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LOT 162
Highly Attractive New York Engraved Acid Etched Panel Antique Colt Sheriff’s Model
1877 Thunderer Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no.
13910, 41 Long Colt cal., 3 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. The accompanying factory letter
states this revolver was shipped on February 11, 1880, to Hartley & Graham in New York City, in .41 caliber,
with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a 20 gun shipment. This highly
attractive Colt Sheriff’s Model Thunderer revolver features desirable period New York engraving performed
by a skilled hand, decorated in a leafy scroll pattern on beaded backgrounds along with some zig-zag
line and dot borders, on the barrel sides, cylinder flats, and frame. It is fitted with a pair of attractive period
replacement pearl grips. Though the nicknames “Rainmaker,” (.32 caliber) “Lightning,” (.38 caliber) and “Thunderer”
(.41 caliber) are all excellent marketing material, 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. A desirable acid etched panel with “COLT D.A. 41” is featured on the left side of the ejectorless barrel.
The top of the barrel is stamped with the two-line Colt Hartford address. Blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight. “41
CAL” marked on the left side of the trigger guard. The left side of the frame has two-line patent date markings. Matching
serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine as period New York engraved, retains 85% nickel plated finish with a few areas of freckling, and highly
attractive crisp engraving overall. Grips are also very fine, with highly attractive fiery colors, slightly undersized, and defined edges.
Mechanically excellent. An attractive New York engraved Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877 Thunderer revolver!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,500
LOT 163
Attractive New York Engraved and Nickel and Gold Plated Colt Frontier
Six Shooter Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips and
Factory Letter - Serial no. 32179, 44-40 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl
grips. Manufactured in 1893. The revolver was New York engraved and features nickel
plating on the barrel and frame, gold plating on the cylinder as well as the hammer and
ejector housing, and smooth pearl grips. The engraving is mainly scrollwork with beaded
backgrounds and wavy line and dot accents. A “Nimschke star” is engraved on the right side
of the frame at the ejector. The barrel has a blade front sight, the one-line Hartford address
marked on top, and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the right. The back of the cylinder is marked
“179”. The third digit on the butt is difficult to read. A factory letter is included indicating 32179 was in .44
caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, and grips not listed and confirms a shipping date of July 27, 1894,
in a shipment with one gun of this type sent to Schoverling, Daly & Gales in New York City.
CONDITION: Fine with 85% plus of the period retailer nickel plating remaining, 40% gold mostly in the protected
areas such as the cylinder flutes as well as the trigger and hammer, gray and brown patina on the balance, some
mild oxidation, crisp engraving and markings, and mild wear. The grips are also fine and have attractive natural
colors, minor flaking, and handling wear. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
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