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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK COLT CAVALRY & ARTILLERY REVOLVERS BY KOPEC & FENN
92
LOT 1106
Documented All Blue Finish U.S. Colt Artillery Model
Single Action Army Revolver
with John Kopec Letter and Factory Letter - Serial no. 121178, 45 Long Colt cal., 5
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. This high condition Colt Artillery Model revolver was reviewed by famed Colt historian and author John Kopec and is pictured and identified in Kopec and Fenn’s “Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers”
on page 96. In his 1989 dated letter of authentication Kopec observed, “This revolver left the Colt factory as an Artillery revolver
twice. It was shipped on January 31, 1896 then it seems by the grips that it left the factory again in 1903. It is not altogether strange that this
occurred as we have records of other Artillery Models which were refurbished twice. This revolver probably saw service during the early part of
the Spanish-American War, then was returned after this service and refurbished again into the extremely fine condition that we find it in today.”
The accompanying factory letter validates Kopec’s assertions. The factory letter states the revolver was initially shipped on March 21, 1887 in a 400 gun shipment, had a first refurbishing shipment date of January 31, 1896 (400 gun shipment), and had a second refurbishing shipment date of May 18, 1903 (500 gun shipment). The 1903 shipment was delivered to the Springfield Armory, Massachusetts. The factory letter continued, “[O]ur records indicate that subject revolver was returned to the factory for refurbishing on two occasions. The refurbishing consisted of replacement of worn parts, exterior refinishing, and reassembly without attention
to matching parts.” In his letter Kopec noted the unusual blue finished frame: “The rather strange color of the frame proper has not been observed
by us before. We can only render our opinion as to what this rather strange ‘blue-gray’ color represents. Since this revolver did undergo
refurbishing in 1896, the frame at that time was slightly buffed (only .003” of metal removed) it was undoubtedly re-case colored at the time as was the practice. When the revolver was re-submitted to Colt to be refinished again in 1903, the case colors were still intact, no further
buffing was required, and the area was simply dipped into the bluing tank. The color did not take onto the old case-colored surface,
but left it as we see it today, a pleasing blue-gray color.” In Kopec and Fenn’s “Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers” there is a small section
dedicated to the “Full Blued Frame Artillery Revolvers” with this gun pictured and identified as an example of the “scarce, blued- frame Artillery revolver” (see pages 96-97). The authors noted, “The exact origin of these blue-frame revolvers has not been positively established. They are, however, an entity which cannot be overlooked by today’s collector/student.” The authors described the bluing
on the frame as “rather translucent and a true blue color; it almost appears as though you can look through the color onto the metal surface of the frame.”
The DFC sub-inspected frame was manufactured in 1887. The trigger guard (“91966”) was manufactured in 1883. The back strap (“120426”) was manufactured in
1887. Letter “P” proof marks are stamped on cylinder and barrel. U.S. government inspector Rinaldo A. Carr’s “RAC” initials appear twice on the bottom of the grip,
and Carr’s script letter cartouche is stamped on the right side of the grip under the date “1903.” The top of the barrel has the one-line Colt Hartford address, and
the left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates followed by “US.” An included 1963 dated handwritten letter states the revolver was carried by a former
Bakersfield, California, resident, Walter Parent, during the Philippine Insurrection.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as a documented Colt factory refurbished blue frame Artillery Model revolver. The frame retains 95% of the factory blue-gray finish
with wear on the high edges. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 95% plus factory bright polish blue finish with high edge wear and some handling marks.
The cylinder retains 90% factory bright polish blue finish with thinning and edge wear on the balance. The grip straps retain 80% factory bright polish blue finish with smooth gray patina on the balance. 97% of the case colors remain on the hammer. The grips are fine with a series of light dings on the bottom and clear date and cartouche. Mechanically excellent. A true rarity in U.S. military arms collecting, this well documented, high condition Spanish- American War era blue frame Colt Artillery Model revolver will be hard to improve upon. Do not miss your chance to acquire this rare variation of the legendary Colt SAA that is missing from even the most advanced collections! Provenance: The Charles Manuel Collection; The Dick Burdick Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 1107
Fine Rinaldo A. Carr Inspected U.S. Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory
and Kopec Letters - Serial no. 134172, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1890, this documented example of a U.S. Colt Single Action Army revolver which managed to survive in its original Cavalry Model configuration. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration, grips and barrel length not listed as is typical, as well as shipment to the U.S. government inspector on 3 July 1890 in a shipment of 150 guns. The included John Kopec letter states that this revolver was inspected by Stanhope E. Blunt and Rinaldo A. Carr, and that the revolver could not be located in the National Archives records. It goes on to state that in 1891, 212 cavalry model revolvers were issued to state militia units and that this may have been one of them, which would account for it remaining in its original Cavalry Model
configuration. The letter notes that the revolver is fitted with a “donut” type ejector head, which should be the later oval style, but the revolver is now fitted with the oval style. The standard one-line address is marked on the top of the barrel. The left of the frame is marked with the three-line patent dates and “U.S”. The matching serial number is on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, while the partial matching serial number “4172” is on the bottom of the barrel and
the cylinder. Carr’s “R.A.C.” inspection mark is on the bottom of the barrel, bottom of the frame, bottom of the grip, and the cylinder, and there are “K” inspection marks on the trigger guard and back strap. It is fitted with a smooth one piece walnut grip that is marked on the left with “1890” over Stanhope E. Blunt’s “SEB” cartouche, while Carr’s “RAC” cartouche is on the right. Revolvers such as this one remaining in their original Cavalry Model configuration that avoided being converted to Artillery Model configuration are rare in any condition. Kopec notes at the end of the his letter that “there is no question that this revolver remains today as an outstanding example of a late manufacture U.S. Cavalry revolver.” CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% of the original blue finish and 50% of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey- brown patina, primarily on the cylinder and grip straps, and a few scattered patches of light pitting, mostly on the barrel near the muzzle. The grip is also fine with some scattered light handling marks and crisp cartouches. Mechanically excellent. A very fine example of a 1890 manufactured, Rinaldo A. Carr inspected, U.S. Colt Cavalry Model revolver which would certainly enhance your collection! Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000