Lot 1148

Early Production Fluted Cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

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Early Production Fluted Cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver

Estimate: $5,000 - $7,500

Starting Bid: $4,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Early Production Fluted Cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver Presentation Inscribed "James A. Ault to Geo W. Boyer" and "The Memory of Washington" This 1860 production Colt Model 1860 Army revolver has the fancy period inscription "James A. Ault to Geo W. Boyer" on the back strap and "The Memory of Washington" is on the butt. Consignor provided documents of correspondence indicate they believe these two individuals to have been residents of Philadelphia and may have been associated with either of the two businesses being the Mutual Assurance Co. (informally known as "Green Tree" in reference to its corporate symbol) founded in 1784, or the Philadelphia Contributionship, founded in 1752, both in the business of insuring houses from loss by fire. An included period newspaper clipping (source unknown) has an article stating, "Mutual Assurance adds a historical note to its affairs. Following the meal, the chairman calls out, 'Gentlemen, are you charged?' Glasses are filled, or 'charged,' with Madeira, and the company is toasted. After a suitable pause comes a second toast, 'To the memory of Washington' - a tradition since 1799 when a messenger interrupted a directors dinner with news of the first President's death." It is estimated between 5,000 and 6,300 fluted cylinder Colt Model 1860 Army revolvers were originally produced per "The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver" by Charles Pate. Some of these cylinders were changed by the factory to the standard non-fluted cylinders, which has limited the number surviving. Many of these early production revolvers were also known to have been shipped south of the Mason-Dixon Line for use by the Confederacy, even after the bombardment of Fort Sumter. It features the distinctive six-shot fluted cylinder, marked "PATENTED SEPT. 10th 1850" in one of flutes, with the early straight bored chambers. Colt later introduced a taper to the chamber at the breech end after report of failures due to the thinness of the barrel wall at the cylinder stops on these early revolvers. It has a German silver blade front sight, notch rear sight in the hammer, with "-ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CT.-" roll-stamped on top of the barrel, "COLTS/PATENT" on the left of the frame with projecting "fourth" screws, flush hammer screw head, shoulder stock cuts on the recoil shield with a slot at the heel, and a capping groove on the right. The matching full and partial visible serial number "1132" is marked on the barrel, wedge, cylinder, cylinder arbor pin, frame, numbered to match trigger guard, butt, and correctly handwritten in black ink (faint) inside the grip mortise.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1860 Army

BBL: 8 inch round

Gauge: .44

Finish: blue/casehardened/silver

Grips: walnut

Serial Number1132

Class: Antique

  • Condition: Very good, retains strong traces of original blue finish in protected areas, half of the original silver plating on the back strap, most of the replated silver plating on the trigger guard, with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance of the iron, light pitting, and distinct inscriptions. The revarnished grips are fine, with light wear, and well-defined edges. Mechanically excellent.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000