A Very Rare Cased London Hartford Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver with Canteen Shoulder Stock. 14 ¼” overall, 8” barrel the top flat marked ‘Address Col. Saml Colt New-York U.S. America’, London proofs, the left side of the frame marked ‘Colts Patent’. The cylinder engraved with naval battle scene & marked ‘Colts Patent No 6676’ and London proofs alternating between each nipple recess. The matching serial number ‘156676’ marked on the barrel, frame, trigger guard and back strap, the partial serial number "6676" is marked on the cylinder and the wedge is secured too tightly to check. Steel trigger guard & back strap. Smooth one piece walnut grip. American Walnut case with dark green felt lining divided into six compartments with accessories comprising ‘L’ shaped nipple wrench/screwdriver, iron bullet mold marked ‘Colts Patent’on the sprue cutter, brown lacquered American bag shaped flask marked ‘Colts Patent’ with a trophy of arms, unopened packet of cartridges & a Eley percussion cap tin. With a very rare canteen stock with near matching serial number ‘156660’ marked on the lower tang & tang of the butt plate, brass silver plated fittings, lanyard ring & swivel mounted on the lower tang.
Serial Number: 156677 for 1866
In very good condition with a high degree of original finish, silver plating on the shoulder stock a little worn. London proofed Colt Armies are extremely rare & very few Canteen stocked cased 1860 Army Revolvers are known, I can only find records of 4.
Canteen stocks were manufactured in limited numbers in the 1850s and were intended to ease a soldier's burden by replacing two pieces of gear with a single piece which could perform both tasks.
A similar revolver, case and accessories are pictured, identified by serial number and briefly described on page 165 of ‘The Book of Colt Firearms’ by R.L. Wilson, was sold for $70,000 in 2013 and a similar casing on page 170 of ‘Samuel Colt Presents Wadsworth Atheneum Hartford Exhibition 1961’.