This is a desirable example of a Colt 1860 Army revolver that has been factory fitted with a Richards conversion unit. These revolvers have a color casehardened frame, hammer, new Richards cylinder ring and loading gate. The trigger guard was silver plated, and the remaining parts have a high polish Colt blue finish. This rare example has the traditional British "Crown/V" or "Crown/GP" proofmarks over the chambers of the cylinder and on the underside of the barrel. This is a second model Richards conversion that is found in the correct documented serial number range between 170000-200000. This type of conversion was performed by the Colt factory by using a new cylinder, which was fitted with a new Richards conversion cylinder ring and loading gate with both being installed in front of the face of the recoil shield. The loading gate has a separate small flat external retention spring. The barrel was also modified with the installation of a new ejector housing and plunger on the left side to eject the spent cartridges. The plunger is fitted with the correct cross-hatched ejector head. The new Richards cylinder ring has the internal firing pin. The top of the barrel is roll marked with the one-line Colt factory markings: "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-". It is fitted with a nickel-silver front sight and a notch rear sight mounted on top of the new cylinder ring. The left side of the frame is stamped with only "COLTS PATENT". The cylinder is roll engraved with the Texas Navy scene and "COLT'S PATENT NO. (with no serial number)." The rear of the cylinder is stamped "22". It has matching serial numbers (198767) stamped on the frame, rear of the barrel lug, trigger guard and back strap, and "8767" is stamped on the cylinder pin. The loading gate is numbered "4160," and the wedge is unnumbered. The ejector housing was installed very tightly, so we couldn't remove it to check the barrel serial number. The revolver has the correct three-screw frame and is fitted with a one-piece varnished walnut grip.

Very fine condition overall. The frame, hammer, cylinder ring, and loading gate having 90% of their vivid case colors overall, fading somewhat on top of the cylinder ring. The trigger guard retains 30% of its silver plated finish mostly in the protected areas and on the front edge with a slightly dulled brass finish remaining overall. The back strap retains 85% plus of its blued finish overall with some light thinning and blue loss on the lower portion and along the edges next to the grips. The cylinder retains 60% of the original blue finish mostly on the rear rebated section with some thinning/fading blue on the battle scene and on the front edge. It has a distinct battle scene and clear sharp Colt factory markings. The barrel and ejector housing retain 50% plus of the bright original blue finish overall with the majority of the blue loss confined to the top center and rear sections of the barrel. The walnut grip retains 90% plus of the original varnish overall with some minor light flaking of the varnish on the lower left front edge and the bottom edges on both sides mixed with some minor light nicks and dings on both sides. A really nice, high condition early Colt 1860 Army Richards conversion revolver.