Page 142 - 4095-BOOK3

LOT 3165
Desirable Early
Production,
B. Kittredge
& Co. Retailer
Marked and Shipped, Antique Colt Single Action
Army Revolver with Ivory Grip and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 1341, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, ivory grips. Offered here is an early production, serial number 1341, Colt Single Action
Army revolver manufactured in 1873, the first year of production, and features the desirable retailer marking “B.
KITTREDGE & CO” on top of the barrel. The approximate first 3,500 Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured
in the first year of 1873, according to page 39 of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-
1895” (2008) by Wilkerson and Hoyt. The accompanying factory letter states this revolver was shipped on December 28, 1875, to B. Kittredge & Company of
Cincinnati, Ohio, in .45 caliber and blue finish, with barrel length and type of grips not listed, a common indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and a walnut grip, which
were standard for the period, although this revolver has a period ivory grip that appears to have followed it from the beginning. The shipment was for 50 guns, and
included the revolver in the previous lot, serial number 529. Of interesting note, this 1873 production revolver was shipped from Colt two years after its original
manufacture, and has the factory updated leads on the cylinder notches which were implemented around the same time of its shipment. Benjamin Kittredge & Co.
were major firearms retailers and agents in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the second half of the 19th century. Many guns that passed through
their warehouse ended up further west, and Kittredge is credited with nicknaming several models such as the Colt “Peacemaker” in
reference to these Single Action Army revolvers. The Colt Single Action Army was one of the most popular handguns in the late 19th
century, and is easily the most iconic and most thoroughly associated with the American West. This early production example was
manufactured in a time when much of the West remained untamed, and it certainly has the classic charming look of an authentic
western gun. It has an unidentified inspector initial “O” on the trigger guard. The top of the barrel has the noted Kittredge marking
ahead of the script one-line Colt Hartford address on top, the left of the frame has the two-line patent dates, “45CAL” marked on the
left of the trigger guard, matching visible serial numbers marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, cylinder, and butt, with
assembly number “83” marked on the loading gate. It is fitted with blade and groove sights and the smooth one-piece ivory grip.
CONDITION: Very good, proudly embodying the spirit of the American West, with strong traces of the original blue finish in some of the protected areas, notably on the
ejector housing, with mostly smooth gray and brown patina, some light pitting, and defined markings. Grip is very good, having shrunk slightly with age, with some light frontier related wear and age lines. Mechanically functions.
This early production Colt Single Action Army revolver certainly has “the look” of a well cared for western sidearm, with a highly desirable B. Kittedge & Co. retailer marking!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,500
Both of these early B. Kittredge retailer marked Colt Single
Actions were in the same shipment, 150 years ago.
LOT 3164
Desirable Early
Production
Three-Digit
Serial Number,
B. Kittredge & Co.
Retailer Marked and Shipped, Antique Colt Single
Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 529,
45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Offered here is a highly desirable
early production, three-digit serial number 529, Colt Single Action Army revolver manufactured in 1873, the first
year of production. It features the retailer marking “B. KITTREDGE & CO” on top of the barrel. The approximate first
3,500 Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured in the first year of 1873, according to page 39 of “The Official
Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” (2008) by the Wilkersons and Hoyt. The accompanying factory letter
states this revolver was shipped on December 28, 1875 to B. Kittredge & Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, in .45 caliber and blue finish,
with barrel length and type of grips not listed, a common indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and a walnut grip, which were standard for
the period. The shipment was for 50 guns, and included the revolver in the following lot, serial number 1341. Of interesting note, this 1873 production revolver
was shipped from Colt two years after its original manufacture, and has the factory updated leads on the cylinder notches which were implemented around the
same time of its shipment. Benjamin Kittredge & Co. were major firearms retailers and agents in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the second half of
the 19th century. Many guns that passed through their warehouse ended up further west, and Kittredge is credited with nicknaming
several models such as the Colt “Peacemaker” in reference to these Single Action Army revolvers. The Colt Single Action Army was
one of the most popular handguns in the late 19th century, and is easily the most iconic and most thoroughly associated with the
American West. This early production example was manufactured in a time when much of the West remained untamed, and it certainly
has the classic charming look of an authentic western gun. It has an unidentified inspector initial “O” on the trigger guard. The top of
the barrel has the noted Kittredge marking ahead of the script one-line Colt Hartford address, the left of the frame has the two-line
patent dates, “45CAL” marked on the left of the trigger guard, matching visible serial numbers marked on the bottom of the frame,
trigger guard, cylinder, and butt, with assembly number “101” marked on the loading gate. It is fitted with blade and groove sights and a smooth walnut one-piece grip.
CONDITION: Very good, with a very fresh appearance and some charming frontier character, retaining strong traces of original blue finish concentrated in some of the
protected areas, with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, scattered spotting, a few patches of light pitting, and defined markings overall. Grip is also very good, with moderate wear, a few minor handling marks, and
distinct edges. The hammer does not remain in the half cock position, otherwise mechanically functions. An early production example of a Colt Single Action Army revolver with a desirable retailer marking!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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