Lot 1131

Scarce U.S. Contract Colt 1860 Army Richards Conversion Revolver

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Scarce U.S. Contract Colt 1860 Army Richards Conversion Revolver

Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000

Starting Bid: $13,000

(0 Bids)

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

Very Scarce and Exceptional Well-Documented Indian Wars Era Ainsworth Inspected U.S. Contract Colt Model 1860 Army Richards Conversion Revolver Approximately 9,000 Model 1860 Army revolvers were converted to the Richards system by Colt c. 1871-1878 per "Flayderman's Guide", but only 1,126 are reported as converted for the U.S. Ordnance Department per page 144 of "A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers" by R. Bruce McDowell. These revolvers are significant, as they formed the initial group of Colt cartridge firearms used by U.S. troops. These revolvers were in direct competition with the Smith & Wesson Model 3 American First Model revolvers purchased by the government. As explained in included articles, when the Rollin White patent expired on April 3, 1869, the gunsmiths at Colt were already hard at work developing their own metallic cartridge revolvers, with the U.S. military particularly in mind. The Richards conversion was covered by Charles B. Richards's U.S. patent no. 117,461 in July 1871. Richards was also one of the co-designers of the Single Action Army. Several months earlier, Colt had already received a contract from the U.S. Ordnance Department for converted Model 1860 Army revolvers at the beginning of the year. Colt received approximately 1,200 revolvers to refurbish and convert, some ultimately not suitable for conversion and some needing replacement parts. Most would have been issued to U.S. cavalry units on the frontier during the Indian Wars. The report of the Secretary of War dated November 1, 1872, states: "Reports from the field are all favorable to the use of revolvers using metallic cartridges." They saw hard use under tough conditions out west, leaving most of the rare surviving examples of Richard's conversion U.S. Model 1860 Army showing heavy service wear. This example is in far higher condition and is one of the finest we've ever seen. It is featured on page 130 of "Fine & Historic Arms Annual" by the Texas Gun Collectors Association and Rock Island Auction Company as part of the Dr. Paul and Carla McCombs Collection. The revolver features a conversion breech plate with an integral notch rear sight and a floating firing pin, an ejector rod and housing fitted to the right side of the barrel with the rear portion of the rod visible and part of the assembly filling the slot in place of the loading lever. "US" is stamped ahead of U.S. Ordnance Sub-Inspector Orville W. Ainsworth's "A" inspection mark on the left side of the barrel at the breech. "A" is also marked on the cylinder and trigger guard. The factory "P" inspection mark is struck next to Ainsworth's mark on the correct replacement cylinder which is numbered "146", and there is a "B" inspection stamp on the bottom of the barrel. The revolver features a German silver blade front sight, the one-line New York address on top of the barrel, "COLTS/PATENT" on the left of the frame, and the Naval Battle of Campeche scene on the cylinder. The replacement ejector is numbered "365". The barrel is numbered "332" twice and has "6" and "2" on the breech face. The frame and trigger guard are numbered "118769" and "332". The arbor pin has "8769". "332" is on the wedge and conversion plate. The back strap is numbered "78".

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: 1860 Conversion

BBL: 7 3/4 inch round

Gauge: 44 Colt

Finish: blue/casehardened/brass

Grips: walnut

Serial Number118769

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: The Dr. Paul & Carla McCombs Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine overall with 85% plus factory blue finish overall, 70% factory case colors, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance of the iron, attractive aged patina on the trigger guard, distinct markings and cylinder scene, minor wear and small chips at the lower edges of the grip and otherwise nearly all of the oil finish, and generally only light overall wear. Mechanically excellent. Overall, an outstanding example of one of the rare Indian Wars era U.S. Richards Model 1860 Army conversions.

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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