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LOT 1139
Presentation Cased Samuel Colt
Nephews’ Factory Presentation Acid
Etched Panel Colt Sheriff’s Model
1877 Lightning Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. 13158, 38 Long
Colt cal., 3 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel
finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured
in 1878, this Colt Model 1877 DA revolver
was a presentation gift by Samuel Colt’s
Nephews, LeBaron and Samuel Colt. As
confirmed by the back strap inscription,
the revolver was presented by LeBaron
and his brother Samuel to N.S. Burnham.
The inscription reads, “N.S. Burnham/with
Compliments of/L.B. & S.P. Colt” along
with the date “Jan’y 1st 1879.” The two Colt
brothers are known to have purchased
Model 1877s for themselves and gifts to
friends and associates. N.S. Burnham is
believed to be a railroad employee.
LeBaron Bradford Colt (1846-1924)
received his law degree from Yale
University and was a member of the Yale’s
secret student society Skull and Bones. He
had his own private practice in Chicago,
Illinois, from 1871-1875 and in Bristol,
Rhode Island from 1875-1879. From 1879
to 1881 he was a member of the State of
Rhode Island House of Representatives. In
1881, President James Garfield nominated
LeBaron to the U.S. District Court for the
District of Rhode Island. He went one
to serve on the U.S. Circuit Court for the
First Circuit and Court of Appeals for the
First Circuit. In 1913, he was elected as
a Republican to the U.S. Senate. In the
Senate he concentrated on conservation
of natural resources and immigration. He
voted against the Immigration Act of 1924,
a federal law that prevented immigration
from Asia and set quotas on the number
of immigrants form Eastern and Southern
Europe. He supported women’s suffrage.
He advocated the creation of the League
of Nations following World War I, and
scholars have argued that President Wilson
refusing to work with the Republican
Senator helped to cost him the League.
LeBaron’s brother Samuel Pomeroy
Colt (1852-1921) was a Rhode Island
industrialist and politician. A graduate of
Columbia Law School, Samuel, or “Pom” as
his family called him, formed United States
Rubber Company (later called Uniroyal),
the largest rubber company in the United
States. Like his brother, he was elected
to the State of Rhode Island House of
Representative where he was an advocate
for child labor reforms and women’s
property rights. In 1881, he was elected
Attorney General of Rhode Island and
served in that position until 1886. In 1903,
he ran a failed campaign for governor
of Rhode Island. He turned his political
ambitions for the U.S. Senate in 1905 but
lost. This seat was later won by his
brother in 1913.
The barrel has the two-line Hartford
address on top and the desirable “COLT
D.A. 38” acid etched panel on the left side.
The left side of the frame has the three
line patents date, and the left side of the
trigger guard has the caliber designation
“38 CAL.” The period leather bound case
features a “Colt’s D.A. 38” marked red
ribbon on the inside of the lid, tool, and
an empty cartridge block for 50 rounds
(cartridges shown in photo not included).
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85%
original nickel finish with flaking exposing
gray patina and some pitting. The
presentation inscription and acid etched
panel are clear and legible. The grips are
excellent with overall crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. The case is very
good with heavy high spot wear on the
lining. This presentation Colt Model 1877
revolver is noteworthy as is stands as a
reminder of the power and influence of the
Samuel Colt family.
Provenance: The Richard C. Marohn
Collection; The Douglas R. Carlson
Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LeBaron
Bradford Colt
139