COLT 1871 OPEN TOP .44 RIMFIRE

The Colt 1871-72 Open Top was Colt’s first cartridge revolver design after Rollin White’s patent on breech loading revolvers ended in 1870, thus ending the monopoly that Smith & Wesson held on the design. The design was based mostly upon the earlier cap and ball revolver designs and worked as an excellent preamble to their wildly successful 1873 Single Action Army pistol. This example is unfortunately in a state of disrepair, or more accurately, attempted repair, as there are a number of replacement parts and repairs visible. The apparent repairs include but are not limited to, replacement loading gate & screw, replacement wedge, and a reshaping of the barrel where it had apparently been bulged. Upon inspection there is heat bluing on the receiver around the area of the loading gate, likely where the repair took place as assumably the old gate broke off. The action is functional, but slopy.