3059 RARE & DESIRABLE THUER CONVERSION OF AN 1851 COLT

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This item SOLD at 2021 May 23 @ 11:05UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,000.00 USD
Estimated at 4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
NAVY REVOLVER. Cal. 36 Thuer Centerfire. S# 164407. Made between 1869 & 1872 w/ a total production of approx. 5,000, this was Colt's first revolver chambered for a metallic cartridge. This cartridge was made of brass & tapered to be loaded from the front of the cyl. in normal percussion fashion. The original 7 1/2" oct. bbl. marked "ADDRESS COL. SAM l COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA" is unaltered except for hand filing a loading channel on right side of assembly lug area. The original loading lever is also used, but the face of the rammer is threaded to accept Thuer priming punch. New cyl. is bored to accept tapered cartridges which needed to be made to very close tolerances. The conversion ring has 1868 patent date & is fitted w/ firing pin. It pivots to the right to be in firing position & to the left to be in eject position w/ slot at top, engraved "E". When in this position, lowering the hammer on a secondary "firing pin,"actuates dbl. cams in the conversion ring which push on the bottom of cartridge initiating extraction. The ring & cyl. are both stamped w/ assembly number "2". Left forward part of frame stamped "COLT'S" "PATENT". Brass grip frame stamped "36 Cal". One piece walnut grips are varnished. CONDITION: fine to very fine. Bbl. retaining approx. 60% bright blue. Lever retains about 50% case hardening color. Cylinder has strong scene. It & conversion ring retain about half of their original blue. All blued surfaces have scattered light freckling & some pitting. Frame & hammer show traces of case hardening color, but are mostly gray to brown. Grip frame brass is a golden yellow to brown. Grips retain most of their original varnish w/ some added on right side. All #'s match except cyl. which is numbered "6144". (Probably due to misreading of S# when stamping new cyl. by an employee.) Bore is good, lightly pitted. Mechanically good. Action screws appear to be replaced at time of conversion. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Gary Parietti. (01-19046/MGM). ANTIQUE. $4,000-6,000.