3152

Rare Documented U.S. Marked, Richards Army Springfield Conversion Colt 1860 Army Revolver with Match

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 11,000.00 USD
Rare Documented U.S. Marked, Richards Army Springfield Conversion Colt 1860 Army Revolver with Match
A rare example of a U.S. marked Richard's Conversion Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, this particular revolver is pictured on page 154 of "COLT CONVERSIONS" by R. Bruce McDowell, and is one of two U.S. Richards Conversion revolver identified by McDowell with matching serial numbers. Converted by Colt in 1871 for the Ordnance Department, there were approximately 1203 Model 1860 Richards Conversion revolvers, with photographic evidence of some of these arms being carried by the Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th Cavalry Regiment and Native American Scouts on the Texas frontier in the early 1870s. Subjected to harsh frontier service, few of these revolvers survived, making the U.S. Colt Richards 1860 one of the most scarce martial Colts. German silver blade front and notch rear sights, with a re-faced barrel marked with "-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-" on top and "US" on the left near the breech, with the loading lever removed and replaced with a spring loaded ejector with cross-hatched head. The original Texas Navy roll-stamped cylinder has been cut and chambered for the .44 Colt center fire cartridge, with the spring loaded firing pin in the breech plate and the hammer face milled flat with cross-hatched, unbordered spur. Matching numbers are present on the barrel, frame and grip straps, with the assembly number "60" on the breech plate, loading gate, underside of the barrel lug and on the bottom of the ejector housing. The "A" inspection mark of Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth is stamped on the side of the cylinder and on the trigger guard below the serial number. A "P" proofmark is stamped on the cylinder next to the Ainsworth inspection mark. The script initials of the Ordnance Inspector and Sub-Inspector are stamped on the lower left and right side of grip with rectangular borders. A "D" sub-inspection mark is stamped on the left grip heel.
BBL: 8 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 44 CF
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 127152
Condition: Near fine, showing an artificial brown patina (could easily be removed) mixed with 20% original blue finish in protected areas of the barrel lug and traces of the original case colors on the frame. Scattered light pitting on the barrel and ejector housing with some flash pitting near the breech, cylinder face and loading gate. An attractive patina is present on the trigger guard. Markings are sharp on the metal, faded on the grip which is in very good condition with light to moderate handling wear. This rare revolver is one of the best U.S. marked Richard Conversion Revolvers extant and one of only two identified by Colt Conversion expert Bruce McDowell with matching serial numbers. One will look a long time for another one of these!