Page 150 - 4090-BOOK3

148
LOT 3230
Cased Antique Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .450 Boxer and Factory Letter - Serial no. 14877, 45 Boxer cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is an antique black powder frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver is chambered .45 Boxer, a desirable caliber that has bemused Colt collectors for decades. In “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1872-1895” on page 46 the authors write, “An interesting fact became evident when comparing listings in the Colt ledgers with copies of the actual invoices found in the Connecticut State Library. The designation ‘Eley’ or ‘Boxer’ was used interchangeably. Revolvers listed in .45 Eley in the record ledger
may be listed on the shipping invoice as .45 Boxer and vice versa.”The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on November 5, 1874 to Colt’s London Agency, London, England, with a “short barrel” in .45 Eley and blue finish with stocks not listed. This shipment was for 100 guns. The left side of the trigger guard has the .45 Boxer caliber marking: “45 CAL/B.” In “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1872-1895” the authors accounted for a total of 3,385 Peacemakers in .450 Boxer/ Eley falling in the 1-164100 serial number range, and, out of the 3,385 units, 2,346 had blue finish and
5 1/2 inch barrel (page 373). The top of the 5 1/2 inch barrel has the one-line Hartford address (“COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”). The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking. London proofs are stamped on the barrel and on the cylinder behind each flute. The right side of the trigger guard is stamped with the letter “C” and a Rampant Colt, a marking found on Colts that went through Colt’s London Agency. Matching full or partial serial numbers are stamped on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel. The partitioned oak case features a Colt London Agency paper label as well as a Manton & Co. of Calcutta retailer paper label on the interior of the lid and contains a cartridge block holding eleven rounds of .455, “L” shaped tool, James Dixon & Sons oiler, and cleaning rod. CONDITION: Fine. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 40% plus original blue finish and the grip straps retain 50% original blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The cylinder retains 70% refinished blue. The frame and hammer 50% plus original case colors. The grip is also fine with some minor handling marks and retaining most of the original varnish. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with minor handling/storage marks and typical high spot wear on the lining.
Overall the paper labels are very fine
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 14,000