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Exceptional Martially Inspected Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver with Extremely Scarce Correct Shoulder Stock
LOT 3154
Desirable U.S. Martially Inspected Civil War Four Screw Frame Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver with Shoulder Stock - Serial no. 12484, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver was the primary handgun of the Union Army, especially
the Union Cavalry, during the Civil War and remained one of the primary U.S. martial sidearms until the adoption of the Colt Single Action Army in the
mid-1870s. Like Colt’s other percussion revolvers, they were well-regarded thanks to their reliability and consistent high quality. Nearly all of the U.S. contract Model 1860 Army revolvers show signs of hard use in the Civil
War and beyond, and this is especially true for revolvers from earlier in production like this one given they were rushed into service and issued
to Union cavalrymen eager for arms early in the war. However, this revolver retains significant original finish
and is also a rare government inspected “four-screw” variation complete with a correct shoulder stock. It was manufactured in 1861 under contract with the U.S. government. While most of the Model 1860 Army revolvers manufactured during the Civil War were purchased by the government for the Union war effort, comparably few with the “four-screw frame” (actually five screws) were purchased. The additional projecting screws between the trigger and the hammer screw help secure the shoulder stock, but later Model 1860s did away with the extra screws and simply used the notches in the recoil shield and heel for mounting. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-.” The left side of the frame has
the “COLTS/PATENT” marking. The cylinder has the standard Naval Battle of Campeche roll-scene and “COLT’S PATENT” marking. Matching serial numbers are marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The grip is properly numbered with “2484” in black ink in the back strap mortise. The wedge and arbor pin have been renumbered to match, and the cylinder is serial number “13358”. Small “A” and/or “T” sub-inspector marks are stamped on most components. Ordnance inspector John Taylor’s “JT” cartouche is stamped on the left side of the grip. The shoulder stock is designed to fit the “four-screw frame” and has a screw adjustable steel hook and brass furniture. “22570” is marked on and just behind the hook on the lower tang as well as on the heel of the buttplate, and “11” is marked just behind the steel lanyard ring on the lower tang.
CONDITION: Fine. The revolver retains 50% of the original blue finish on the barrel and back strap, and the likely in-service replacement cylinder is a faded bluish gray and retains nearly all of the roll-engraved naval scene. The faded areas mainly exhibit smooth gray patina, and there are limited spots of slight pitting. The frame, hammer, and loading lever retain over 60% of the case colors and exhibit some silvering on the recoil shields. The trigger guard has been reshaped and has an attractive aged patina. The grip is very fine and retains a crisp cartouche, strong original oiled finish, and minor wear mainly from contact with the stock hardware and handling. The stock is fine and has natural aged patina on the brass components and mild wear on the walnut such as some dings and scrapes. Mechanically excellent. This is a very attractive and highly desirable example of a U.S. inspected “four- screw” Colt Model 1860 Army complete with a correct shoulder stock.
Provenance: The George Moller Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
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