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LOT 1116
Highly Attractive New York Engraved and Silver
Plated Colt Sheriff’s Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 8492, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 inch round bbl.,
silver finish, antique ivory grips. The Model 1878 revolver was intended
by Colt to be a double action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action
Army revolver, and an improvement over their previous foray into the
double action market with the Model 1877. With 51,210 being produced, the
Model 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. Offered here is an ejectorless 4
inch barrel Model 1877 simply known as the Sheriff’s Model that received a period New York engraving and silver plating. Whether on
the hip of a lawman or under the counter of a storekeeper’s shop, these Sheriff’s Model Colt DAs were at the forefront of taming the
wilds in growing cities or the western frontier, as well as in the holsters of all manner of ruffians and outlaws. Today these Sheriff’s Model
1878s hold a special place in the hearts of collectors. The engraving consists mostly of floral scrollwork on punch dot background, zig-zag
line motifs, and fan pattern behind the hammer. The top of the barrel has the two-line Hartford address, and the left side of the trigger guard is marked
“45 CAL.” The cylinder is numbered to the gun. Matching assembly numbers appear on the grip frame and loading gate. The factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Hartley &
Graham of New York City on May 23, 1882, with a 4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a five gun shipment.
CONDITION: Very fine as period New York engraved, retaining 80% of the retailer silver plating which has mostly taken on an attractive age darkened appearance. There is some pitting on the back strap. The
grips are very good with a chip on the right panel. Mechanically functions fine. It is not often that we catalog New York engraved Colt Model 1878 Sheriff’s Model DA Revolvers.
Provenance: The Charles Schreiner Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LOT 1117
Attractive Documented Cheyenne, Wyoming Shipped
Factory Engraved Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877 Lightning
Double Action Revolver with Desirable 2 Inch Barrel, Pearl
Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no. 48678, 38 Long Colt cal., 2 inch
round bbl., gold finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1883, this is a solid example of a
factory engraved Colt “Sheriff’s” Model 1877 Lightning revolver. The included factory
letter lists the revolver in .38 caliber with a 2 inch barrel, nickel and gold finish, pearl
grips, and factory engraved when shipped to Peter Bergenson in Cheyenne, Wyoming,
on 12 December 1883. The name noted in this factory letter is believed to be a
misspelling of “Peter Bergerson”, who was a noted gunsmith and competition shooter
in Cheyenne and lived from around 1853 to 1930. It is unclear whether this revolver was
ordered for Bergerson himself or to sell in his Cheyenne shop. This specific example shows very
attractive, near full coverage, factory engraving that is very much in line with the engraving executed by Colt factory Master Engraver
Cuno Helfricht during this time. The engraving features floral scroll on the sides of the frame and right of the barrel, “Nimschke stars” on
the sides of the frame at the breech, starbursts on the recoil shield and loading gate, and zig-zag line patterns throughout. The desirable 2
inch barrel has the etched panel on the left and is simply marked “COLT” on top. The three-line patent dates are marked on the left of the
frame and “38 CAL” is on the left of the trigger guard. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and
backstrap, as well as the partial serial number “678” on the rear face of the cylinder and the assembly number “788” inside the loading gate.
It is fitted with an attractive pair of smooth pearl grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 95% plus of the period replated gold finish with some areas of light pitting visible below the finish, a few
scattered spots of light flaking, visible etched panel, and crisp engraving overall. The highly attractive grips are also very fine with a minor chip absent from the front
corner of the left panel and otherwise only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically functions fine, although slightly out of time. An attractive, factory embellished,
western shipped, Colt “Sheriff’s” Model 1877 Lightning revolver!
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
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