#4946
Colt S/A, 7-1/2x45COLT, “U.S. Cavalry” model, 12XXX range (1875)
Description:
#4946 Colt S/A, 7-1/2x45COLT, “U.S. Cavalry” model, 12XXX range (1875), O.W. Ainsworth (OWA) inspected throughout. This old veteran has nice metal with just a thin pin-prick pepper appearance patina but no pitting of any consequence. It is well marked with the A inspector martial markings in all the correct places, and all numbers (except the grips) match. The grips do look to be the originals but the number is no longer legible, but being OWA inspected and fitting perfect, I do believe they are the correct grips to this revolver. The metal is very nice and well above average for a gun of this age and the overall look is just being that of a handsome old Indian War Era Colt. It has the correct 1st style ejector housing, the Bulls-Eye ejector head, the italic address line, long hammer knurling, etc. But suffice to say this!! Since many, if not most Single Actions have been restored, enhanced, and juiced-up to some degree (especially these highly collectible militaries), one should always take this possibility into consideration and consequently this gun has been valued with that probability in mind. And here is MY question on this gun. The U.S. military marking on the frame is just too small of a font; it should be almost twice the size of these letters and should have the periods after the letters. Now, there is always the real possibility that the frame was not marked originally at the factory in 1875, and then marked later by some collector who met with resistance to being able to sell it as a correct Cavalry, and so he incorrectly stamped a US on it. Or, it could have been an early Civilian gun that has been totally remarked to appear as a Cavalry. However, being as this gun has correct and VERY expensive cartouched grips that obviously look totally righteous and fit so well, what idiot who was smart enough to fake the entire rest of the gun would then stamp the US so noticeably incorrect?? Consequently, I’m leaning on that first scenario as probably being the right one and therefore I am splitting the difference on value between “right and wrong” because if there were no question marks whatsoever on this gun, it would easily be $8000 or more …and if it were just a decent very early Civilian, it would be $4000 and this should then be a really decent value at $5350 . This is a real opportunity to own a great piece of the Wild West frontier history and one of the fastest value appreciators in the antique gun field. VG/VG+
SOLD
Antique: Yes