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LOT 1279
Very Rare Documented BATFE
Exempted .45 Colt New Service Model Double
Action Smoothbore Revolver with Factory Letter, Photographed
in “Colt New Service Revolvers” Book - Serial no. 326618, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured on April 24, 1926, according to the
included factory letter, which confirms the revolver’s current configuration including the 7
1/2 inch smoothbore barrel chambered for .45 caliber, smoothbore cylinder, blue
finish, and rubber grips when sent in a lone shipment to Carlin & Fulton in Baltimore,
Maryland, on April 29, 1926. This revolver is listed by serial number on the BATFE
Curio or Relics List, making it a true rarity and particularly desirable as an example
of arms that would otherwise be restricted by the National Firearms Act, and is
also pictured on page 62 of “Colt New Service Revolvers” by Bob Murphy. Features
fixed blade front and topstrap notch rear sights, lanyard loop on the butt, standard
two-line Colt address and patent dates on top of the choked smoothbore barrel
with the model and caliber listed on the left, Rampant Colt on the left of the frame,
along with “triangle/VP” and “3” on the left of the trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of
un-numbered checkered hard rubber grips with “COLT” logos. Also includes a BATFE
exemption letter.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 75% plus original blue finish with rub wear and
silvering on the sides of the barrel, some light edge wear, a light cylinder drag line,
minor spotting/freckling, some brown patina showing through on the grip straps,
and minor handling marks. The grips are excellent with crisp checkering/logos.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
LOT 1280
Collector’s Lot of Three Fine Glass Target Balls - Invented in the 1860s, the
glass target ball was a popular aerial gunnery target, being light enough
for easy launching and coming apart quite impressively when struck.
Though displaced for general use by the invention of the clay pigeon, the glass
ball held a niche with exhibition shooters, sometimes being loaded with feathers
or similar filler to make the breaks even more eye catching. While produced in quantity, as a
consumable asset literally made to be broken, few have made it to the present day in one piece. Offered here
are three examples of this very attractive target: blue and marked “WW GREENER ST MARYS WORKS BIRMm
& 68 HAYMARKET LONDON,” amber and marked “IRA PAINE’S FILLED BALL PAT OCT 23 1877,” and amber and
marked “BOGARDUS’ GLASS BALL PAT’D APR 10 1877.”
CONDITION: Excellent with minor wear. No antique sporting collection can be considered complete without a
few glass target balls.
Estimate: 900 - 1,400
LISTED BY THE ATF AS
HAVING A SMOOTH BORE
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