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LOT 161
Outstanding, Documented, and Fresh Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Rare Factory Picture Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. 156882, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The included factory letter is dated July 1, 1969, and is addressed to “George L. Lewis, Jr.” demonstrating that this incredibly rare high condition antique Colt Frontier Six Shooter has been off the market for decades. It also confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. in Chicago, Illinois, on 5 June 1894 in a 30 gun shipment. Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. was a large Chicago distributor and retailer that was a brief stopping point for many firearms that were headed farther west. The Colt Frontier Six Shooter has found a special place in the hearts of Peacemaker collectors due in large part because of its deeply rooted connection
to the American West. From its inception and beyond its introduction in 1877, the .44-40 W.C.F. Single Action Army was intended to be used in conjunction with the another legendary Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873 rifle, which was chambered in the same cartridge. “The .44-40 W.C.F. was added to the list of Colt calibers for
use with the popular Winchester rifle of the same caliber,” wrote Colt author David Brown. “This combination of a rifle and a six shooter using the same cartridge made it possible for their user to buy only one kind of ammunition, and he could carry ‘fodder’ for both guns in the same cartridge belt.” These revolvers often saw many years of
hard use in the unforgiving climate of the Western Frontier, making antique examples in outstanding condition like this one incredibly scarce and eagerly snatched up by serious collectors and rarely parted with. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard two-line address while the iconic “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” is boldly marked on the left. The left of the frame is marked with
the two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is marked on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with matching “6882” inside the left grip panel.
The assembly number “445” is inside the loading gate. It is fitted with the standard blade front
sight, frame top groove rear sight, and checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. Included with the revolver is a rare factory picture box that retains almost all of the original end
label, an advertisement for Colt’s Ideal reloading implements is inside the lid, and appears that it could possibly be numbered to the revolver on the bottom, though the hand marking is very faint. The box also has a marking for the “Ayres Collection.”
A bore brush and cleaning rod are included in the box. These picture boxes are incredibly rare in any condition!
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