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LOT 1134
Very Fine Documented London Agency Shipped Antique Colt Etched Panel Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 17643, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Designed by William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff, Colt’s factory manager and Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. With 51,210 being produced, the 1878 was never nearly as popular as its single action cousin; however, there were still many that favored it in the West for its firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts” shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn. This example was manufactured in 1884, and interestingly, was shipped to Colt’s London Agency. While many think of .44-40 W.C.F. as a cartridge of the American Western Frontier, this particular revolver is evidence that the cartridge also found popularity elsewhere. One can easily imagine the stopping power of .44-40 being highly valued in many corners of the British Empire during the late Victorian period. It has the standard one-line address marked on top of the barrel and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the left in the desirable etched panel. “44 CAL” is on the left of the trigger guard. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, a lanyard ring and stud on the butt, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt’s at the top. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed), as well as the shipment to Colt’s London Agency on 30 September 1886. A brass collection tag is included, marked “0468”. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% of the original high polish blue finish with the balance having flaked to a smooth grey or brown patina and a small patch of very light surface pitting on the top right of the frame along the sighting groove. The original acid etched panel is excellent. The grips are fine showing an attractive chocolate tone, minimal handling marks, and mostly crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1135
Very Fine Colt Model
1877 Lightning Double
Action Revolver - Serial no.
117631, 38 Long Colt cal., 4 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1900. The barrel has the two-line Hartford
address on top and “COLT. D.A. 38” on the left side, frame has the
three-line patent dates and circled Rampant Colt on the left side,
and matching numbers on frame, trigger guard, and back strap. It is
fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, and a pair of
checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% of the original blue finish and vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey patina. 90% of the original nitre blue remains on the trigger and hammer. The grips are excellent with only the slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1136
Antique Colt Etched Panel “Sheriff’s” Model 1877 Thunderer Ejectorless Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips - Serial no. 12107, 41 Long Colt cal., 3 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. Though the nicknames “Rainmaker”, “Lightning”, and “Thunderer” are all excellent marketing material, they were not names ever actually used by Colt. These nicknames are believed to have been coined by the famous Colt distributors, Benjamin Kittredge, who is also believed to have been responsible for giving the Single Action Army its iconic nickname, “Peacemaker”. Manufactured in 1878, the barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and “COLT. D.A. 41” in an acid etched panel on the left side. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking and “41CAL” is on the left rear of the trigger guard. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and rear of the cylinder (“107”), and the assembly number “557” is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, and a pair of smooth pearl grips. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original nickel finish and 60% plus of the original nitre blue with a few scattered patches of light flaking, a few small patches of light pitting on the left of the barrel, and an otherwise well-defined etched panel. The grips are fine with a spliced repair in the left panel and a couple hairline cracks in the right panel. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1137
Antique Colt Model 1878 Double Action Revolver - Serial
no. 4373, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
hard rubber grips. Designed by William Mason and Charles
Brinckerhoff, Colt’s factory manager and Superintendent
of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to
be a double action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action Army
revolver. With 51,210 being produced, the 1878 was never nearly as popular
as its single action cousin, however, there were still many that favored it in the west for its
firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts”
shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn. This example was manufactured in 1880 and has
the standard one-line address marked on top of the barrel, along with the caliber marking
over an added, later production verified proof stamp on the left of the trigger guard (writer
believes the gun was returned to the factory at a later date for unknown work). There is a blade front sight at the muzzle and a sighting groove in the top of the frame. It is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts in ovals at the top of each panel, and there is a lanyard swivel on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the factory re-plated nickel with the balance having flaked to reveal a smooth grey patina and some scattered patches of light surface pitting. The grips are also fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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