Page 224 - 4093-BOOK3

LOT 3306
Documented and Historically
Significant Caldwell Hart
Colt Shipped Serial Number
3 Colt Model 1889 Double
Action Revolver in Case with
“In Memoriam: Samuel Colt
and Caldwell Hart Colt” and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 3, 38 Long Colt cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish,
walnut grips. This revolver is very special as serial number 3 Colt Model
1889. The basic design of the Model 1889 is essentially what we think of as a standard double
action revolver, but it was a cutting edge design when it was unveiled by the company and was
the first double action revolver with a swing-out cylinder secured by a sliding latch. This made the
Model 1889 much easier and faster to reload compared to earlier revolvers like the Colt Model 1877
and Model 1878 which loaded and unloaded through a loading gate, and they were adopted by the
U.S. Navy. The same basic design evolved into the subsequent Model 1892, 1894, 1895, and 1896
revolvers. This revolver is also particularly noteworthy as it was shipped to Samuel Colt’s son
and heir Caldwell Hart Colt in 1889, and it remains in excellent condition.
The revolver was purchased by Brig Pemberton from Tom Power in 2012. The most recent
included factory letter lists this revolver in .38 caliber with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, and
wood grips when shipped to “C. H. Colt” on June 10, 1889. The remarks note that the revolver
was originally shipped to Caldwell Hart Colt, son of Samuel Colt and Elizabeth Hart Jarvis
Colt and “was returned to the factory on December 1, 1899 by G. W. Cormack in exchange
for a 2 1/2”, caliber .32 S&W New Pocket Revolver.” Some of the older factory letters had
incorrectly mixed this revolver up with another serial number 3 that was a U.S. contract
revolver converted to a Model 1895. The revolver features a round “half-moon” blade front
sight, “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./PATENTED AUG. 5TH 1884 NOVEMBER
6TH 1888” marked on the left side of the barrel in two lines, top strap groove rear sight,
the encircled Rampant Colt trademark on the left behind the hammer, and the matching
serial number “3” on the frame, crane, left side towards the toe, on the bottom at the toe,
and inside of each of the walnut grips. There are also square assembly marks on several
components and an “L” on the back of the cylinder under the extractor. The cylinder rotates
counter-clockwise. The revolver comes in a custom re-fitted rosewood case with a gilt Colt
Fire Arms badge, circular Colt multi-tool, and a copy of “In Memoriam: Samuel Colt and
Caldwell Hart Colt” which notably features the Colt Model 1889 towards the top and a yacht
towards the bottom. Inside of the book has “Frances S Robinson/1918” in pencil. The book
discusses the Church of the Good Shepherd commissioned by Elizabeth Colt as a memorial
to her husband as well as three children the couple lost early in their childhood, the Caldwell
Colt Memorial House commissioned by Mrs. Colt as a memorial to her son, an address by
Reverend Leverett Bradley, and the Colt family home, Armsmear.
Caldwell Hart Colt (1858-1894) was largely raised by his mother, Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt
(1826-1905), as his famous father died in 1862 when he was still a young child. He was the
only of the family’s four children to survive to adulthood. He studied at Yale and inherited
$5-6 million from his father when he reached adulthood. Samuel Colt is said to have opposed
the adoption of double action revolvers, but his
company developed them after the Civil War
starting with the Model 1877 and Model 1878
revolvers. Caldwell Colt reportedly wore the
new Model 1889 as his sidearm when he was at
the Colt factory and was involved in the design and production of the Colt Model 1878 double rifles
which were primarily made for him and his wealthy friends. He also ordered other firearms as gifts.
While hunting and firearms were certainly among his interests, he was far more drawn to the sea.
Like his father before him, “Commodore Colt” first went to the sea as a young man and spent most of
his adult life away from Hartford on his vessels, including in dramatic races across the Atlantic. He was
the vice-commodore of the New York Yacht Club and commodore of the Larchmont Yacht Club and
owned the famous schooner the Dauntless and owned multiple other vessels over the years. He died
somewhat mysteriously at the Hotel Punta Gorda in Florida at the age of 35. The Hartford Courant on
January 23, 1894, reported that he died suddenly, and “It appears that Mr. Colt suffered from tonsillitis
and Dr. Morgan, his near personal friend, was telegraphed to come on, but before he could start
received a second message that death from heart failure had taken place.” Further reports indicate the
“malignant tonsillitis” was caused by smoking and that he had an operation performed by Dr. William
D. Morgan before he had headed to Florida and had been advised to stop smoking.
SERIAL NUMBER 3
222