This Colt Richards "Conversion" Model 1860 Army revolver was manufactured in the 1870s. Only an estimated 9,000 of these revolvers were produced. This example's serial number falls in the separate "conversion" range, and all the visible serial numbers match. These "conversions" were actually produced by the Colt factory as cartridge revolvers utilizing remaining percussion parts along with newly manufactured parts. It is marked with the one line Hartford barrel address, standard 1871 and 1872 patent markings on the frame, naval battle cylinder scene, "211" on the loading gate, "44 CAL" on the left side of the trigger guard, and a smooth walnut grip. Charles Richards worked for Colt from 1855 to 1858 and then left to work on his own inventions. He invented the Richards steam engine indicator in 1860, in his day, this invention was considered the most significant improvement to the volatile and relatively dangerous steam engines of the day since the work of James Watt. The outbreak of the Civil War led him back to Colt where he rose to Superintendent of Engineering. After the war he developed this conversion, then worked with William Mason on the Richards-Mason design, the Colt Open Top, Colt Single Action Army, and the Model 1878 Frontier. Richards left Colt again a couple years later and continued his prestigious career including serving as the chair of the Mechanical Engineering Department at Yale and being awarded the rank Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France.

Fine. There is 40% of the original nickel plating remaining overall. The other surfaces are mostly bright with some patches of brown patina and light spotting. The markings including the cylinder scene are crisp. The grip is fine with half of the original varnish with moderate handling and edge wear. There are some small chips at the toe. The action functions fine. Few are found in this condition due to years of hard use on the frontier even well after the venerable Single Action Army became widespread.