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LOT 3161
Desirable Antique Acid Etched Panel Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 123854, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The included factory letter states this
revolver was shipped on May 4, 1888, to Hartley & Graham of New York City in .44-40
caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and rubber grips. This shipment was for
10 guns. The .44-40 WCF Single Action Army has found a special place in the hearts of
Peacemaker collectors. When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 WCF Single Action Army was
intended to be used in conjunction with the another legendary Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, which used the same cartridge. “The .44-40 WCF was added
to the list of Colt calibers for use with the popular Winchester rifle of the same caliber,” wrote Colt author David Brown on page 96 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army.” He further states, “This combination of a rifle and a six shooter using the same cartridge made it possible for their user to buy only one kind of ammunition,
and he could carry ‘fodder’ for both guns in the same cartridge belt.” The left side of the barrel has the highly desirable “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an acid etched
panel. Around 1890, this highly desirable acid etched panel was replaced with a roll stamped marking. The barrel has the correct “44” caliber designation stamped in small
font on the underside. The top of the barrel is stamped with the one-line Hartford address. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. “44 CAL”
stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. Matching full or partial serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and butt.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% original blue finish, 50% vivid original case colors, with smooth gray/brown patina on the balance, and absolutely sharp markings and edges
in the metal overall. Grips are also fine, with a small nick on the lower left edge, and distinct designs. Mechanically excellent. A desirable original example of an acid etched
panel Colt Frontier Six Shooter revolver!
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3160
Very Fine
Documented
One-of-a-Kind 1st New York Militia Marked
Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Army Revolver with
Unusual Inscription, Factory Letter, and John Kopec Letter - Serial no. 113040, 45 Long Colt cal.,
7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a very fine Colt Single
Action Cavalry Model Revolver with New York Militia markings inspected by Ordnance Sub-Inspector
David F. Clark (DFC). This Cavalry Model was recently re-examined by noted Colt historian and author John
Kopec, who noted in his accompanying silver seal letter of authentication that the revolver was previously listed in
his database and falls between nos. 113032 (New Jersey Militia) and 113057 (Artillery Model). As noted by Kopec the
grip markings indicated that the revolver was issued to the 1st Separate Co. This is a very unusual example of one of
the 8,000 Cavalry Model revolvers refurbished by Colt circa 1895 and issued to the New York Militia. Kopec stated, “[W]e
have found several very strange and never before encountered characteristics of this revolver not previously found on these
New York Militia revolvers. This revolver however shows all the necessary physical traits insuring us that it had been a genuine New York Militia issued
example.” Kopec had several points of interest. The revolver is not listed among the Colt records as being one of the 1895 refurbished examples. These revolvers had matching serial numbers and barrels
and cylinders that were re-stamped with the full serial number by Colt during refurbishment. The Ordnance sub-inspector “DFC” initials are missing from the frame; however the serial numbers remain very
distinct. New York Militia examples have been found with the “DFC” partially obliterated. The loading gate is an unmarked replacement. Military replacement components were marked with the letter “K”
or the sub-inspector initials “RAC.” The additional digits “11” of the full serial number being added to the original partial serial number on the barrel and cylinder. “This assuredly indicates that this revolver
was indeed refurbished at Colt’s during 1895,” concluded Kopec. The hammer is a nickel plated later replacement. New York Militia refurbished revolvers received niter blue finished hammers.
The grip is a correct 1895 refurbishment replacement as it is correctly numbered “113040” on the back channel in ink and a small “R.A.C.” sub-inspection mark on the bottom. The included
factory letter states it was delivered to the U.S. government inspector at the Colt plant on November 26, 1884. The right side of the grip is stamped “NY” in large letters above a
unit marking and rack number “1st/91”. The marking is for the 1st Separate Co. and rack number 91. The butt is inscribed with script initials “Sr. C. B”; the significance of the initials
is unknown. Kopec noted the inscription in his letter and wondered if “this inscription had been hand-cut into the revolver’s butt-strap during its previous Cavalry service.” The
revolver has a military blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, loading gate and hammer have a color casehardened finish. The
one-piece walnut grip is oil finished. The revolver has the oval ejector rod head introduced at approximately serial number 113,000. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the
elongated block letter address: “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” Small “D.F.C.” sub-inspection stamps are visible on the underside of the barrel and on the side of the
cylinder. A “P” proof mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel in front of the sub-inspection mark and on the side of the cylinder. The left side of the frame is stamped with
the Colt three-dates/three-line patent marking followed by the “U.S.” property mark. The full serial number is stamped on the frame, barrel, trigger guard, back strap and cylinder.
All of the visible serial numbers match. Small “G” Colt inspection marks are stamped below the serial numbers on the trigger guard and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver retains 80% of the correct 1895 factory refurbished Colt military blue and color casehardened finish. Most of the blue finish is present on the barrel and cylinder.
The right side of the ejector housing, trigger guard and grip strap show moderate handling wear and have a blue-gray patina. The frame and loading gate retain 75% of the faded casehardened finish with strong colors in protected
areas. The sides of the hammer appear to have nickel plated and 60% of the plated finish is present. The grip is very fine overall with moderate handling wear and one deep scratch in the left side. The New York markings on the
right side of the grip are strong. Mechanically excellent. New York marked Colt Single Action Cavalry and Artillery Model revolvers are key variations for any advanced collection of U.S. martial Colt revolvers with this example being
very unusual. As Kopec put it, “To say that this revolver is unique would be an understatement. It truly stands alone as being a one-of-a-kind example. The question of why it was overlooked in the Colt 1895 records, and yet was
issued as one of the New York examples will forever remain a mystery.”
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000