MODEL 1873 COLT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER –
CATASTROPHIC BLOWN CYLINDER – REMAINING CHAMBERS STILL
LOADED – VERY EVOCATIVE RELIC WHICH TELLS ITS OWN STORY:
As you can see from the photos, the last functioning day
of this Model 1873 Colt Single Action Pistol’s service
life did not end well…..and likely the same could be
said for the shooter if the details were known. He was
lucky if he didn’t lose some fingers, and quite possibly
his entire hand.
When the revolver was fired, there was a catastrophic
failure either due to a blocked bore or a sympathetic
chain fire between the cylinder chambers, resulting in
two chambers on the right side of the cylinder blowing
out. The top strap was fractured, losing a section
about 3/4" long, and a small section of the barrel at
the muzzle being blown away. The force of the explosion
upset the barrel as well, bending it in a
slight downward angle which appears to have happened
when the top strap fractured and the force drove the
barrel forward and down.
The bullet and remains of the cartridge case are still
present in one of the blown chambers and two of the
chambers which can be seen on the left side are still
loaded. I assume the chamber at the top of the cylinder
has been fired as that is what caused the failure, and
there isn't enough of the bottom chamber visible to know
if it is loaded or not.
Relic firearms which are still loaded as this one is,
are actively sought in the belief that a loaded relic is
indicative that it was lost in battle, or during some
confrontation or engagement.
This Colt lay where it fell for many years before it was
recovered, resulting in heavy corrosion eroding away
some of the iron. The condition is well illustrated in
the photographs below. Unfortunately, none of the
serial numbers are legible. The shape of the cylinder
notches suggest that this is an early production Single
Action, and it may very well have been one purchased by
the US Army.
The location of the pistol’s recovery is unknown, as is
the history since it was recovered. Unfortunate, as
this Colt was quite possibly lost in the heat of an
engagement, and if the recovery location was known, that
information might clarify at least some of the history
of this relic. Still and all, there is no doubt that
this historic Colt Single Action “was there”, and it
will make a very evocative addition to your collection
of Western Frontier artifacts. (1017) $2150
|