Page 170 - 4095-BOOK3

LOT 3187
Rare Special Order Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver with “Double Action”
Grip - Serial no. 48486, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
rosewood grips. The included copy of a factory letter addressed to noted Colt author and
researcher Ron Graham lists this extremely rare Colt Single Action Army Revolver as in .45
caliber with silver finish, the stocks “Same as Double Action,” and the sights 1/8 inch higher
than normal. The barrel length was not listed which typically indicates the then standard 7
1/2 inch barrel. It is listed as shipped to William Crapo on June 10, 1878, in a shipment of for
firearms of this type. The revolver features an extremely rare grip and grip frame configuration
that is similar to the Model 1877 revolvers that had just hit the market in 1877. In the 20th and
21st centuries, Colt offered “birds head grips” from the Custom Shop, but the present writer has
never before seen a factory original birds head grip on a First Generation Single Action Army
let alone one from the 1870s. In an included copy of a letter from Graham states: “It sure is a
fantastic piece - ugly, but fantastic. Thanks again for the great photos. I haven’t had a chance to
show this to three of my collecting buddies, but I know they won’t believe it either.” This order
is also referenced on page 76 of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver,
1873-1895” by the Wilkersons and Hoyt in the chapter for 1878 and noted as the first order of
silver-plated revolvers. The book states: “The backstraps and trigger guards for these revolvers
were modified Model 1877 grip frames.” Though the grip frame is similar in basic design to
the Model 1877, it isn’t the same shape or size. The silver notation in the records also does not
match the revolver which appears to have been blue and casehardened all along. Perhaps the
silver referenced related to the front sight. The revolver now features a period replacement
brass blade front sight with a number stamped at the edge. It also has the one-line barrel
address, “8486” marked under the ejector housing, matching serial number “48486” on the
frame, trigger guard, and back strap; assembly number “1” on the loading gate, the three-line
patent marking on the left side of the frame, “45 CAL” on the left side of the trigger guard, and
a pair of checkered rosewood grips with “8486”
marked in pencil on the back sides. Though the
address was listed as “Not available” on the factory letter,
William Wallace Crapo (1830-1926) of Massachusetts is the
most likely recipient of this shipment of most unusual Colts. “The Story of William Wallace
Crapo, 1830-1926” by Henry Howland Crapo provides many details from his life. In 1878, he was
a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts’s 1st District.
He held that office from the 44th through the 47th Congresses (1875 to 1883). His father was
Governor Henry H. Crapo (1804-1869) of Michigan. William Crapo studied at Yale and Harvard
Law School and was a lawyer and city solicitor in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and also
served as a state level representative. He also had various business connections, including as
a part owner of the Nantucket Steamship Company and as a director of the Boston, Clinton,
Fitchburg & New Bedford Railroad Company in 1878. He was also one of the founders of the
Old Dartmouth Historical Society and its first president along with the vice president of the Old
Colony Historical Society.
CONDITION: Good with traces of the factory blue and casehardened finish. The blue finish
in the protected areas, including under the ejector housing, along with traces of original
case colors on the hammer and frame. Overall, the revolver displays mostly an authentic
grey patina with some mild pitting, mostly legible markings, and moderate wear. The heavily
worn, refinished grips are fair and have mostly smoothed but visible checkering on the grips.
Mechanically functions. Don’t miss out on this rare “Double Action” gripped Single Action Army!
Estimate: 7,500 - 15,000
168