Premier Firearms Auction
May 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2022
Our first premier auction of 2022! This event hosts collections from across the country and brings them under one roof for an amazing multi-day auction!
This is an incredible opportunity to add rare and desirable firearms & militaria to your collection.
PRIME CUSTER 7TH CAVALRY SAA “AS FOUND” S# 6310.
01-20408
Cal. 45 Colt
S# 6130
This gun was offered in national catalog for $750,000 “The most historic U.S. SAA known, #6310 is the only Springfield Armory/Colt factory documented Indian captured, 7th Cavalry Little Big Horn surviving Single Action Army”. Well, this could all be true, but not so definitive. In a 1999 Sterling Fenn (coauthor of Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers w/ John Kopek) letter that well describes this revolver concludes “It is my opinion that your Colt M 1873, S# 6310 is in its original as issued circa 1874 cavalry configuration & is a likely 7th cavalry Colt revolver which may have been captured or lost at the battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. It’s damaged or “unserviceable” classification, storage at the Springfield Armory for a period of time prior to 1895, & its rejection by the Colt factory for refurbishing in January 1996, strongly suggests battle damage or Indian abuse at a much earlier time. This greatly increases the probability of its 7th Cavalry Association & probably explains its existence in its original cavalry configuration & also it’s abused, battered condition. It cannot, however, be absolutely stated it was not issued to the first or second to cavalry during 1874, which also saw equally important & dangerous action during the Indian wars but had not lost revolvers to their enemies.
As a genuine artifact of an earlier time in US history, it speaks volumes w/ out further comment & makes no excuses for what it is. This revolver has the look of a gun that matches the story of Indian capture & recapture. The gun is “as found”, all original & matching. The “US” has been purposely obliterated, but the sm. Ainsworth “A” is visible on most parts including bottom of bbl. There is bright blue finish on the protected area of the ejector housing & under ejector housing on bbl. w/ crisp matching last four digits of S#. Regardless, of its Western history this is a wonderful & aesthetically pleasing survivor.
PROVENANCE: estate collection of Ron Navratil.
STATUS: ANTIQUE
