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LOT 130
Fine Winchester Repeating Arms Box of Fifty
Colt 45 Caliber Rifle Cartridges - Tan pasteboard
construction, with an orange seal label and a green top
label. the top label is marked in black text as containing
fifty “.45 Caliber Colt’s/RIFLE CARTRIDGES./Center Fire.
Solid Head.”, as made by the Winchester Repeating Arms
Company in New Haven, Connecticut. The seal label is
marked on the ends with the Winchester “red W” and “.45
Caliber/COLT’S C.F./RIFLE./Winchester Make.”, with one
side bearing the Colt signature and Rampant Colt, the
other side bearing the Winchester guarantee text.
CONDITION: Fine overall, with minor wear and staining.
The seal has been broken, and the box resealed with
plastic; while the contents have not been inspected, the
weight is correct and the consignor states
that the box is full.
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection.
Estimate: 1,200 - 1,800
LOT 129
Colt London Agency Shipped Medium Frame Lightning Slide Action Saddle
Ring Carbine with Heraldic Inscription and Factory Letter - Serial no. 5535, 44
WCF cal., 20 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. The included factory letter
lists this carbine as part of a 20-piece shipment to the Colt Agency in London,
England, on August 31, 1885, with a 20 inch barrel, blue finish, and wood
stock. Blade front and folding ladder rear sights, with the two-line address
and Elliot’s patent markings on top of the barrel, “44 Cal.” on the left side,
and the Rampant Colt on the left side of the receiver ahead of the saddle
ring. A series of British proofs have been added, with a “crown/V” on the
receiver and barrel, and “crown/GP”, “rampant lion” and “.420 (inverted)” on
the left side of the barrel. The top of the receiver behind the ejection port is
inscribed with a heraldic design of a seated hound resting a forepaw on a
small tree stump, surrounded by text “FIONA/BE FAST”; the crest and motto
are for Emmanuel Boutcher who built and raced two yachts named “Fiona”.
The presence of the yacht’s name and date of manufacture of this carbine
suggest it was intended to be stored on board the second “Fiona”,
which was built in Gosport in 1879. Checkered forearm and smooth
straight wrist buttstock with a smooth steel buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine, with 75% plus original blue finish, showing
areas of spotting, brown patina, edge wear and minor dings
and handling marks. The stock is very fine, with some dings and
scratches. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 128
Very Scarce Documented Special Order Casehardened Deluxe Colt
Lightning Medium Frame Slide Action Rifle with Factory Letter -
Serial no. 20014, 38-40 cal., 26 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, deluxe checkered
walnut stock. A little under 90,000 of the medium frame variation of the Colt
Lightning rifles were manufactured between 1884 and 1904.
The vast majority of those would have been full blue and have
featured the standard stock and pump handle and full magazines.
The factory letter confirms this rifle’s original configuration is
recorded as .44 CLMR (.44-40, possibly a factory error as it is clearly a
.38-40 and is the original caliber marking on the barrel.), 26 inch octagon barrel, blue finish (Colt
lists blue and casehardened guns as blued in the records), wood pistol grip stock, and 1/2 magazine. They
also confirm it was one of two rifles in this configuration in an order shipped on September 30, 1886 to A.G.
Spalding & Bros. The address is not listed, but the dealer’s locations are noted as Chicago, Denver, and New York
City. The company is one of the oldest American sporting goods dealers and was started by early major league
baseball player Albert Goodwill Spalding (1849-1915) of Byron, Illinois, and became famous for their contributions
to American sports. The rifle has a German silver “Rocky Mountain” blade front sight, the two-line address and
patent marking on top ahead of the adjustable sporting rear sight, “.38 Cal.” on top at the breech, the Rampant Colt trade mark on the left
side of the casehardened frame, multi-point checkering on the slide handle and pistol grip stock, a blank German silver oval escutcheon
on the bottom of the buttstock, and a crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Very fine with 80% plus of the aged original blue finish on the barrel, fading to gray at the muzzle, minor pitting, 40% of
original case colors in the protected areas of the frame and dark patina on the balance, strong original case colors on the hammer, bright
original niter blue on the safety, and mottled brown patina on the buttplate. The period refinished buttstock is also very fine and has
mostly crisp checkering with some scrapes and dings, attractive figure, and mild marks and scratches. The slide handle is also very fine
and has crisp checkering and minor edge wear. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceedingly scarce Colt Lightning rifle. We do not get
the opportunity to auction deluxe Lightnings with casehardened frames very often. Do not miss your opportunity to get your hands on this rare Colt!
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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