Page 86 - 4092-BOOK3-FLIPBOOK

LOT 3089
Documented Antique Colt First
Generation Single Action Army
Revolver in .32 W.C.F. with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 169246, 32 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The Colt
Single Action Army revolver is one of the most iconic
firearms of the American West, and it, alongside the
Winchester Model 1873, are often cited as the “guns that won
the West”. The .32 W.C.F. caliber was noted for its accuracy and
would have been highly regarded on the Frontier by someone concerned with well-placed shots. This example was manufactured in 1897, when much of the West still remained very wild. The standard two-line address is on
top of the barrel and the caliber marking is on the left. The two-line patent date marking and circled Rampant Colt are on the left of the frame. Matching serial numbers are on
the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The assembly number “568” is marked inside the loading gate. It has standard features and is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration as well as shipment to Hartley & Graham in New York on 28 November 1897. CONDITION: Fine, retains 65% plus of the original nickel finish with the balance having flaked to a smooth grey/brown patina with a few scattered light patches of brown oxidation. The grips are also fine with some mild wear, a few scattered light handling marks, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3090
First Generation Colt Single Action
Army Revolver with Factory Letter -
Serial no. 323815, 38 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard
rubber grips. The included factory letter states the
revolver was shipped on September 16, 1912 to
Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, with
a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .38-40 caliber, blue finish
and type of stocks not listed. This was a 20 gun
shipment. .38-40 WCF was one of those perfect
cartridges for the Western frontier. As explained by Colt SAA expert and author David Brown, “This cartridge, as used in the Colt Single Action, made the revolver
a perfect companion-piece for the Winchester .38-40 W.C.F. rifle--just as the .44-
40 revolver was a mate for the .44-40 rifle. This bottle-neck .38-40 cartridge made one of the harder-hitting of the handgun loads, and hand-loaders today know that it can be reloaded to near the modern Magnum pressures” (“The 36 Calibers of
the Colt Single Action Army,” page 150). As a .38-40 SAA shipped to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, it is certainly possible this revolver made it to the frontier. The barrel carries the two-line Hartford address on top and “38 W.C.F.” on the left side. The frame has the two-line patent date marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. The grips are numbered to another gun. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very good, displaying the appearance of spending time in a challenging environment with 40% original blue and 20% original case colors (mostly contained in protected areas) remaining. The loosely fitting replacement grips are very good with modified screw escutcheon on the right panel and softened checkering from spending time in the hand. Mechanically needs work as cylinder is out of time, otherwise auction functions properly. An early 20th century Colt SAA with some character!
84 Estimate: 3,500 - 4,500
LOT 3091
Very Fine Colt Bisley Model
Single Action Revolver in .32 W.C.F. - Serial no. 242280, 32 WCF
cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber
grips. Manufactured in 1903, this is one of only 13,291 Bisley Model
Single Action Army revolvers chambered in .32 W.C.F. These Bisley revolvers
were designed by Colt with accuracy and target shooting in mind, making .32
W.C.F. which was known for its accuracy a popular caliber in the model. The top
of the barrel is marked with the one-line address while the model and caliber
marking are on the left. The left of the frame is marked with the two-line patent
dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. It is fitted with blade front and frame-top groove rear sights and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% original blue finish with thinning to brown and high edge wear on the balance. The frame retains half of the mostly silvered out original case colors in the protected areas. The hammer retains 40% original case colors. The grips are excellent with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3092
First Generation Colt Frontier
Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 274406, 44-40
WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber
grips. Manufactured in 1906. These Frontier Six Shooter Revolvers were very
popular in the American West through the “Wild West” period and into the 20th
century due to their ability to be paired with Winchester’s lever actions that shared
the same caliber. This example displays a “been there, done that” look of an SAA that
saw a lifetime of action. The top of the barrel has the standard two-line address and
the Frontier Six Shooter marking is on the left. The left side of the frame has the standard
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 matching partial serial number “4406” on the back
of both grip panels.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 30% original blue finish with a smooth brown-gray patina on the
balance and traces of original case colors in the protected areas. The grips are fine with some minor
handling marks and some softened checkering. Mechanically excellent. A desirable Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army
revolver with authentic “working gun” character.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3093
Desirable Antique Colt Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action Revolver
- Serial no. 32724, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1893. Though never as popular as their Single Action Army cousins, the
Colt Model 1878 revolvers, particularly chambered in .44-40, were highly valued on the
Frontier for their rapid firepower and their ability to be easily paired with a Winchester Model 1873 rifle or carbine in the same caliber. According to Colt expert and author Don Wilkerson, Colt manufactured 5,132 blued Model 1878s with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44-40 WCF (“Colt’s Double Action Revolver, Model of 1878,” page 261). The barrel is stamped with the one-line Hartford address and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the left side. The cylinder is numbered
to the gun (“724”).
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance along with holster wear and a few scattered patches of pitting. The faded grips are also very fine with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Property of a Distinguished Southern Clergyman.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000