An interesting Colt 1855 Revolving Rifle

dating: Third quarter of the 19th Century provenance: USA, Round, rifled, 24', 56 cal. barrel, with foresight, clutch for the bayonet (later assembled?), octagonal base with a three heights leaf-shaped rear sight. Bore with signs of use, visible groove. Five-shot cylinder (acid cleaned?). External hammer. The dorsal tang of the frame marked 'COLTS PATENT', the lower one marked '4xx'. Wooden butt and fore-end, the former with signs of use and time, restorations and a dowel replaced. The fore-end with brass stripe. Various dents on the iron surfaces. Working mechanics. Iron ramrod. According to the owner's information, this may be one of the very rare Colt Revolving Rifles used by Garibaldi and the Thousand: of the 59 purchased by Garibaldi, 48 were sent to Bologna to be modified. The model presented here bears commercial markings and no military inscription, the fore-end has been clearly modified by lowering it on one side, suggesting that the clutch for the bayonet was added after the purchase, just like it was done with Garibaldi's rifles. The known serial numbers of these rifles range from 265 to 570. See also 'Le Colt di Garibaldi' by E. Arrigoni. length 108,3 cm.