ITEM # 158
serial #14524, 45 Colt, 7 1/2" barrel with a very good, lightly frosted bore. This is a handsome, fully functional Model 1878 revolver which retains 90% of the original nickel finish that shows flaking along the cylinder flutes as well as at the muzzle and forward portion of the frame. The underlying metal is still gray and blends in nicely with the nickel however, and has some very minor spots of freckling just starting to appear on the exposed areas. Original fire bluing is still present on the trigger, hammer, and screwheads, and the serial and assembly numbers are matching. The checkered, hard rubber grips are also numbered to the gun on the interior and are in fine shape with only very minor surface wear, mostly around the butt. The revolver is housed in an unmarked Canadian pattern, brown leather flap holster with officer's Sam Browne belt and cross-strap, hand initialed "ALM" in very faint letters on the inner surface. A tan cord pistol lanyard completes the outfit. The Canadian Militia ordered Colt 1878 revolvers from Hartley & Graham of New York in order to replace their obsolete 1851 Navies prior to engaging the forces of Louis Riel during the ill-fated Northwest Rebellion. All of the revolvers were nickel plated and those in the last Canadian shipment fall below serial #14996. These revolvers were used along the Western frontier, were again issued to Canadian forces shipping off to South Africa during the Boer War and, amazingly, some even appear to have been issued during World War I. This example lacks the "M.D." issue stamp found on many of these revolvers, but an accompanying sheaf of articles indicates that the stamps were applied after 1900 and only to those revolvers which were kept and used by the Northwest Mounted Police, those that remained with the Army remained unstamped. This is a fine, big bore double action Colt used by the Canadian military and comes with a matching condition original belt and holster rig. (1996-28) {ANTIQUE} (6000/8000) SOLD FOR $6037.50 |
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