^Lot 4090 VERY EARLY CIVIL WAR MARTIAL COLT 1860 ARMY

REVOLVER. Cal. 44. S# 8868. The Colt 1860 army revolver had just been introduced at the beginning of the Civil War and over 100,000 were bought by the US government for use by cavalry, and no doubt the most popular sidearm of the day. This revolver was part of first 500 inspected for the army made in mid-1861, issued with shoulder stock. Revolver has 4-screw frame, notched steel backstrap, and milled recoil shields so stock could be attached. Standard configuration, 8" round barrel with rolled address "--ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA--", frame stamped on left "COLTS/PATENT", brass trigger guard. Cylinder has good rolled Texas Navy battle scene, "ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843." and "COLT'S PATENT No./PAT. SEPT 10th 1850". Good discernible inspection cartouches on grips "RHKW" [Robert HK Whiteley] & "GGS" [GG Saunders], and sub-inspection initials observed barrel "S", cylinder "S" and "K", back strap "K", trigger guard "S", and bottom of grips "K". Charles Pate in his 1860 Army revolver text sites a June 1, 1861 letter from Capt. R.H.K. Whiteley in charge of inspection of these early Colt New Model Army (NMA) revolvers to sub-inspector A.D. King stating that G.G. Saunders would be assisting. This is scarce survivor having sub-inspection and inspection cartouches of all 3 principals involved in Colts 1st army contract of NMA revolvers. Pate notes only 7 revolvers in his database at time of his books release in 2012 with Capt. R.H.K. Whiteley's inspection. This is a fine survivor of first issued New Model Army revolver with very good markings. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Sealed pack of D.C. Sage cartridges for Colt's Army Pistol along with four excavated .44 cal. bullets dug in 1958 at East Cavalry Field, Gettysburg by our consignor. Period J. Davy & Co., Newark, NJ leather cartridge box marked on flap "T J Shepard". CONDITION: very good overall, all matching & complete, crisp markings, no finish but sharp cylinder scene and 5 of 6 complete safety pins, iron cleaned with overall mottled gray patina, brass has smooth yellow patina, good discernible inspection cartouches, mechanics crisp, sharp rifled bore. Cartridge box good overall with appropriate age craquelure. Stitching is tight. (01-28144/JS). ANTIQUE. $2,000-4,000.