Some of you may have read my previous post regarding a couple of Colt Model 1860 revolvers that have been converted from percussion to cartridge here:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/7450016815

From my previous post, I stated that the Colt 1860 Army Richards is found in five basic categories:

1) The "US Richards" were the altered by converting in-service percussion revolvers to metallic cartridge for the US Ordnance Department.

2) The 1860 "first model original" cartridge Richards were those made at the Colt factory as cartridge revolvers rather than converted from percussion.

3) 1880 "first model Richards converted percussion" were those made up from leftover percussion parts in the Colt factory inventory.

4) The "12 cylinder stop Richards" conversions had 12 locking slots on the cylinder rather than usual six.

5) The "1860 transition Richards" or "second model Richards" retains the cartridge ejector of the first model but has the center fire hammer and less cumbersome conversion ring of the Richard-Mason design.

It is the first category that this most recent example belongs.

Being always on the lookout for an older revolver at a good price, I browse auction sites frequently. I rarely bid and even less frequently win, but a recent auction went my way. I'm not sure if others didn't recognize it or were just uninterested.

In an online timed auction earlier this month a Colt Model 1860 Richards conversion revolver was listed. What made this one different is that it was made for the US Ordnance Department for use with cavalry units. Other than a few Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolvers that were ordered in 1870, these Colts are some of the first cartridge revolvers purchased and used by the United States.

The Ordnance Department placed an order with the Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company "to clean, repair and altar or convert" 1000 Colt Model 1860 Army percussion revolvers to metallic cartridge breach loading revolvers on January 31, 1871.

All Richard's conversions had assembly numbers but these assembly numbers had no relationship with the guns serial numbers. The US Richards generally had mixed serial numbers but matching assembly numbers. All US Richards revolvers were inspected by O.W. Ainsworth and his mark (A) is found on the left side of the barrel lug to the rear and slightly above the wedge. The US acceptance stamp was also applied to this side of the barrel in front of the wedge and slightly above it.

1,126 Model 1860 Colt Army revolvers were converted to the Richards system for the US Ordnance Department under contract with colt. If you include sample models and test guns, approximately 1,138 were converted.

According to R. Bruce McDowell in his book A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers:

"With the exception of the 12-stop (12 cylinder stop) Richard conversions, the US Richards are the rarest and most sought after Colt large frame series conversions. Keep in mind that all of the small quantity supplied to the US Ordnance Department were exposed to extremely hard service. Many were damaged, some beyond repair, while many others were lost in the Western desert sands, rivers, or to the Indians. Of those few remaining most are found in museums and advanced collections leaving only a few remaining in circulation."

That slightly over 1,100 of these guns were produced for the Ordnance Department I'm amazed and beyond thrilled to have stumbled upon one at a very affordable price! This is easily the most rare gun I own and will be a cherished addition to my growing western gun collection.

Here are a few pictures of my new addition





Assembly number 173


173


Ainsworth inspection A on right and US acceptance stamp on left

Very cool piece of history! Thanks for sharing!

My FAVORITE old west revolvers!

Fascinating info! Thanks for the effort.

Jerry

Best thing I've found on the internet today! That is a great find.

I don't know if you have "Firearms of the American West 1866-1894" by Caravaglia and Worman (which I can't recommend highly enough for the scholarly research and great pictures), it references the first issue of these revolvers "late in 1871 to companies of the Second Cavalry, scattered through Nebraska and Wyoming, and to the Sixth Cavalry in Kansas". It also states that later issues were to various companies in the Ninth and Fourth Cavalry in Texas and still later to various companies of the Third and Fifth Cavalry, as well as 20 being requested by the commandant of the San Antonio Arsenal "for sale to officers in his department".

Those guns saw some action!

That is by far is my holy grail.

Thank you for sharing. What a great historical handgun. I too am a fan of those conversation Colts.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

Looks like something the "Josey Wales" would carry.

quote:

Originally posted by MRBTX:
Looks like something the "Josey Wales" would carry.

It's definitely been there & done that out west, and there were a lot of hard-used and rough guns in that movie. I believe the Josey Wales movie was more mid to late 1860s, so other than a few small cartridge revolvers like the Smith & Wesson Number 2 Army and some pinfire examples cartridge handguns weren't very numerous. Certainly not in larger calibers like 44.


I think in the movie he carried a pair of Colt Walkers (44 caliber and the most powerful handgun build until the advent of the 357 magnum in 1934). Walkers are both extremely scarce and extremely expensive. The best I can do is a First Model Colt Dragoon, a direct descendent of the Walker (and something that would be more likely for Wales to carry vs. a Colt conversion pistol).