Antique Colt SAA Cavalry .45, 1876
Description:
A Colt U.S. Cavalry SAA revolver, serial #31951, .45 cal., 7 ½" barrel, nickel finish and handsome high-relief carved pearl, eagle head grips. This is an extremely RARE U.S. Martial single action (U.S. Army 1876-1877 contract) that was pressed into civilian usage. The gun is in overall excellent condition showing about 95% of old nickel applied over the original military finish, with the ejector housing and screws left the original military blue. The pearl grips were most likely added at the same time as the nickel plate, replacing the original inspected wood grips. The grips are old, beautifully accomplished, and fit near perfect. The bore is an 8 1/2 on a scale of 1-10. The markings are sharp, including all inspection and proof marks and all the serial numbers match. The “U.S.” on the frame was obliterated prior to the nickel plating and is still faintly visible. The gun was likely “liberated” from the U.S. Cavalry by a deserter and the nickel plating and pearl grips were subsequently added. All parts are original with the exception of the cylinder pin screw. The bottom of the frame is marked “LD” for Louis Draper (assistant to inspector John T. Cleveland) and is identical to the one pictured in “A Study of the Colt SAA”, by Graham, Kopec and Moore, page 219. The underside of the barrel is marked “JTC”, for John T. Cleveland, and “P”. All serial numbers match with 1951 on the barrel, under the ejector housing, and on the cylinder. “JTC” and “P” are also on the cylinder. A Colt letter is included, indicating delivery to the U.S. Government Inspector at the Colt plant, Nov. 11, 1876.
The gun was formerly in the Harold Smith collection and was on display in his Nevada casino. It was also pictured prominently in the book “Famous Guns of the Harold’s Club Collection”, page 83, and copyright 1962. A copy of this book is also included. Several guns with these exact eagle grips have been attributed to ownership by Leo Carillo, famous movie star and western personality. It is known that Carillo donated a gun at one time to the Harold’s Club Museum – may be worth researching. I have seen grips just like these on several other early first-generation Colts. One was on serial #180260, made in 1898, that was owned and carried by the legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer. That gun is pictured in Flayderman’s Guide, 9th edition, page 441. The Colt Collectors Association's 2019 show gun also replicates Hamer's gun and these early grips (in ivory), and is pictured on the cover of the "The Rampant Colt" collectors' magazine, Fall 2019.
A rare opportunity to acquire a hard to find U.S. Contract SAA with an interesting and colorful historical past. For domestic sale only.
Shipped via USPS Registered Mail.
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SOLD
Antique: Yes
Serial Number:
#31951