Colt Open Top Revolver "Seven-Shooter" w/ Original Box

This Colt Open Top Revolver is in near mint condition and comes with the original factory box.   It's in .22 caliber, with 2-3/8" barrel, 7-shot cylinder, nickel plated finish, fire blued screws, and walnut grips.   These were produced from 1871-1877.   Serial number dates this one's manufacture to the same year Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse defeated General Custer at Little Bighorn:  the year 1876.   The factory box, which is extremely rare, is marked "COLT'S SEVEN SHOT PISTOL .22 Calibre For Long or Short Cartridges".

Overall condition of the pistol grades to NRA Antique Excellent+, retaining 97-98% original nickel overall, showing almost no wear.  The only deterioration of the finish is limited to a couple of small areas of flaking at the barrel/cylinder junction, and some very slight loss at the muzzle.   Otherwise, the nickel is nearly perfect.   The screws still retain much of their original fire blue.   Walnut grips are minty with 99% original varnish remaining.   The action functions just like new and the bore is in perfect condition.   If we had to guess, this gun appears to have been fired one time, cleaned, and put away.   You just don't find these little Open Tops very often with this much going for them.   The box is in good condition and best of all, it's all 100% there with no ends or pieces missing.   The edges are a little frayed and one minor tear on the edge of the lid.   For a Colt box, this is in remarkable condition.   Unlike Smith and Wesson boxes, which use thick cardboard and are covered with colored woven fabric, Colt boxes were simply and cheaply made with thin cardboard.   Typically, they did not hold up well and the vast majority were destroyed or thrown away long before collectors came along.   In five years, this is the only the second time we've been able to offer an antique Colt in the original box.   In contrast, we've probably sold over a dozen S&W's in their original boxes with most dating to the 1880's or 1890's.   Don't let this one get away!   Nice Minty Boxed Colts from the 1870's don't come along every day!

Item# 1088

SOLD