Page 179 - 4093-BOOK1

177
LOT 150
Fine Antique First
Generation Colt Single
Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 181599, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
hard rubber grips. The Colt Single Action Army 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”. This example of the
legendary Peacemaker chambered in the iconic .45 LC caliber is certainly in well above average condition for a SAA
that shipped in 1898 to St. Louis, the gateway to the West and will be a great addition to any collection. The included factory letter
(copy) states the revolver was shipped on November 30, 1898 to Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri and confirms the 4 3/4
inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. This was a twelve gun shipment. The barrel has the two-line Hartford
address on top and “45 COLT” on the left side. The frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt.
Matching full serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The back both grips have the matching partial serial
number “1599.” The back of the right grip panel is marked with the name “R. PETERSON.”.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance and mostly smooth gray patina on the
front strap. 60% original case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The grips are excellent with a few handling marks and crisp
checkering. Mechanically excellent. A very attractive antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 151
Exceptional First
Generation Colt Single
Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 225738, 38 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard
rubber grips. The included factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Norvell Shapleigh Hardware Co.
of St. Louis, Missouri, on April 30, 1902, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .38-40 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks
not listed. This was a four 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). The barrel has 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. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original high polish blue finish with thinning to brown on the back strap and ejector
housing, a patch of pitting near the heel of the back strap, some high edge wear, and cylinder drag lines. The frame and hammer
retain 85% plus of the original casehardened finish with some discolored pitting on the right side of the frame. The grips are
excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 152
Fine Black Powder Colt Frontier Six
Shooter Single Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 140286, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, antique ivory grips. When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 W.C.F. Single Action
Army, or Frontier Six Shooter, was intended to be used in conjunction with another legendary western icon, the Winchester
Model 1873 rifle, which came standard in the same chambering. “The .44-40 WCF was added to the list of Colt calibers for
use with the popular Winchester rifle of the same caliber,” wrote Colt author David Brown. “This combination of a rifle and a
six shooter using the same cartridge made it possible for their user to buy only one kind of ammunition, and he could carry ‘fodder’
for both guns in the same cartridge belt.” It has the standard one-line address on top of the barrel and the iconic “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” stamped
on the left side of the barrel. The left side of the frame is marked with the two-line patent dates followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. “44” for the caliber
designation is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. Matching serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The
included factory letter states the revolver was shipped on April 22, 1891 to Hartley & Graham of New York City with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44-40
caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a ten gun shipment.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with holster and edge wear and grip straps mostly a smooth gray patina. 30% original case colors remain on the
hammer and frame. The attractive grips are very fine with some handling marks, rich mellow aged appearance, and attractive grain. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500