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LOT 3165
Excellent Colt New Line
.32 Spur Trigger Revolver
with Rare Factory Box -
Serial no. 6338, 32 RF cal., 2
1/4 inch round bbl., nickel
finish, rosewood grips.
Manufactured in 1874, this
is an excellent example
of a .32 RF Colt New Line
revolver with a scarcely
seen factory box. The
standard two-line address is
marked on top of the barrel
flanked by Maltese crosses, and the “32 CAL.” caliber marking is on the left of the frame. The matching serial
number is marked on the bottom of the barrel, left of the grip frame, rear face of the cylinder (“338”), and in ink inside the right grip. There is a discreet “KM561” collection marking on the butt of the left grip (Karl Moldenaur Collection). It has standard features including a pair of smooth rosewood grips. Includes a scarce, correct factory box.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original nickel finish and 95% plus of the original nitre blue with a few scattered very light handling marks and some extremely light flaking on the edges of the back strap. The grips are also excellent with only the slightest handling marks and retaining nearly all the original varnish. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with moderate wear, concentrated mostly on the edges and corners.
Provenance: Karl Moldenaur Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3166
Extremely Rare First Year Production Colt
House Model “Cloverleaf” Snub Nose
Octagonal Barrel Revolver - Serial no. 1927,
41 cal., 1 1/2 inch octagon bbl., nickel/silver
finish, walnut grips. The Cloverleaf was Colt’s first solid frame
production revolver chambered for a metallic cartridge. The
Cloverleaf’s cylinder chambers were recessed to accept the
rims of cartridges, this feature was many years in advance of
any other Colt revolver. This revolver was manufactured in 1871, the first year of
production, and is a rare variation fitted with a 1 1/2 inch octagon barrel, which
was found only on the early 1 1/2 inch barreled revolvers. Both the octagon and
round shorter barrels are very rare. The revolver features a fixed German silver, half moon front sight
and frame notched rear sight. The left barrel flat is marked “COLT”, and the serial number is marked
on the butt and hand written on the inside of each grip panel. This revolver had a silver plated brass
spur trigger frame with nickel finished 4-shot cylinder, hammer and barrel and blue trigger. Fitted
with smooth two-piece varnished walnut grips.
CONDITION: Fine. The frame retains 25% of the original silver plating while the exposed areas have an
aged patina. The cylinder retains 70% original nickel finish. The barrel retains 95% original “frosted” finish with minor flaking, and the hammer retains almost all of the nickel finish with some light flaking. The grips are very fine retaining 90% of the original varnish with some high edge wear and a few minor dents and dings. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Will Hoffeld Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3167
Extremely
Fine Col9
Etched Panel
New Police “Cop &
Thug” Gripped Spur Trigger Revolver - Serial no. 16405, 38
CF cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips.
These Cop & Thug gripped New Police revolvers are admittedly among
the most attractive antique Colts and are very scarce. Less than 4,000 are believed
to have been manufactured between 1882 and 1886. This example has the 4 1/2
inch barrel with ejector, the two-line address on top, crisp etched panel on the left marked “NEW POLICE 38”, and a fixed round blade front sight. The grips have “COLT” at the top and a police officer restraining a thug’s knife armed hand while pointing a Colt revolver at his chest at the bottom. CONDITION: Extremely fine, retains 80% of the original nickel finish with some scattered light flaking and minor handling wear, showing mostly a bright grey patina, and the etched panel mostly well- defined. The grips are very fine with some scattered light handling marks, crisp checkering, and distinct
104 “cop and thug” imagery. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3168
Rare Kornbrath Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt
“Thuer” Third Model Derringer - Serial no. 20555, 41 RF cal., 2 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/silver
finish, walnut grips. Produced between 1875 and 1912, this derringer was embellished by Master
Engraver Rudoph Kornbrath in the early 20th century. The frame is done in oak leaf and acorn designs with punch dot background, geometric
designs on the front strap and floral patterns on the back strap. Fixed sights, with the “-COLT-” marking on top of the barrel hand engraved and
gold inlaid, and “41 CAL” on
the left side of the frame inside a
banner. Serial number is marked
on the frame under the grip, with matching “555” on the underside of the barrel. Checkered
hammer, smooth trigger and smooth two-piece walnut grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 70% of the original high polished fire blue finish, showing areas of flaking and a mottled brown patina on the exposed steel. All of the gold remains, with a small amount of bubbling. 40% of the original silver remains on the frame, concentrated on the front strap and in the protected areas, with a fine aged brass patina on the remainder. Grips are very good, with a few minor handling marks and light varnish wear. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000
LOT 3169
Very Fine Pair of Silver Plated
Factory Engraved National Arms Co.
No. 1 Derringers -A) National Arms
Co. No. 1 Derringer - Serial no. 1417, 38 cal., 2
1/2 inch flat top round bbl., silver finish, metal grips. These distinctive derringers were first manufactured by Moore Patent Firearms Co. in
1863 to 1865 and then the National Arms Co. until 1870 when the company was purchased by Colt, and Colt continued to manufacture them for another twenty years. Thus, this same design was manufactured for nearly three decades and was one of the classic pocket pistols of the latter half of the 19th century. This pair has flourishes
of scroll engraving on the sides of the
silver plated barrels and frames.
The barrels have rounded blade front
sights, “NATIONAL ARMS Co BROOKLYN.
N.Y” marked on top, the patent markings on the
undersides, and the serial numbers on the bottom at the breech. The
first pistol has “N17” on the breech face, and “N50” is
on the second pistol.
CONDITION: Very fine with 85% of the original silver plating remaining and displaying attractive aged patina, some blistering on the barrel, and
small spots of brass on the frame
along with crisp engraving and
minor overall wear. Mechanically
excellent. B) National Arms Co.
No. 1 Derringer - Serial no. 1450,
38 cal., 2 1/2 inch flat top round bbl., silver
finish, metal grips.
CONDITION: Very fine with crisp
engraving, 85% of the original
silver plating remaining, a few
small spots of brass showing through on the frame, and some
blistering on the barrel. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000