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LOT 3137
Fine Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Single Action Army Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 163244, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The Colt Single Action Army was one of
the most popular handguns in late 19th century and is easily the most iconic and most
thoroughly associated with the American West. Offered here is a fine, early example of the legendary Peacemaker in .45
LC. In the words of Colt author and expert David Brown, “[T]he Colt Single Action Army .45 was ‘the soldier’s friend’ throughout
the remaining years of the Indian Wars in the West. Adopted also with equal enthusiasm by civilians, it was the pet and the ‘good
right arm’ of lawman and outlaw alike on every American frontier of its era” (“The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page
70). This example of the iconic Peacemaker in .45 LC has a barrel with the two-line Hartford address on top and “45 COLT” on the
left side, the two-line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt on the left side of the frame, and Rampant Colt
embossed checkered hard rubber grips. Matching serial numbers are located on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels.
The included factory letter states the revolver was shipped on November 7, 1895 and sold and shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett Co. of
Chicago, Illinois, along with nineteen other SAAs. The letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance, high edge wear, and mostly brown-gray patina on the grip straps. 50% plus
original case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The grips are excellent with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
LOT 3138
Highly Desirable F.A. Meanea Cheyenne Tooled Leather
“Mexican Loop” Colt Single Action Army Holster and Meanea
Cartridge/Money Belt - This is a Cheyenne gun rig 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. Among his numerous
customers were Charles M. Russell and Buffalo Bill Cody. The rig
is made from brown heavy skirting leather. In the 1888 Meanea
price list, the deluxe tooled and buckskin lined holster cost twice as
much as a plain standard holster, and the money belt cost a dollar
more than the standard cartridge belt, making this rig quite desirable and top of the line for its time. Both the belt and holster are marked with the Meanea
maker’s mark in an elongated oval, on the lower retention loop of the holster and on the secured end of the billet on the belt. The holster is of the very desirable
“hard shell”, high sheen type with a gracefully recurved throat, two retention loops, a sewn in toe plug, and the desirable deluxe buckskin interior lining. It has very
attractive border tooling and a large stamped rosette at the center of the body. The holster is set up for either standard or cross draw for a right handed shooter,
and it will accommodate a Colt Single Action Army revolver with either a 4 3/4 inch or 5 1/2 inch
barrel. The belt has a money pocket opening near the large, nickeled, rectangular buckle and single
row of cartridge loops which will accommodate .44 or .45 caliber cartridges. The belt measures 3 3/4
inches wide and approximately 43 inches long including the billet.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, the holster showing some mild wear from typical use, tight stitching,
crisp tooling, and much of the original sheen to the leather. The belt is very fine with some mild wear
from use and some moderate age-related cracking on the billet. These matching Meanea rigs are
extremely rare on the collectors market, particularly high condition, deluxe examples like this one.
Do not miss this opportunity!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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