Page 136 - 83-BOOK1

Exceptional As-Issued Civil War U.S. Contract Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver
LOT 1180
Magnificent and Rare Martially Inspected U.S. Contract Civil War Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver - Serial no. 35284, 44 percussion cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, cartouched walnut grips. This extraordinary U.S. contract Colt Model 1860 Army revolver was manufactured in 1862 and is the benchmark example for approximately 129,000 Model 1860’s purchased by the U.S. government as the primary handgun issued to the Federal cavalry from 1860-1863. This revolver
has an 8 inch barrel, rebated cylinder, three-screw frame with stock cuts, steel back-strap with shoulder stock notch and brass trigger guard. The barrel, cylinder and back strap have the Colt military blue finish. The loading lever, frame and hammer are casehardened with vivid case colors. The trigger and screws
are niter blue. The one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW- YORK U.S. AMERICA-” in a single line. “COLTS/PATENT” is stamped on the left side of the frame. The cylinder is roll-engraved with the Texas Navy battle scene, “ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843.” and “COLT’S PATENT No./PAT. SEPT 10th 1850”. The serial number, “35284” is stamped on the bottom of the barrel lug, frame, trigger guard and back strap. The cylinder is stamped with the partial serial number “3284” rather than “5284”; this is clearly a factory error as the condition of the cylinder matches the rest of the revolver perfectly. The Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the script initials “PB” within a rectangle with rounded ends is stamped on the lower left side of the grip. The left side of the barrel lug is stamped with a “CC” Ordnance sub-inspection mark. Other Ordnance sub-inspection marks including “H”, “L” and “S” are stamped on the primary revolver components. The streamlined Colt Model 1860 Army replaced the Colt Dragoon and Model 1851 Navy revolvers as the standard cavalry handgun in 1860. For the premier reference and study on the Model 1860 see The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver By Mr. Charles W. Pate.
134
THIS OUTSTANDING, AS-ISSUED U.S. CONTRACT REVOLVER STILL SHOWS THE DELICATE, FEATHERED POLISH LINES AROUND THE FRONT SIGHT AND ON THE BACKSTRAP