Page 190 - 4095-BOOK2

188
LOT 1191
California Shipped
World War II Era
Colt Bankers Special
Double Action
Revolver in .22
Caliber with Factory Letter
and Box - Serial no. 370863,
22 LR cal., 2 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips.
Per the included factory letter,
this revolver was shipped as a single
item to Baker, Hamilton & Pacific of San Francisco,
California, on April 16, 1941, with a 2 inch barrel,
blue finish, and “Not Listed” grips. Originally
established during the California Gold Rush as
a hardware and mining goods dealer, Baker &
Hamilton merged with Pacific Steel in 1918, and was
an operating firm well into the 20th century. Fixed sights, with “22 BANKERS/SPECIAL”
on the left side of the barrel, two-line address and patent dates on the right, “Rampant Colt” on the sideplate, “VP”
and “T” on the triggerguard bow, and checkered grips with Rampant Colt medallions. Hammer sides are polished,
otherwise finish is full blue, with counterbored rim recesses in the chambers. With a faintly numbered Colt box bearing labels for a 2 inch barreled 22 caliber Police
Positive revolver with blue finish and wood grips (white on blue) on the end of the box, “BANKERS’ SPECIAL” (black on white) on the end of the lid, and a label noting
the use of the “new Colt Embedded Head Cylinder” for compatibility with high speed cartridges (black on white), and a Colt “Special Instructions” pamphlet.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, 99% original blue finish, showing minor handling marks and a faint, razor thin drag line. Grips are excellent, with sharp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. Box is fair, with scuffs, detached segments, and tape repairs.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 1190
Desirable Documented Factory Engraved Colt
Police Positive Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips Shipped to
Colt Sales Manager, S.W. Dimick/Van Lengerke & Antoine with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 217650, 32 Colt Police cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue finish, pearl
grips. Manufactured in 1927, this is a documented example of a factory engraved
Colt Police Positive revolver, with the work having been executed by the shop of, or
factory Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn himself. The included factory letter lists the revolver in .32
caliber with a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, pearl grips, and factory engraving when delivered to S.W. Dimick, sales manager for Colt on
17 March 1927. It goes on to state that the revolver was then issued on loan to Van Lengerke & Antoine in Chicago on 15 July 1927,
and was subsequently sold to them on 20 December 1929. R.L Wilson notes on p. 592 of “The Colt Engraving Book Vol. II” that of the
total Police Positive production between 1904 and 1943, only 170 specimens were factory engraved, making this example
very scarce. The revolver itself has extensive coverage floral scroll engraving in the distinctive Glahn style, two examples
of which are pictured on the previously mentioned page of the same book, though both show less coverage than this
example. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line address and patent dates, while the model and caliber marking
is on the left. The left of the frame has the Rampant Colt in a small panel. The matching serial number is on the frame and crane. It is fitted with the
standard blade front and frame-top groove rear sights, as well as the factory smooth pearl grips with Colt medallions.
CONDITION: Extremely fine, retains 95% plus of the original blue finish with some light muzzle and high spot wear, and crisp engraving overall. The
grips are fine, with a horizontal crack through the right panel, and otherwise only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,500