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LIMITED EDITION BRONZE CASTING OF US ARMY MODEL
1873 COLT SA REVOLVER SN #17371, RECOVERED AT THE CANYON
CREEK BATTLEFIELD: This is one of the limited
edition, 35 Bronze Castings of the fully-loaded Model
1873 Colt revolver that was recovered from the Canyon
Creek Battlefield. Found in September of 1990 during an
archaeological survey of the battlefield, the revolver,
serial number 17371, still contained six unfired Benet
primed cartridges and the hammer was locked in the
safety position resting on an unfired cartridge. The
Friends of Canyon Creek, a non-profit organization
dedicated to the preservation of this battlefield,
arranged to have a limited number of bronze castings
made of this pistol. These castings were then sold to
raise funds to support the continued efforts to protect
the battlefield site.
The Battle of Canyon Creek, September 13, 1877, was part
of the series of encounters surrounding the Big Hole
Campaign against the Nez Perce and this pistol was
likely lost by a trooper during the battle. According
to the Springfield Research Service listings, this
serial number is well within the range of Colt pistols
issued to the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
This extremely well executed full sized casting so
closely resembles the original pistol that you are
immediately convinced you are looking at the original
relic. The bronze coloring, finished with an expertly
applied patina, is the same color and finish one would
expect to see on relic firearm. The detail of the
casting is truly remarkable, down to the slotted screw
heads, the exposed coils of the extractor spring, the
broken main spring, the pitted exterior surfaces and the
cartridges resting in the chambers, the cartridge rims
visible at the rear of the cylinder and the bullets
visible from the front. The casting is numbered on the
back strap, showing this is number 13 of the 35 castings
of this historic pistol. The casting is mounted on an
attractive wooden pedestal and identified with an
engraved brass plaque. This is a unique opportunity to
obtain this attractive bronze on the secondary market
and still be able to have one of the lower serial
numbers, offered here at the original issue price. $600
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