4171

EXCEPTIONALLY FINE 7 1/2" CUSTER RANGE "ARTILLERY"

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:18,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
EXCEPTIONALLY FINE 7 1/2  CUSTER RANGE  ARTILLERY
REWORK REVOLVER, SERIAL #7438. Cal. 45 Colt. S# 7438. This first contract Ainsworth inspected U.S. Cavalry Colt was apparently refurbished at the Springfield Armory in the 1896-97 period, according to well known Colt Cavalry authority, David Lanara, as part of a group generally referred to as "Artillery's". Usually, their parts were mixed & their bbls. shortened to 5-1/2". Mr. Lanara states "that number 7438 has all matching numbers strongly suggests a special request by an individual, probably an officer, who wanted to keep the longer, 7-1/2" bbl". Interestingly, there are no patent dates and no "U.S." stamp on the frame, and no evidence that there ever have been. While this is rare, there are several known Cavalry & Artillery revolvers w/ missing patent dates & / or U.S. markings. On page 17 of John Kopec's & Sterling Fenn's "CAVALRY & ARTILLERY REVOLVERS", several Ainsworth inspected revolvers are listed w/ stamping mistakes, among them, "#7438, no U.S.". And again, on page 353 of "A STUDY OF THE SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER", the authors mention that revolver 7387 has neither patent dates nor U.S. markings, & this gun is only 51 numbers from 7438. These anomalies are attributed to workmen errors. As mentioned, all major parts of this gun carry matching serial numbers, including the bbl. & cylinder, and all are marked w/ the tiny "A" of Principal Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth, & the left grip carries his legible cartouche. Curiously, there must have been some thought during the rework process of installing two piece grips as there is a mounting hole in the trigger guard strap for a locating pin, but the original wooden grips are numbered to the gun. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: copy of John A. Kopec letter as well as copy of page 17 of Kopec's & Fenn's book. Also a copy of Mr. David Lanara's letter of authentication. CONDITION: approximately 90% of the 1896 rework blue & color case hardening remain, & as Mr. Lanara points out in his included letter of authentication, "the color observed on this Colt is consistent w/ that found on the Springfield Armory, refurbished Colts." The bore is bright, clean & sharp indicating little, if any, use, the action is tight & the grips are near excellent. The gun retains all the early features that make a four digit Cavalry model so appealing, e.g., the extremely small bolt notch lead-ins, the italicized bbl. address, the small bevels on the front of the chambers, the sharp front corner of the grip strap, the first model ejector housing, the flat mainspring w/ no roller groove, etc. Only the Springfield Armory finish has been added. This is a beautiful, pristine example of a Custer period, Ainsworth inspected U.S. Cavalry revolver made in 1874, & certainly a very rare variation of the Artillery model. (01-18685). ANTIQUE. $18,000-25,000.