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LOT 310
Documented Railway Mail Service Shipped and Marked,
“GWA” Inspected Colt Bankers Special Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 341688, 38 Special
cal., 2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory
letter states the revolver was one of 544 of this model shipped to General
Superintendent, Railway Mail Service-P.O., Chicago, Illinois, in September 1930
and confirms the 2 inch barrel in .38 caliber, blue finish, and engraved “R.M.S.
P.O. DEPT” on the back strap, and “No. 5444” on the butt with type of stocks not
listed. Stamped “GWA” (Colonel George A. Woody, U.S. Springfield Armory) in lieu of
the more typical “VP.” A sub-unit of the United States Post Office, the
RMS was the biggest mover of domestic mail by volume, operating
out of rail cars, sorting en-route, and exchanging mail at stations
without even stopping the train. RMS clerks often transported
large sums of money, including acting as escort to federal
gold shipments, made robbery a real and present danger,
requiring the armament of the clerks. While a large number of
armed clerks rode the rails, most of the issued revolvers were
reportedly destroyed at the end of their service lives,
leaving few survivors.
CONDITION: Very fine overall as a Railway Mail Service duty
revolver, retaining 85% plus original blue finish with some
thinning and light spotting on the grip straps, some high edge wear, and some softened grip checkering. Mechanically
excellent. A rarely encountered Railway Mail Service shipped and marked Colt Bankers Special revolver.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 311
Exceptional U.S. Army
Contract Colt Model 1909
Double Action Revolver - Serial no. 41875, 45 Long Colt
cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Delivered
between May 28, 1909, and September 13, 1911, the U.S Army
contract Colt Model 1909 revolvers were almost entirely shipped
to the Philippines. Features fixed blade front and top-strap notch rear
sights, two-line Colt address marked on top of the barrel with caliber
designation on the left and U.S. property marking on the bottom,
Rampant Colt with stylized “C” in the backdrop on the left of the frame, “FB” and “R.A.C.”(Rinaldo
A. Carr) inspector stamps on the left of the frame, and “U.S./ARMY/MODEL/1909/No/41/875”
marked on the bottom of the butt with lanyard loop. Matching serial numbers on the frame and crane.
Fitted with a pair of smooth walnut grips with “R.A.C.” (Rinaldo A. Carr) inspector stamps on the bottoms and
matching “41875” serial numbers written on the interiors in pencil.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 90% plus original bright high-polish blue finish with some light holster pattern edge wear, a
light cylinder drag line, and scattered minor handling marks. The grips are exceptionally fine with crisp stamps.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 313
New Hampshire State Police Purchased Colt New
Service Double Action Revolver in .357 Magnum
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 352301, 357 Magnum
cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The
accompanying factory letter states this law enforcement
Colt revolver was sold to the New Hampshire State Police
Department, Concord, New Hampshire, and shipped to
J.B. Varick Co. of Manchester, New Hampshire, on May 28, 1941, with a
6 inch barrel in .357 Magnum, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a
ten gun shipment. The .357 Magnum cartridge quickly gained popularity with law
enforcement agencies looking for a sidearm to deliver more stopping power. The
revolver has standard sights, “COLT NEW SERVICE .357” stamped on the left side of the
barrel, plugged lanyard ring hole on the butt, and silver Colt medallion checkered grips.
CONDITION: Very fine displaying authentic wear and tear of a New Hampshire State Police duty
weapon, retaining 90% original blue finish with muzzle and high edge wear, and thinning on the grip
straps. The replacement grips are also very fine with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This Colt
New Service DA .357 Magnum revolver would make a great addition to any
law enforcement collection.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 312
Excellent World War II U.S.
Colt Commando Double Action
Revolver with Holster - Serial no.
11571, 38 Special cal., 4 inch round
bbl., parkerized finish, plastic
grips. One of approximately
50,617 revolvers manufactured
c. 1942-1943. Features
rounded blade front and top
strap integrated notch rear
sights, standard two-line Colt address and patent
dates on top of the barrel with “COLT COMMANDO/.38 SPECIAL”
on the left, and “ordnance bomb” proof above the cylinder latch,
“triangle/VP” marked on the left of the trigger guard, and “1/0/6” inventory numbers added to the butt of the grip frame.
Matching serial numbers on the frame and crane. Fitted with a pair of brown checkered plastic grips with Colt logos.
Includes a “U.S.” embossed leather holster without a visible manufacturer marking.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% plus original parkerized finish with some limited minor edge wear, a faint minor
cylinder drag line, and some minor handling marks. The grips are also excellent with some minor handling wear and crisp
checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is very fine.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 314
World War II British
Purchasing Commission Shipped
U.S. Colt Official Police Double Action Revolver with
Factory Letter and Holster - Serial no. 678268, 38-200
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1941, the included factory letter confirms
this revolver’s configuration, including a 4 inch barrel
chambered for “.38/200”, blue finish, type of grips not listed,
and with the special feature of numbered butts ranging frame 14,051 to
14,150, when included in a shipment of 100 revolvers sent to the British Purchasing Commission in
New York, New York, on November 24, 1941, barely two weeks before the Imperial Japanese surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor would bring the United States into World War II. Features round blade front and
top-strap integrated notch rear sights, the standard two-line Colt address and patent dates marked
on top of the barrel with “COLT OFFICIAL/POLICE 38-200” roll-marked on the left, a “crown/V” proofs
and Rampant Colt on the left of the frame, “triangle/VP” and “1” on the left of the trigger guard, and
numbered “14065” on the butt of the grip frame with lanyard loop. Fitted with a pair of unnumbered
checkered walnut grips with embedded silver colt medallions, along with a filed down portion of
checkering in both panels with embedded metal lettering reading “JENID” on the left and “El Guettar”
on the right. Includes a Canadian “broad arrow/C” marked open-top British tanker pattern Webley
canvas pistol holster and a steel cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 90% plus original blue finish with some minor holster pattern edge
wear, a minor cylinder drag line, some limited minor patches of visible spotting, some dried grease,
and a few minor handling marks. The grips are very fine as personalized with some minor handling
wear in the otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The holster is very fine.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750