Page 52 - 83-BOOK1

From the Personal Collection of John Kopec
SERIAL NUMBER 176469
SERIAL NUMBER 176472
50
LOT 48
Documented Schuyler, Hartley & Graham Shipped Pair of Nickel Plated Closely Serialized Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolvers with Slim Jim Holsters, Factory Letters, and Kopec Letters -A) Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver - Serial no. 176469, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. These nickel plated Colt Model 1860 revolvers are only three serial numbers apart. The included factory letters include both of these revolvers as part of the same shipment of 50 on March 17, 1877 to Schuyler, Hartley and Graham of New York. The included John Kopec letter indicates that this revolver, serial number 176469,
was purchased by Kopec on September 13, 1992, and the individual he purchased it from indicated that he acquired it from Sheriff Lloyd Low during the 1950s, who confiscated this revolver from an Indian on the Klamath Indian Reservation, near Chiliquin, Oregon during the late 1940s. A newspaper obituary for Lloyd Low, Sheriff of Klamath County, Oregon, is included that indicates he passed away at age 75 on October 9th,
1963 and states, “Lloyd Low first ran for sheriff in 1921 after an honorable
discharge Oct. 27, 1919, from the Army. He served in World War I as a
first sergeant overseas with the 302nd Division, Remount Squad Cavalry including the Army Occupation in Germany at the end of the war. He served in the sheriff’s office for 24 years, earning statewide recognition for courage, undaunted approach to difficult duty and earnest devotion to
his responsibilities. Mr. Low retired in 1948.” Although both of the factory letters mention these revolvers as being shipped with blue finish, Kopec states this revolver and the other one in this lot are factory nickel. Kopec states, “The cylinder of this revolver is nickel plated and has a mismatched serial number ‘169’. It is believed that this revolver was shipped originally from the factory with this mismatched cylinder. The revolver appears to
be totally correct except for the replaced barrel wedge and the brass tacks which had been added to both sides of the grips.”The book“The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver” by Charles Pate states on page 351, “Collector/ author John Kopec has two nickel-plated NMA revolvers marked with the ‘I.P.’, and again, those pistols have matching wood stocks rather than ones made with ivory. The screws on these revolvers appear to have originally
been blued. The author could not find inventory data on these two revolvers, SN 176469-I.P. and SN 176472-I.P., but both were in a shipment
of 50 ‘Army P&B’ (powder and ball) revolvers to Schuyler, Hartley & Graham on March 12, 1877. It is interesting to note that both the cylinders are mismatched... both match the pistols well in appearance.” It has a German silver blade front sight and “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA.-” marked on top of the barrel. Matching numbers on the barrel, frame, and triggerguard. Properly hand-written matching number “6469” in black ink in the rear mortise of the grip. Includes leather slim jim holster. CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% of the period Hartley & Graham retailer applied nickel plating with some areas of light flaking, and some dings on the barrel around the wedge. Crisp markings and cylinder scene. Grip is fair as tack decorated, with some tacks absent, finish wear, some hairline crack visible on the left, a repaired section on the bottom right front corner, some light scratches and minor chips. Mechanically fine. Included holster is very good with some mild age wear and cracking.