub-inspector initials “HN” in an oval. The included factory letter confirms the revolver was in .45 caliber with a blue finish when it was sold to the U.S. Government and delivered to the government inspector at the Colt plant on July 12, 1878, in a lot of 100 revolvers. The included John Kopec letter indicates the revolver’s serial number was not located within the National Archive records but falls between two examples issued to Company F of the 6th U.S. Cavalry “as of August 3, 1888.”