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LOT 1130
Well-Documented J.P. Lower Retailer Marked and Shipped Antique Colt Sheriff’s Model
1878 Double Action Revolver with Checkered Ivory Grips and Factory Letter, Featured in
Don Wilkerson’s Book “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” - Serial no. 3053, 45 Long
Colt cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered ivory grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this
revolver as shipped on October 21, 1879, to John P. Lower & Sons in Denver, Colorado, in .45 caliber, with a 4 inch
barrel, blue finish, and checkered ivory stocks. This was a 4 gun shipment. This example is a rarity in that it is one of only
8 Model 1878 revolvers listed as shipped with checkered ivory grips having a 4 inch barrel length and blue finish in .45
Long Colt, per page 224 of “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” (published 1998) by Don Wilkerson. Only 290
ejectorless Sheriff’s Model 1878 revolvers in total are listed as shipped with a 4 inch barrel length and blue finish in .45 Long
Colt caliber, with 560 total in .45 Long Colt in various configurations, according to figures on page 216 of
Wilkerson’s aforementioned book. This exact revolver is featured on pages 207 and 225 of Don Wilkerson’s
book, in which the photograph on page 207 shows this Sheriff’s Model next to another example also in
this auction, Lot 1165, both noted as being a part of the Charles Marx collection, and the caption states,
“Both revolvers were modified into Sheriff’s models at the factory and exhibit the rare features of fluted
frames and lanyard rings.” The photo caption on page 225 states, “This revolver was in the first shipment to
J.P. Lower & Sons on October 21, 1879 with three other revolvers.” Designed by William Mason, Colt’s factory
manager, and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was
intended to be a double action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. The Model 1878 was not considered to be as popular as its single action cousin;
however, there were still many that favored it in the West for its firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced
Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts” shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn. This Sheriff’s Model revolver correctly lacks an
ejector rod assembly. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address, with the desirable retailer marking
“J.P. LOWER” on the left side of the frame, and “45 CAL” double stamped on the left of the trigger guard. Full serial number
marked on the butt and loading gate, with the matching last two digits on the rear face of the cylinder. It is fitted with a
blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight, a pair of checkered ivory grips, and a lanyard swivel on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine with a very fresh appearance and a hint of frontier character, retains 70% original bright blue finish with
smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, and crisp markings. Grips are also fine, with highly attractive evenly aged
patina, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This is a desirable example for a Colt collector, as a fine J.P. Lower
retailer marked and shipped antique Colt Model 1878 Sheriff’s Model revolver with checkered ivory grips
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,500
LOT 1129
Rare Antique Colt Model 1877
“Rainmaker” .32 Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 105456, 32 Colt
cal., 5 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, checkered walnut
grips. The accompanying factory letter states this revolver was shipped in a single gun shipment on January
11, 1897, to W.S. Brown in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in .32 caliber, with a 5 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard
rubber stocks. This is one of only approximately 200 of Colt’s Model 1877 revolver that were chambered in
.32 Long Colt and nicknamed the “Rainmaker,” per Sutherland and Wilson on page 325 of “The Book of Colt Firearms”
(1971 publication). 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.” The top
of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address, with “COLT. D.A. 32” on the left. The left of the frame has the three-line patent date markings and
the circled Rampant Colt. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with no visible number on the cylinder. Assembly number
“517” marked on the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight, and a checkered walnut grip.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% original blue finish, strongest on the barrel and ejector housing, 30% muted original case colors on the frame, with
smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, a few patches of minor flash pitting, and sharp markings. Grip is very fine, with defined edges, a few
minor handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A Colt Model 1877 “Rainmaker” .32 revolver
is a rarity in Colt collecting, and is missing from even the most advanced collections.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
As pictured & described in
Colt's Double Action Revolver,
Model of 1878 by Wilkerson
According to "Colt's Double-Action Revolver,
Model of 1878" by Wilkerson. Only 290
ejectorless Sheriff's Model 1878 revolvers with
a 4 inch barrel length and blue finish were
shipped in .45 Long Colt caliber.
Collector’s Fact
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