Antique U.S. COLT M1860 Army RICHARDS CONVERSION .44 CF Revolver WILD WEST MARTIALLY MARKED FRONTIER Era 1 of 9,000 Converted

Description:
Antique U.S. COLT M1860 Army RICHARDS CONVERSION .44 CF Revolver WILD WEST

MARTIALLY MARKED FRONTIER Era 1 of 9,000 Converted

Here we present an antique Martially Marked U.S. Colt Model 1860 Army Richards Conversion Revolver, converted sometime between 1873 and 1878. Charles B. Richards was an engineer who worked for the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Company and was awarded a patent for converting Colt percussion models to breech loading cartridge revolvers. After the onset of the American Civil War, Richards eventually became Superintendent of Engineering at the Colt factory in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Richards Conversion was performed on this Colt 1860 Army revolver. The caliber was .44 Colt Centerfire and the loading lever was replaced by an ejector rod. This conversion added a breechplate with a firing pin and a rear sight mounted on the breechplate. Colt manufactured 9,000 of these revolvers between 1873 and 1878. In 1873 Colt performed the same conversion on the Model 1851 and Model 1861 revolvers for the U.S. Navy in .38 rimfire. The Richards conversion was an instant success, all being done concurrently with the iconic Colt Single Action Army, which Richards was responsible for the development of!

As mentioned, this is one of the approximately 9,000 manufactured/converted circa 1873-1878 with the first 1,100 made for the U.S. Army. It has mixed serial numbers with matching conversion serial number “1082” on major components as was common with these conversions. The 1860 Army was the single most used pistol of the American Civil War. Over 200,000 were made from 1860 to 1873, and 156,000 of those were made by the end of the war in 1865.

The overall condition is good. Period nickel finish with patina throughout. The Battle of Campeche cylinder scene is quite visible. The bore is dim with strong rifling. Being that this is a conversion of an Army revolver, the original serial numbers are mixed but the numbers added at the time of the conversion are matching. The action of the hammer and trigger are strong, but cylinder indexing is intermittent. The cylinder arbor moves a bit in relation to the recoil shield. Solid grip with average handling wear. Cartouche remnants on both sides. Single letter inspection markings also found throughout. Barrel shortened and replacement front sight. Wedge screw absent. The ejector rod housing is a replacement and the rod itself is absent.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 4-5/8 inches.

Caliber: .44 Colt Centerfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail!

Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$2400

#250207
 

Antique: Yes

Price: $2,400.00
Buy Now