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LOT 1095
Factory Engraved Colt Model 1878 Grade 8 Double
Barrel Hammer Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. 1476, 12 gauge, 28 inch
solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Built with blued Damascus steel
barrels featuring a single bead sight on the smooth concave solid rib which is marked with the Colt address,
single band of engraving at the breech, and chambers measured at 2 3/4” with a single extractor. The barrels
are fitted to the casehardened action which displays attractive scroll engraving mostly at the edges and tastefully
applied around the “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO.” marking on either lock and on rebounding hammers, the blued toplever, and
the blued triggerguard which protects the dual triggers. The gun is fitted with a nicely figured and multi-point checkered forend
with engraved fittings as well as a round knob pistol grip stock with blank silver inscription oval and blued steel buttplate. The included
factory letter confirms the current gauge, barrel length, blue finish, wood stock, weight, and $6.75 worth of engraving,
as wells as listing the gun as a Grade 8, when it was shipped to J. C. Grubb &
Company of Philadelphia, PA, on December 8th, 1879. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter
nine inches from the breech .735/.734 inches; choke constriction .017/.017 inches; minimum wall thickness
.039/.037 inches; 2 inch drop at comb; 3 5/16 inch drop at heel; 14 1/4 inch length of pull; weight 8 lbs. 4 oz.
CONDITION: Fine overall, retaining 60% original Damascus brown twist/pattern finish on the barrels, 40% plus
original vivid case colors on the action with the balance a fine grey, 75% of the blue on the toplever, and 50% of the
blue on the triggerguard/lower tang. The fine wood has a few dings and scratches and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 1094
Exceptional Documented Factory Engraved Colt Model 1883 Grade I Double
Barrel Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. 5946, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut stock. Built with blued Damascus steel barrels featuring a
single bead sight on the matted concave solid rib which bears the Colt address, dual engraved lines at the
breech, and chambers measured 2 3/4 inches with a single extractor. The barrels are fitted to the casehardened boxlock
action which displays light border engraving which continues onto the triggerguard, toplever, and both tangs as well as the
stylized “PATENTED” marking on the underside. The gun features double triggers and a tang mounted automatic safety. The gun
is fitted with a highly attractive well-figured and multi-point checkered
splinter forend with matching engraved fittings and ebony tip
inlay as well as a pistol grip stock with light remnants of initials
in the silver oval and Colt hard rubber buttplate. The included
factory letter confirms the current configuration including
the gauge, barrel length, blue finish, special oil finished wood
stock, concave matted rib, and grade when it was shipped on
September 18, 1891, to Hartley & Graham of New York, NY. This
exceptional Model 1883 is pictured and described on pages 448
and 449 of “The Art of the Gun: Magnificent Colts Volume Two” by R. L. Wilson and Robert M. Lee. Also stated on these pages is that,
while serial numbers go to 8366, it is believed total production was only around 7,366 as nearly 1,000 serial numbers were skipped over between 3057
and 4056, in an effort to make sales numbers look stronger than they actually were, making this quite a scarce model. Barrel and stock measurements
(R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .728/.727 inches; choke constriction .022/.022 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.035 inches; 1 5/8
inch drop at comb; 3 1/8 inch drop at heel; 14 3/8 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 11 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 95% original Damascus brown twist/patterned finish on the barrels, and 60% original case colors on the action with the balance an attractive grey patina. The triggerguard retains 75% bright original
high polish blue. The wood is very fine with some dings and scratches and mostly sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000
As pictured & described in
Magnificent Colts, Vol. II by Wilson
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