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LOT 3186
Very Fine Well-
Documented
Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver in
Scarce .38 Long Colt as Pictured in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” - Serial no.
126458, 38 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured
in 1888, this is a very fine example of Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver chambered in one of the
more scarce calibers it was offered in, .38 Long Colt. The .38 Long Colt chambering was first introduced to the
Single Action Army caliber lineup in 1886, just two years before this revolver was made. According to “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action
Army” by Brown, from its introduction in 1886 to 1914 when the caliber was first discontinued, only 1,011 standard frame Single Action Army revolvers
were chambered in it. Sales in this caliber likely suffered due to the perceived under performance of .38 Long Colt in military service, particularly the
experiences in the Philippines, which led to the re-adoption of the .45 Long Colt cartridge. As is often the case in firearms collecting, lack of popularity
during the time of production most often has lead to scarcity and desirability on the later collectors market, as is the case with this revolver. According
to Brown, the caliber was reintroduced in 1922, but again failed to gain much traction, and by the time it was discontinued again in 1940, only another 1,365 revolvers had been
chambered in it. Brown also notes that the percentage of 7 1/2 inch barrel revolvers chambered in .38 Long Colt is lower than in most other calibers, making these long barreled examples particularly prized.
This specific revolver is pictured and described on p. 61 of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” by Graham, Kopec, and Moore where the “high percentage of blue finish reveals that over the
years this revolver received very good care...” The top of the barrel is marked with the single line address, and the left of the frame has the three-line patent dates. The caliber marking is on the left of the
trigger guard which was standard until approximately the 130000 serial number range. The matching serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The assembly
number “285” is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, frame-top groove rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with
American eagles at the bottoms and Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% of the original blue finish with some mild handling and holster type wear, typical of a revolver that was carried and used as a
trusted sidearm. A spot of antiqued brown is on the left rear side of the barrel. 50% of the original case colors remain, more vibrant in sheltered areas, with the
balance mostly a grey patina. Strong nitre blue remains on the trigger, and traces are on the screw heads. The grips are also very fine with a few light handling marks
and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A Colt Single Action Army with a 7 1/2 inch barrel and chambered in .38 Long Colt is rare to see, even in the most
extensive collections!
Provenance: The Mel Guy Collection; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3185
Exceptional
Antique Acid
Etched Panel Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single
Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 103773, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut grips. This is an exceptional example of a Colt Single Action Army revolver that was manufactured in
1884. The revolver is chambered in caliber .44-40 and has the highly desirable acid etched “COLT FRONTIER
SIX SHOOTER” panel on the left side of the barrel. The revolver has the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel,
cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate have a color casehardened finish. The one-piece
walnut grip is varnished with the high polish piano finish. The revolver has the oval ejector rod head. The hammer has a knurled bordered spur and
cone-shaped firing pin. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in a single line. The caliber designation “44”
is stamped on the underside of the barrel just in front of the frame. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three date/three line patent
markings. “44 CF” is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The assembly number “1588” is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. An “O” Colt
inspection mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel behind the ejector housing stud, “L” is stamped on the rear
face of the cylinder and “H” is stamped in the hammer slot above the firing pin hole. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the
frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number “3773” is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the ejector housing and
on the side of the cylinder. “3773” is written in pencil in the back strap housing of the grip. All of the visible serial numbers match.
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The revolver retains 70% plus of the original blue and color casehardened finish. The blue finish on the barrel, ejector
housing and cylinder has faded and shows holster wear on contact points. The blue on the grip strap and back strap has thinned slightly from
handling and has a dark blue-gray patina. The frame, hammer and loading gate retain 90% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors in
protected areas. The grip is very fine, and most of the original varnish remains. Wear is limited to some minor handling marks and two small chips on the lower right edge of the grip. All of the markings are crisp including the acid-
etched “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” panel on the barrel. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceptional example of the classic acid etched panel 44-40 Blackpowder Colt Single Action Army revolver.
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000 As pictured & described in A Study of
the Colt Single Action Army Revolver by
Graham, Kopec and Moore
Collector’s Fact
According to "The 36 calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army" by Brown, only 1,011 standard
frame Colt Single Action Army revolvers were
chambered in .38 Long Colt from 1886 to 1914.
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