Page 161 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1157
Exceptional U.S. Colt Model 1878/1902 Philippine or Alaskan Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 47206, 45 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, black hard rubber grips. The U.S. Army purchased 4,600 Model 1878 DA
revolvers with oversized trigger guards; designated the Model 1902 Revolver. Many of
these revolvers were subsequently issued to the Philippine Constabulary.
The revolver has the high polish Colt commercial blue finish with niter blue
trigger and hammer and casehardened lanyard loop and cylinder pin. The two-piece
black grips are checkered hard rubber with the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval at the top. The barrel has the
standard one line Hartford address on the top of the barrel and the caliber designation, “45 COLT” on the left
side. The encircled Rampant Colt trademark is located on the lower left side of the frame. The full serial number
is stamped on the bottom of the grip strap ahead of the lanyard loop. The partial serial number, “7206” is stamped
on the rear face of the cylinder along with a “P” proof mark. A second “P” proof is stamped on the underside of the
barrel. The right side of the receiver is marked with the “U.S.” property mark, the date “1902” and the Ordnance inspector’s initials “J.T.T.” The Ordnance
sub-inspector’s initials “R.A.C.” are stamped on the left side of the frame and the rear face of the cylinder. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly
number “7266”. The factory letter states the revolver was sold to the U.S. government and shipped on October 29, 1902 to the Commanding Officer at
Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, with a 6 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a 150 gun shipment.
CONDITION: Excellent plus. The revolver has at 98% of the bright original high polish blue finish. There is light finish wear on the cylinder and the
forward edges of the barrel and ejector shroud. There is extremely light finish wear on the edges and high points of the frame and trigger guard and
scattered light storage marks of the barrel and ejector shroud. There is light age discoloration on the sides of the hammer. The grips are excellent with
sharp checkering. Markings are sharp. Mechanically excellent. An exceptional example of a Colt Model 1902 DA Revolver.
Estimate: 6,000 - 9,000
LOT 1158
Fine U.S. Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 54501, 45
Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Originally a
Cavalry Model, this revolver was overhauled by Colt to Artillery Model configuration. These
arms were brought back into service during the Spanish-American War, Filipino-American War,
and Moro Rebellion. Though nicknamed “Artillery Models,” they were actually issued to a variety of U.S. Army units and particularly known
to have been favored for use against the Moro warriors who were known to continue fighting after being shot with the weaker .38 caliber
Colt double action revolvers also in use. The revolver has mixed numbers and components typical of the Artillery
variants. The David F. Clark sub-inspected frame (54501) dates to 1880. The trigger guard (82834) and back strap
(73630) fall into the David F. Clark sub-inspected era. The unnumbered cylinder has a “P” proof mark along with the
Colt “K” inspection mark on the rear face. The barrel has a “P” proof mark and Orville W. Ainsworth’s sub-inspector
“A” initial along with the serial number “8200” and the one-line Hartford address. The butt of the grip has Rinaldo
A. Carr’s sub-inspected initials “RAC.” The right side of the grip has a script letter “RAC” cartouche. The left side of the frame is stamped with the
three-line patent dates marking followed by “U.S.”
CONDITION: Fine as Colt factory overhauled to Artillery model configuration, retaining 70% bright high polish blue finish with thinning on the
balance. The frame and hammer retain 40% of muted factory case colors in the protected areas, otherwise faded to gray. The slightly undersized replacement grip is
fine with edge wear, handling marks, and legible cartouche. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Thomas Whiteman Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500 159