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LOT 1079
Black Powder Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action
Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 155690,
44-40 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1894. The top of the barrel is
marked with the one line address, “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”
on the left side and the two line, three patent dates are marked on
the left side of the frame followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The
matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger
guard, and back strap, with the assembly number “769” on the loading
gate. Standard blade front and frame notch rear sights, blue finish
with casehardened frame and hammer, and fitted with checkered hard
rubber grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top. The accompanying factory letter verifies the
barrel length, caliber, blue finish and grips as “Not Listed” and that it was sold to Simmons Hardware
Co., St Louis, Mo. Shipped as 1 of 2 to Barnes & Sons, address not listed, on May 14, 1894.
CONDITION: Very good, with 25% of the original blue finish remaining, in protected areas and the
rest turning a smooth brown patina. The frame has a smooth mottled silver gray patina with traces of
muted original case colors in protected areas. The grips are also very good with moderate overall wear
and a few minor dings and handling marks. The markings are crisp and clear. Mechanically fine. An
attractive, Old West Colt SAA Black Powder in the highly desirable 44-40 caliber!
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1078
Antique Special Order Browning Bros.
Retailer Marked Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action Rifle with Documented Special Order 30 Inch Barrel in
Desirable .45-90 W.C.F. with Factory Letter - Serial no. 19387, 45-90 WCF cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured 1888. This
is a fine example of a Browning Bros. shipped, special order Winchester Model 1886 rifle in the desirable .45-90 W.C.F. caliber. The Model 1886 was the first lever action
repeating rifle designed by the legendary John Moses Browning for Winchester and marked the beginning of a long and successful relationship between the two firearms
icons. Browning designed many of Winchester’s most famous models until 1902, making both incredibly wealthy, when a disagreement over royalties created a rift between the two.
The desirable “BROWNING BROS, OGDEN U.T” mark on top barrel flat. There are only 299 serial numbers between this rifle and Lot 58, which is also Browning Bros. marked, making it very possible they
were in the same shipment. The top barrel flat is also marked with the two-line address and the desirable “45-90 W.C.F.” caliber marking at the breech. The model marking is on the upper tang, and the
serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a set of “sporting” sights including a German silver blade front sight and an elevation adjustable buckhorn rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth
forearm and straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. The included factory letter confirms the configuration, including the extra length 30 inch barrel, as well as receipt at the warehouse on 21
June 1888 and shipment two days later.
CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a smooth grey patina, typical of a western shipped working gun, with a few
scattered patches of light surface spotting and some mild oxidation on the buttplate. The wood is also very good with a few
scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1077
Desirable Special
Order Antique
Winchester “Open
Top” First Model 1873 Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no. 27283, 44 WCF cal., 24 inch octagon bbl., blue
finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1877, just a few years into the long production life of one of Winchester’s most legendary
models. The Model 1873 is one of the most famous of all American firearms and has been popularly known as “the Gun that Won the
West” due to its popularity with pioneers. The rifle is in the “open top” first model configuration, with no dust cover and no provision for fitting
one, making it quite scarce and desirable. Only about 31,000 first models were manufactured in total, and only around 1,000 or less of these were in the “open top” configuration due to
a patent dispute. These “open top” Model 1873s are generally found in the 27000 serial number range, and the Model 1876 was also produced without a dust cover during the same period, though
many of both model were fitted with dust covers at the factory upon special request. The top barrel flat is marked with the standard two-line address and King’s patent marking, and the rifle correctly
lacks caliber markings, as only .44 W.C.F. was offered in initial production. The model marking is on the upper tang, and the serial number is on the lower tang. The left side of the upper and lower
tang is marked “271”, while the lower tang also has “19”, which is repeated in the stock inlet and inside the buttplate. It is fitted with a German silver blade front sight, an elevation adjustable semi-
buckhorn rear sight, and the factory installed set trigger. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock
with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included). The included factory letter confirms the configuration,
including the set trigger, as well as receipt at the warehouse on 24 November 1877 and shipment
on 27 November 1877.
CONDITION: Good, with faint traces of original finish, the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, and a few scattered
patches of light pitting and dings. The wood is also good, the forearm lightly sanded/re-oiled, and some scattered
minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The David L. DeLullo Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1080
Desirable and Very Fine F.A. Meanea, Cheyenne,
Wyoming, Tooled Leather “Mexican Loop” Holster
for a Colt Single Action Army Revolver - This is a
Cheyenne, Wyoming, tooled leather holster made for a
Colt Single Action Army revolver by perhaps the best
of the West’s master saddlers: Frank A. Meanea, who
was the successor to Gallatin & Co. established in 1867.
As with many holster makers, his main business was
making horse tack. The business in Cheyenne, Wyoming,
was started by his uncle and was taken over by Meanea in
1880. Before the Union Pacific constructed its new Cheyenne
depot in 1887, it had repair shops, a round house, a hotel, and a frame depot.
It’s been said that Meanea repaired harnesses for the Union Pacific. Among his
numerous customers were Charles M. Russell and Buffalo Bill Cody. This holster is of
the “Mexican Loop” style with two loops of different sizes retaining the body, with
the upper loop having basket weave tooling and lower having border tooling and
being marked “F.A. MEANEA/CHEYENNE.WYO.” The body of the holster is stamped
with a large rosette at the top and has scalloped border tooling.
CONDITION: Very fine, overall with some scattered light wear, a few minor scuffs, and crisp tooling and
markings overall.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
SERIAL NUMBER 27283