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LOT 3181
Documented
One-of-a-Kind
Tom Selleck
Commissioned Antique
Colt Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action
Revolver Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of “Quigley Down Under” with Presentation Case and Tom
Selleck Letter - Serial no. 38786, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, antique ivory grips. Manufactured
in 1898, this is a beautifully restored example of one of Colt’s double action successors to their iconic Single Action
Army revolver. The restoration of this revolver was commissioned by famous Hollywood actor Tom Selleck to
commemorate his starring role in the legendary film “Quigley Down Under”. It has the standard one-line address
marked on top of the barrel and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the left. The circled Rampant Colt is on the left of the
frame, and the serial number is on the butt. The back strap is engraved with “M. QUIGLEY” surrounded by light floral scroll. It is
fitted with a blade front sight, frame top groove rear sight, a lanyard ring and stud on the butt, and a pair of checkered antique
ivory grips. An included letter on Tom Selleck letterhead states that in 2020, the 30th anniversary of the film “Quigley Down
Under”, he wanted a way to commemorate the occasion, having already donated his Quigley Sharps rifle to the N.R.A. museum,
Selleck decided to have this revolver restored by Doug Turnbull, believing that this was the sort of revolver that Quigley himself
would have chosen to use. Selleck wrote, “While Matthew Quigley clearly had handled many revolvers of the period he was rightfully
partial to Colts. Having walked in his boots and knowing this Sharps was a state-of-the-art prototype of the 1874 model, I felt over time he would
have settled on the Colt 1878 Double Action.” And why not? The Model 1878 forged its legacy out in the American West carried by both sides of the law and would have felt
perfectly at home trading in the Wild West for another inhospitable frontier, the Australian outback. It was the period’s state of the art double action, and Quigley deserved
nothing less. The letter also mentions the case and the quotes on it, which were chosen by Selleck. The included hardwood case is fitted for the revolver and has a plaque on
the outside of the lid marked “QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER/30th ANNIVERSARY/GOD CREATED ALL MEN. THEY SAY SAM COLT MADE ‘EM EQUAL, MORE OR LESS”. There is another
plaque on the inside of the lid marked “SAID I NEVER HAD MUCH USE FOR ONE. NEVER SAID I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO USE IT.” The case has a cartridge block with its full
compliment of dummy cartridges, a case key, and two sets of extra grips (one hard rubber, one walnut).
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as professionally restored and inscribed by Doug Turnbull
Restoration, retaining 99% plus of the blue and niter blue finishes with only the slightest
handling marks and crisp refreshed markings. The grips are excellent with only the
slightest handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The case
is excellent with only the slightest handling/storage marks. A very attractive and
significant one-of-a-kind Colt Model 1878 commemorating the movie
“Quigley Down Under”!
Provenance: The Tom Selleck Collection.
Estimate: 20,000 - 30,000
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