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298
LOT 297
Excellent Colt New Service
Double Action Revolver with
Extremely Rare Documented
2 Inch Barrel and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 332475, 45 Long
Colt cal., 2 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut checkered grips. This is a top quality Colt New Service
revolver outfitted with an uncommon 2 inch barrel. The factory
letter confirms it was in a shipment of two guns of this type in the
current configuration (grips not listed, and caliber listed as 38/c,
possibly factory error). They were sold to Bolles-Brendamour Co., a
sporting goods store in Cincinnati, and shipped to Kruse Hardware
Co. in that city on June 27, 1931, in order #10190/2. Mainly seen in lengths of four or six
inches, short barreled New Services found a niche as concealed carry weapons for people
willing to tolerate a heavier weapon than a Colt Pocket Hammerless or Detective Special in
the name of maximum firepower. Sometimes referred to as a “belly gun”, these revolvers were
often worn on the front of the belt, concealed beneath a common men’s jacket and, with practice,
could be brought into a fight at a very high rate of speed. The combination was put on the map
by Colt’s in-house marksman and ballistics expert John Henry “Fitz” FitzGerald, who also lent his name to the “Fitz Special”, a more radical
variant that sacrificed safety features for increased firing speed. Known examples often show the wear and tear of hard-used working guns,
with significant holster wear, signs of rubbing against clothing, and exposure to sweat and airborne moisture; this revolver, by contrast,
shows evidence of use but was exceptionally well cared for, placing it far above average for a weapon of this type. Blade front and square
notch rear sights, with external markings limited to the Rampant Colt on the side plate, “VP” and “3” on the trigger guard, and “1” on the
underside of the barrel; the traditional barrel markings have been excluded. The extractor rod head has been trimmed down, the hammer
and trigger are checkered, a casehardened lanyard ring is installed on the butt, and a set of Rampant Colt grips are present.
CONDITION: Excellent, with 98% plus original blue finish, showing some light handling marks and edge wear overall, a small amount of spotting
on the sides of the hammer and the right side of the frame, bright wear on the front of the cylinder latch, a thin drag line, and a small amount of touching up on
the front end of the ejector rod. Bright color is still present on the lanyard ring. The grips are also excellent. Mechanically excellent. A top notch Depression-era Colt
“belly gun”, which would be very difficult to find another!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000
LOT 298
Colt New Service Flattop Target Model Double Action Revolver in .45 Long Colt - Serial no. 20440, 45 Long
Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1908 and is one of an estimated 3,400
flattop target New Service Model revolvers produced by Colt. The revolver is fitted with target sights, flat top frame,
checkered trigger, and checkered grip straps. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and “NEW SERVICE
45 COLT” on the left side. The side plate has the New Service model marking around the Rampant Colt. The revolver
wears a set of checkered diamond walnut grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% original blue finish with smooth gray patina on the grip straps, some high
edge wear, and a cylinder drag line. The cylinder latch has been shaved. The grips are excellent with a few minor
handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500