Page 110 - 4092-BOOK2-FLIPBOOK

LOT 1109
Documented Albuquerque, New Mexico Shipped/Winchester
Repeating Arms Co. Export Agent First Generation Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 329015, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, pearl grips. The Colt Single Action Army
revolver is one of the most iconic symbols in all of Americana and is indelibly associated with the adventure, conflict, and struggle of the American frontier. Colt’s Frontier Six Shooter is
rooted even deeper in the American West due to its close bond with another Wild West icon, the Winchester Model 1873. These two
firearms together make up the pairing that most would point to when asked to define “the guns that won the West”. Chambered in the same hefty and reliable caliber, .44-40 W.C.F., this revolver and long gun pairing allowed for someone to only have to source and carry one type of
ammunition to feed two very different firearms, both of which have carried the nickname, “The Peacemaker” throughout their history. It is hard to imagine many situations, even in the turbulent Wild West, that a Colt Single Action Army revolver and a Winchester Model 1873 lever gun in .44 W.C.F. couldn’t handle! This match made in heaven between Colt and Winchester would remain popular well after the taming of the
West and into the 20th century through the various model evolutions of both brands. The accompanying factory letter (copy) states the revolver was shipped to Charles Ilfeld Co.
of Albuquerque, New Mexico, c/o Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut, on July 17, 1915, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .44-40 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a four gun shipment. The factory letter goes on to state, “It is of further interest to note that during the time frame of 1895 to 1915, Colt was obliged by restrictive trade arrangements to use Winchester Repeating Arms Company as an export agent.” The barrel carries the two-line Hartford address on top and the iconic “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” marking on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent date marking followed by a Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% plus original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The hammer and frame retain 60% plus original case colors. The slightly undersized grips are very fine with slight chipping and highly attractive fiery colors. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1110
Scarce Colt Bisley Flattop Target Model Single Action Revolver in
.32 W.C.F. - Serial no. 305470, 32 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1908, this is one of only 976 Bisley
Flattop Target revolvers manufactured by Colt between 1894 and 1913, and only one
of approximately 131 chambered in .32 W.C.F. It has the correct all blue flattop frame
and pinned blade and dovetailed notch target sights. The barrel has the one-line
Hartford address on top and “(BISLEY MODEL) 32 W.C.F.” on the left side. The left side of
the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by the circled Rampant Colt.
The left side of the trigger guard has a Colt factory verified proof. Matching serial numbers
are found on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels. The assembly number “311” is on the loading gate and an inverted “&” Colt rework mark is on the right of the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the period factory refinished blue with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on edges and the grip straps, and a light cylinder drag line. The grips are also very fine with a few minor blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by Brown, of the 976 Colt Bisley Flattop Target revolvers manufactured, only 131 were chambered in .32 W.C.F.
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