Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top Revolver

.44 Rimfire. 7.5" barrel length. SN: 2252. Buffed finish overall to metal parts and mounting one piece walnut grips with barrel mounted rear notch and front blade sights. Single-action loading gate revolver built using Colt's wedge pin secured barrel. The left frame sports the date markings -PAT. JULY. 25. 1871-/-PAT. JULY. 2. 1872.-. The barrel address mark reads -ADDRESS COL. SAML. COLT NEW-YORK. U.S. AMERICA-. The serial numbers on the barrel, gripstraps, cylinder, and frame match. The arbor pin is numbered 1322, the loading gate displays the number 7236, and the wedge pin is marked 9273. The cylinder Ormsby roll engraving has been polished away by buffing. External loading gate spring, and the revolver mounts steel gripstraps in the Army pattern. The ejector rod head follows the standard target pattern and the hammer features bordered knurling. Though outwardly resembling the earlier Richards and Richards-Mason pattern of cartridge converted revolvers, the Model 1871-72 Open Top revolver was manufactured from new production parts, making it Colt's first purpose built full size cartridge revolver (the smaller Cloverleaf and Open Top Pocket revolvers both entered production earlier). Chambered in the popular .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge, the revolver offered buyers an excellent companion to the repeating rifles offered by Winchester in the same instant. However, thanks to the development of the famed Single Action Army type, the Colt Open Top's production run lasted for just under one and a half years from February of 1872 to June of 1873 with less than 7,000 manufactured in total.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.