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LOT 1058
Historic Documented Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver Attributed to Visalia, California City Marshall, Charles Rowland with Factory Letter and Supporting Documentation - Serial no. 164417, 38 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Few firearms are more synonymous with the American west than the Colt Single Action Army revolver, and this example is attributed to a true city marshal of the frontier, in Visalia, California. A notarized letter dated 1993 signed by J. Kenneth Rowland lists this revolver by serial number and states that it belonged to his father Charles E. “Edward” Rowland, who was the city marshal of Visalia, California and traveled to Alaska in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. “Ed” Rowland arrived in California in 1877 and settled at Soda Springs, now known as Springville. Around 1880, the family moved to Visalia where they initially operated a wagon shop. In 1898, Rowland caught “gold fever” and headed to Alaska to take part in the Klondike gold rush. Him and his party stuck gold and eventually pulled nearly $10,000 worth of it out, half of which went to the owner of the stake. The party returned most of the way to California by boat, experiencing heavy weather along the way, which led to rumors that Rowland had been lost at sea. Upon his return, Ed married and joined his father-in-law’s bakery business. In 1913, Rowland was encouraged to run for city marshal of Visalia and won. In one documented instance, Rowland was responding to a battery report at the railroad, and discovered a large group of “tramps” there, who soon grabbed sticks and stones and “started after the marshal”. The newspaper article states that Rowland drew his gun, possibly this one, and ordered all 32 of the assailants to march down the street to the jail. Surprisingly, they all complied, and the initial three involved in the battery were placed in cells. Rowland worked as the city marshal of Visalia until 1923. This revolver was manufactured in 1896, and was likely carried by Rowland to the Klondike. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration and lists shipment to Henry C. Squires & Sons on 20 February 1896. The top of the barrel is marked with the single-line address and the caliber marking is on the left. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the assembly number “997” is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. Included along with the factory letter and notarized letter are various documents and newspaper clippings related to Ed Rowland. CONDITION: Fine, showing a mixture of grey and brown patina and all the character of the American Frontier, with some scattered patches of minor pitting. The cylinder pin has been replaced. The well-worn grips are good, showing years of use as a frontier sidearm. Mechanically excellent. A Single Action Army that’s full of character and documented to a marshal of the Old West! Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 1059
Rare and Desirable Colt-Burgess Lever Action Carbine - Serial no. 3972, 44-40 WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured circa 1883 to 1885. The Colt- Burgess rifle and carbine was the only lever action firearm made in any quantity in Colt’s history. Total production stood at only 6,403 long arms (3,810 rifles and 2,593 carbines). These Burgess lever guns were Colt’s only attempt to compete with Winchester in that category on the frontier, and they truly were a worthy competitor. This particular carbine is the standard weight version as opposed to the baby carbine. The standard carbine was a slightly heavier version of the baby carbine. The standard carbine weighed 7 1/2 lbs. versus 5 1/2 lbs. Colt manufactured 1,219 standard carbines. The lever action features a 20 inch barrel, full length magazine tube, carbine blade front and folding ladder rear sights, two-line address/patent dates barrel marking, Rampant Colt and saddle ring staple on the left side of the receiver (saddle ring absent), and carbine stock with carbine trapdoor buttplate. The hammer, lever, and buttplate are casehardened, and the remaining surfaces are blued. A four piece cleaning rod is included. CONDITION: Very good, displaying a brown-gray patina associated with a well traveled carbine with the receiver retaining 40% thin original blue finish. 30% of faded original case colors remain on the lever, hammer, and buttplate. The wood is very fine with a couple short stress lines at the upper tang and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A solid example of a rare Colt-Burgess lever action carbine that looks as though it spent time serving on the frontier. Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1060
Antique Winchester Model 1873 Lever Action Saddle Ring Carbine in .44-40 W.C.F. - Serial no. 271748B, 44 WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The Winchester Model 1873 is forever remembered as one of the “guns that won the west”. The Model 1873 rifles and carbines found widespread popularity on the frontier due to being chambered in many of the same calibers as the legendary Colt Single Action Army, allowing someone to only have to source and carry a single type of ammunition. Manufactured in 1888, this example is a Third Model, with integral dust cover guide and dust cover with serrations at the rear. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address/King’s patent marking and “44 W.C.F.” at the breech. The upper tang is marked with the model designation, caliber marking repeated on the bottom of the cartridge elevator, and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a block blade front sight, folding ladder rear sight, and a saddle ring on the left of the receiver. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with a trapdoor carbine buttplate containing an included three-piece cleaning rod. CONDITION: Very good plus, showing a mixture of 30% plus original blue and plum-brown patina and 40% of the original case colors on the hammer. 30% of the original nitre blue remains on the loading gate. The wood is also very good showing evidence of maintenance, typical of a working gun, and some scattered minor handling marks and chips. Mechanically excellent. A solid representative example of a Winchester Model 1873 saddle ring carbine! Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1061 Very Scarce and Desirable Remington Model 1890 Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 1637, 44-40 WCF cal., 5 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. Reportedly, Remington manufactured approximately 2,000 Model 1890 Single Action Army revolvers between circa 1891-1896. The Model 1890 was the successor to the Model 1875 and 1888 and was also intended to be the competitor to the Wild West legend the Colt Single Action Army. Old West lawmen and outlaws alike carried the Model 1890, and today the model is one of the most sought after of all of the Remington produced handguns. This model saw heavy use on the frontier, with a limited amount of surviving examples. The top of the barrel is marked “REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION, N.Y.” The caliber designation “44.C.F.W” is marked on the left side of the frame just below the cylinder. The serial number is correctly located on the lower left side of the frame under the grip panel. A factory lanyard ring is mounted on the butt. The revolver wears a set of unnumbered checkered hard rubber grips with the “RA” monogram at the tops. CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% original nickel finish with a mix of gray and darkened patina and some scattered light pitting on the balance of the exposed metal surfaces, most noticeable around the front sight. The undersized period replacement grips are very good with some light wear and a chipped section on the rear of the lower left edge. Mechanically excellent. This would make a fine addition to any western firearms collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
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