Colt 1872 Open Top "Seven Shooter" Revolver

This is an interesting Colt Open Top revolver is in NRA Antique Fine+ condition and well above average for what we normally encounter.   This gun has a very interesting barrel alteration that leads us to believe this gun may have been part of Colt's famous Gun Wheel display at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia, PA.

Standard 2-5/8" barrel in .22 caliber with 7-shot cylinder.   Serial number is in the 80,000 range.   Made in 1875.  Remember that date.  This must have stayed in Colt's inventory for quite some time as the former owner provided a hand-written note (not a factory letter) with the gun stating this was shipped on February 19, 1887, in an order of 60 Colts to dealer William Reed and Sons of Boston, Massachusetts. Why would Colt have held this gun for 12 years after its date of manufacture?   Barrel and cylinder show 75-85% original blue that has drifted and flaked with some spots of patina and light oxidation beginning to form.   Hammer and rotating barrel latch show most of their original fire blue.   Screws are average but most show some degree of original fire blue.   The brass frame has lost most of its silver except for a small spot at the top of the back strap.   Varnished wood grips are Fine+ condition with just a couple small nicks and 95-98% original varnish.   Barrel fits tightly to frame.   Nice mechanics.

The bore on this revolver is also very interesting.   In terms of condition, it looks perfect...bright and shiny with very strong rifling...fired very little if any at all.   However, the first quarter of an inch starting from the muzzle has been threaded as if the gun were mounted and displayed on some type of mount or rod.   I've tried to use my imagination to come up with some sort of rational explanation for why someone would do this and can come up with only one theory.   We believe this may have been one of Colt's display guns.   This may also explain why it shipped 12 years after its manufacture.   At this point, one can only guess but after studying some photos of old Colt Display boards, particularly, Colt's famous Round Wheel Displays like the one used at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, it appears quite plausible.   While the few photos we've seen are quite old and grainy, it appears there is some type of attachment at the muzzle of each gun was used to mount them upon the board.  If this observation is correct, this would explain the threads at the tip of the bore.   Of course, the 1875 manufacture date would be perfect for such a gun going on display for the Philadelphia Exhibition.   Finally, while most Colts on Colt's 1876 display wheel appear to be Colt New Line or Single Action Army Revolvers, we did note a few Open Tops like this.   Of those, most appear to have ivory or pearl grips but we did locate at least one example with wood grips just like this gun.  See photos.

Item# 1087

$1,350