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LOT 67
Well-Documented, Fresh and Rare Individual Shipped Colt Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double
Action Revolver with Factory Ten-Inch “Buntline” Barrel and Factory Letter as Pictured in Don
Wilkerson’s Colt’s Double Action Revolver - Serial no. 33458, 44-40 WCF cal., 10 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
pearl grips. This Model 1878 DA revolver is a true rarity in Colt collecting. It is the only known surviving example
of one of three factory recorded nickel plated 44-40 Colt Model 1878 revolvers made with a 10 inch “Buntline”
barrel (see page 261 of Wilkerson’s “Colt’s Double Action Revolver”). The revolver is pictured and identified on
page 107 and briefly discussed on page 121 of Don Wilkerson’s “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver: Model of 1878”
as well as on page 128 in the book “Colt And Its Collectors” (2003). The accompanying factory letter states the
revolver was sold to Alden Sampson, shipped to Schoverling, Daly & Gales of New York City on June 26, 1894, and
confirms the extremely rare 10 inch barrel in .44 caliber and nickel finish with type of stocks not listed. This was a
single gun shipment. It is not often that we catalog Colts shipped to an individual. The 1900 census indicated that
Aldolphin “Alden” Sampson was born in 1855, lived in The Bronx, New York, and was an engineer for the Raritan
River Rail Road based in New Jersey. The revolver has a nickel plated finish and is fitted with two-piece pearl grips.
The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with
the one-line address “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” The Rampant Colt trademark is stamped in a
circle on the lower left side of the frame. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number “177”.
The serial number “33/458” on the bottom of the grip strap. The partial serial number “458” is stamped on the
rear face of the cylinder. The Colt factory star present on the right rear trigger bow denotes that the revolver was
sent back to the factory for unknown reasons. Unquestionably all original, probably just to repair action, which
happened quite often on this model. Designed by William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff, Colt’s factory manager
and Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double action alternative to
Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. With 51,210 being produced, the 1878 was never nearly as popular
as its single action cousin; however, there were still many that favored it in the West for its firepower, including
Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts” shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn.
This extremely rare 10 inch barrel example stands alone as a must have for the Colt collector!
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 60% of the original nickel-plated finish. There is moderate flaking on the cylinder,
the forward edges of the frame and the backstrap. The trigger retains most of the niter blue finish. The barrel and
frame markings are crisp. Front sight period modified. The pearl grips are fine with a small chip on the bottom of
the lower left heel. Mechanically excellent. As the only known surviving example of three Model 1878 revolvers
Colt manufactured with a 10 inch Buntline .44-40 WCF barrel and nickel finish, this DA revolver is a true American
arms rarity and a most have for the serious Colt collector.
Provenance: The Charles Hackett Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500
Only three 10 inch barreled nickel plated 44-40 Colt Model
1878 revolvers are recorded by the Colt factory, with this
being the only known surviving example.