Page 143 - Auction84-Book2

LOT 1299
U.S. Rinaldo A. Carr Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 137930, 45 LC cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is a fine, solid representative example of a U.S. Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as one of 200 SAAs sold to the U.S. government and delivered to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant on February 3, 1891. The revolver is one of the U.S. Colt Cavalry Model revolvers in the serial number range 131187-140361 that were inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector Rinaldo A. Carr. Carr’s sub-inspector “RAC” mark is found on the frame, barrel, cylinder, and bottom of the grip. Carr’s script letter cartouche is on the right side of the grip. The left side of the grip has the correct date “1891” over “LEB” script letter cartouche. The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The ejector rod has a bullseye head. A “K” Colt inspection mark is stamped below the serial number on the trigger guard and back strap. “P” proofmarks are stamped on the cylinder and barrel. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking followed by “U.S.” Matching full or partial serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder and barrel. CONDITION: Fine. The barrel and ejector housing retain 60% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The cylinder retains traces of original blue finish in the flutes with the balance a smooth-brown gray patina and several flutes with worn edges. 30% original blue finish remains on the grip straps with a smooth gray patina on the balance. 25% of the original case colors remain on the frame with some once cleaned dents visible on lower left recoil shield. 40% faded original case colors remain on the hammer. There is minimal pitting. The grip is also fine with a repaired chip near toe (left side), some scattered minor handling marks and faint but legible cartouches. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 1300
Desirable U.S. Ainsworth Inspected Colt Cavalry Model Single
Action Army Revolver with John Kopec Letter - Serial no. 4087, 45 LC cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. O.W. Ainsworth’s desirable
“A” inspector mark is found on the trigger guard, barrel, cylinder, and back strap. A
“P” proof is found on the cylinder and barrel. The barrel has the one-line Hartford
address, the frame Colt patent markings are absent, and the “US” marking has
been removed from the frame. The ejector rod has a bullseye head. The matching
serial number is found on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, barrel and
ejector rod housing. Per the included letter of authentication, noted SAA expert
and author John Kopec states the revolver was likely issued to the 4th Cavalry and
noted the correct matching serial number on the ejector housing. “A very small
group of revolvers from within this general serial range including our subject
revolver were stamped with their revolver’s serial number on their ejector tubes.
Some of these examples included #4012; #4020; #4032; #4047; #4061; #4077;
#4081; #4086; and #4096. There is no doubt that a numbered ejector tube when found, guarantees the authenticity of the ejector tube with
its ‘host’ Cavalry revolver.” Based on the obliterated “US” frame marking and grip cartouche and the fact the revolver escaped Artillery Model refurbishment, Kopec concluded that this is a “deserter’s revolver.” In Kopec’s conclusion the missing Colt patent markings on the frame were “simply overlooked by the Colt factory workman whose job it was to stamp these markings.”The accompanying Colt factory letter incorrectly states the revolver was returned to the factory for Artillery Model refurbishment. This error in the factory letter is also addressed by Kopec in his letter. “Either the serial number was entered incorrectly, or there is another revolver out there with a duplicate serial number.” Kopec concluded that this revolver remains in original Cavalry Model configuration with the base pin screw and butt screw being replacements. This revolver was listed in Kopec’s 2012 survey and falls between two known Artillery Models, nos. 4086 and 4088.
CONDITION: Good. Traces of original blue finish remains on and under ejector rod housing, otherwise the revolver has an untouched smooth brown patina with some pitting. The grip is also good and shows evidence of the deserter’s efforts to scrub the U.S. ordnance markings and a couple chips at the toes. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
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