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LOT 3087
Highly Attractive New York Engraved Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877
“Thunderer” Double Action Ejectorless Revolver with Desirable 2 1/2 Inch
Barrel, Pearl Grips, and Factory Letter - Serial no. 31024, 41 Long Colt cal., 2 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel/gold finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1881, this is a very attractive
example of a New York engraved, ejectorless, Sheriff’s Model, Colt “Thunderer” revolver with a
desirable 2 1/2 inch barrel. Though the nicknames “Rainmaker”, “Lightning”, and “Thunderer” are
all excellent marketing material and common nomenclature in the collectors community, they
were not names ever actually used by Colt. These nicknames are believed to have been coined
by the famous Colt distributor, Benjamin Kittredge, who is also believed to have been responsible
for giving the Single Action Army its iconic nickname,
“Peacemaker”. “Thunderer” is certainly an apt nickname
for this Sheriff’s Model, with it packing the punch of double action .41 Long Colt in a revolver
small enough to fit in a large pocket. The included factory letter lists the revolver in .41 caliber
with a 2 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and grips not listed when it was shipped to Hartley &
Graham in New York City on 31 December 1881. It was almost certainly Hartley & Graham that
then had the revolver engraved and then finished with nickel and gold plating by a local artisan
before reselling it to their upscale New York clientele. The revolver features nearly full coverage,
beautifully executed floral scroll and border engraving, very much in the New York style, as
well as a gold plated cylinder, cylinder pin, and hammer, while the remainder is nickel plated. The top of the barrel
is marked with the two-line address and the caliber marking is on the left rear of the trigger guard. The matching serial number is marked on the
bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. It has the standard blade and frame-top groove sights and is fitted with an attractive pair of smooth pearl grips.
CONDITION: Fine as period New York engraved and plated, retaining 80% plus of the nickel plating and faint traces of the gold plating in sheltered areas of the hammer, cylinder, and pin, with a few patches of mild wear/flaking of
the nickel and the areas once gold plated showing mostly grey patina. The engraving is crisp overall. The grips are very fine with a few light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. An attractive Sheriff’s Model Thunderer to add to
your collection!
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3086
Factory Engraved Colt Model 1877 Lightning Double Action Ejectorless
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 6247, 38 LC cal., 4 1/2 inch round
bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1878 this early production
Model 1877 features a factory documented 4 1/2 inch barrel and engraving. It was
standard factory practice for a 4 1/2 inch barrel to feature an ejector, making the 4 1/2
inch ejectorless barrel a scarce special order feature. The engraving is of an unusual style for a
Model 1877. Following the Gustave Young style scroll pattern, the embellishment incorporates a wolf
head on the left side of the frame and on the sides of the hammer. Although Young had left Colt in 1869, he still made himself available
to Colt until his death in 1895 and his style of engraving continued to influence up and coming engravers including Cuno Helfricht, who
started working at Colt at age 20 in 1871. Additional engraved motifs include entwining lines and zig-zag lines throughout. Per noted Colt
historian and author R.L. Wilson, Colt engraved approximately 250 Model 1877s chambered in .38 LC. This is certainly a rare work of steel canvas
art made even more desirable by the ejectorless barrel and style of engraving. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to
famed Cincinnati, Ohio, retailer B. Kittredge & Co. on April 26, 1878 and confirms the 4 1/2 inch barrel in .38 caliber, nickel finish, hard rubber grips, and factory engraving. This was a two
gun shipment. The barrel carries the desirable acid etched caliber designation “COLT D.A. 38” on the left side and is stamped with the standard two-line Colt Hartford address on top. The
left side of the frame has the three-line patent date marking. The left side of the trigger guard has the caliber designation “38 CAL.” Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Fine. The frame, hammer, and barrel retain 90% original nickel finish. The cylinder retains traces of original nickel finish in the flutes. The acid etched panel is clear. The engraving is crisp. The
moderately worn grips are very good with softened checkering. The action functions but the trigger has to be manually reset. A 4 1/2 inch ejectorless factory engraved Colt Model 1877 Lightning revolver with
great appeal.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
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