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LOT 3059
Documented Denver, Colorado, Shipped
Colt Bisley Single Action Army Revolver with
New Zealand Police Marking and Factory Letter - Serial no. 317471, 38
WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips.
The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Whitney
Sporting Goods Co. of Denver, Colorado, on June 30, 1911, with a 5 1/2 inch
barrel in .38-40 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a
single gun shipment. .38-40 WCF was one of those perfect cartridges for the
western frontier. As explained by Colt SAA expert and author David Brown,
“This cartridge, as used in the Colt Single Action, made the revolver a perfect
companion-piece for the Winchester .38-40 W.C.F. rifle--just as the .44-40 revolver
was a mate for the .44-40 rifle. This bottle-neck .38-40 cartridge made one of the
harder-hitting of the handgun loads, and hand-loaders today know that it can
be reloaded to near the modern Magnum pressures” (“The 36 Calibers of the Colt
Single Action Army,” page 150). While originally shipped to Denver, this Bisley
crossed thousands of miles to find use in another frontier, New Zealand. Per an included typewritten letter by Major H.H. Wells, the
revolver traveled to Australia c. 1915 and through the remainder of World War I was issued to the New Plymouth Police in New Zealand.
Unfortunately, Wells did not know when the revolver returned to the U.S. In the letter the revolver is listed by serial number with the last
two digits transposed. The New Plymouth Police marking “N.P.P.” is stamped on the butt. Australian proofs including the broad arrow are
marked throughout. The letter “A” is hand marked above the frame serial number. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger
guard, back strap, and both grip panels.
CONDITION: Very good, displaying authentic police issue character, retaining 40% original blue finish and traces of original case colors
in the protected areas with a smooth gray patina associated with a hard “working gun” on the balance. The grips are good with the right
panel cracked in two at the screw and a small chip on the bottom and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A Colt Bisley
Model revolver with western frontier and international ties. If only it could talk!
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3060
Winchester Model 1876
Lever Action Rifle with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 30101, 45-60
WCF cal., 28 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock.
Manufactured 1882 as a third model with integral dust
cover guide and dust cover with grip serrations at the
rear. The Winchester Model 1876 was designed and
manufactured specifically with those on the western
frontier who desired more firepower than .44-40 could
offer in mind. These “big bore” Winchesters truly had
the stopping power to handle just about anything
thrown at them on the frontier. The included factory
letter confirms the current configuration as well as
receipt at the warehouse on 7 November 1882 and shipment on 15 September 1883.
The top of the barrel has the two-line address and King’s patent marking in front of the
rear sight and the caliber marking at the breech. The caliber marking is repeated on the
bottom of the cartridge elevator. The model designation is marked on the upper tang,
and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a bone blade front sight and
a folding ladder rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock
with a trapdoor crescent buttplate (cleaning rod not included).
CONDITION: Very good, retains 25% of the original blue finish and faint traces of both
the case color patterns and nitre blue on the loading gate, with the balance having
mostly thinned to a grey patina and some scattered patches of light pitting. The wood is
also very good with some scattered minor dings and scratches. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 3058
Rare Roper Sporting Arms Co. Heavy Barrel Target Revolving Rifle
- Serial no. 333, 41 CF cal., 24 1/2 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. This is a rare heavy barrel target example of a .41 caliber six-shot revolving
rifle manufactured between 1869 to 1876 by the Roper Sporting Arms Company of Hartford, Connecticut.
Roper rifles are encountered with far less frequency today than the Roper shotguns based on the same design. It
features a six-shot revolving carrier enclosed in the frame, a bolt connected to the hammer, a rounded transition section
at the front of the frame to accommodate the rare heavy octagon barrel, with a globe front sight, a folding notch and ladder rear sight on top of
the frame just ahead of the hammer, “ROPER SPORTING ARMS CO./HARTFORD, CONN./PAT. APR. 10. 1866. JULY 14. 1868.” marked on the hinged loading gate,
smooth forearm with pewter end caps, and smooth buttstock with an iron rifle buttplate. The bottom chamber area of the frame is numbered “39”, and number “333” is marked on the bolt and twice on
the interior of the buttplate. The barrel is unnumbered.
CONDITION: Fine with an attractive naturally aged fresh appearance, with the barrel turned to a mottled brown patina, strong traces of vivid case colors showing around some of the edges and in protected areas with smooth
brown and silvery gray patinas on the balance, scattered freckling and patches of oxidation/pitting. Wood is also fine with numerous scattered dents and scratches and defined edges. Mechanically fine. This is the only example of a
heavy barrel target variant Roper rifle that this writer can recall as having been offered for sale by Rock Island Auction Company!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3057
Carlos Gove
Denver, Colorado
Shipped Sharps
Hartford Model 1874 Military Rifle with Factory
Letter - Serial no. C,51421, 44 Sharps cal., 30 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This Sharps Model 1874 Military rifle has an
accompanying factory letter that lists it as invoiced from the Sharps Hartford factory on January 14, 1872, to Carlos Gove of Denver, Colorado Territory, in
.44 caliber, with a 30 inch barrel, single trigger, open sights and oil-finished stocks, at a price of “$20 less 10%” and further states, “A case of 10 Military Rifles was
shipped to Gove on this date, 5 each in 44 and 50 caliber.” Only around 1,769 Model 1874 military rifles were manufactured between November 1871-March 1877
with variations in caliber, triggers, stocks, etc. This one falls in the correct C,50000+ range and has a Rocky Mountain blade front sight with red painted outer edge, R.S. Lawrence patent ladder
rear sight, the three-line Hartford barrel address marking on top of the barrel ahead of the rear sight, “44” and “20” on the left of the breech, a plain trigger, Sharps patent marking on the left of
the frame, sling swivels on the center barrel band and bottom of the buttstock, full length walnut military forearm with steel cap, and walnut buttstock with patchbox. Matching serial number
“C,51421” marked on the underside of the barrel and top of the frame. Includes a modern metal box containing an empty shell and reloading tools.
CONDITION: Very good, exhibiting a pleasing mix of plum brown and gray patina characteristic of some frontier use, strong traces of case colors visible on the lower tang and lever catch,
period repaired/reattached patchbox door, and scattered spotting. The refinished wood is also very good, with some scattered light scratches and handling marks, and defined edges.
Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
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