079-1220-2912, Colt M-1860 Army with fine Engraving in Gustov Young Style: YOUNG STYLE REVOLVER. Cal. 44. S# 42xxx. Bbl. 8″ rnd. w/ blade front sight. 6 Shot rebated cyl. w/ naval scene roll engraving. Frame, bbl. & grip straps have foliate scroll engraving done in the style of Gustave Young. Hammer is engraved w/ wolf’s head on sides of hammer associated w/ Young. Bbl., frame, & grip straps having matching numbers. The cylinder has strong etched scene. Wedge is a replacxement. 1 Piece walnut grip. This is a very interesting gun. The engraved is definitely in style of the period and there is no sharpness to edges of engraving like you almost always feel on engraving that is less than 50 years old. The patent marking is in a banner, there is no chistle of the original marking and this patent address is cut deep. It is cut onto the side of the frame, not stamped. The gun also has a dot stamp next to serial number, which is a sign of a special order gun. The gun does not have stipple in the background, which I have seen on every factory engraved gun. IF there was stippling in the background, there would be question about this being a factory engraved gun. [/p][p]

There is also one other troubling thing. The gun comes with a Colt Industries letter stating the following information: “Caliber: 44/c / Barrel Length: 8 inches / Finish: Blue / Type of Stocks: Walnut / Sold to: U.S. Government / Shipped to: Lt. Col. G. D. Ramsey / Care of: Col. D. Tompkins / Address: State Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. Date of Shipment: June 9, 1862 / Number of Same Type fire-arms in this shipment: 500”. [/p][p]

This letter must be a misplaced numeral because this could not be a military issued revolver. The military gun has no sub inspectors and no cartouches on grips. An emblem was removed from one grip. The metal has smooth brown appearance. Grips show wear w/ dents at butt & sm. chips at toe. The bore has crisp rifling. The engravng shows light wear, so this gun was carried,. The gun is on a cut to frame stock.

1. Civilian gun, very uncommon in this range. 2. Dot next to serial number, which represents a Special Order gun. 3. The patent address on side of frame is in scroll pattern, which was only done in factory engraved guns. In my 30 years I have never seen an after market engraved gun that covered up the original patent address and reapplied it. To do the you would have to file away the original patent address which were applied deep enough there would be a hold or undersizing to triggerguard, which there is neither. Very good overall, with traces of tone case on loading lever and perfect wood to metal fit.