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LOT 3190
Antique Acid Etched Panel Colt Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 9876, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. The accompanying
factory lists this revolver as shipped on March 15, 1883, to Hartley & Graham in New York City, in .44 caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish,
and hard rubber grips. This was a 50 gun shipment. 3,007 Model 1878 revolvers were reportedly shipped in .44-40 WCF caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel length and nickel finish,
according to figures on page 261 of Don Wilkerson’s book “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” (published 1998). Designed by William Mason, Colt’s factory manager,
and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Superintendent of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double action alternative to
Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. The Model 1878 was not considered to be as popular as its single action cousin; however, there
were still many that favored it in the West for its firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts”
shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford address, with “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”
in an acid etched panel on the left of the barrel, and small “44” caliber marking on the bottom of the barrel. “44.C.F” marked on the left of the
trigger guard. Full serial number marked on the butt, with the matching last three digits on the rear face of the cylinder along with an extra digit
after that appears to be a factory error “9” overstamped with a “6”, and assembly number “1” on the loading gate and rear face of the cylinder. It is
fitted with a blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight, a pair of period replacement pearl grips, and a lanyard swivel on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original nickel plated finish, with smooth gray and frontier brown patina on the balance, some light frosting, and
a defined acid etched panel. Grips are very good, with some light handling marks and age lines, a small hole on the right, and attractive fiery
colors. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 3188
Fine Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 86043, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1883. Offered here is a fine representative example of an original
legendary Peacemaker in .45 Long Colt, made during a time when plenty of the west was still untamed. 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. In the words of Colt author and expert David Brown, “The Colt Single Action Army .45 was ‘the soldier’s friend’ throughout the remaining years
of the Indian Wars in the West. Adopted also with equal enthusiasm by civilians, it was the pet and the ‘good right arm’ of lawman and outlaw alike on
every American frontier of its era” (“The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 70). This example certainly has the appearance of being a well cared for
trusty sidearm out west. Includes an accompanying Colt archive letter that indicates factory shipment records were unable to be located on this revolver. The top of the barrel has the
single-line address, and there is no marking on the left. The left side of the frame is marked with the three-line patent dates, and the “45 CAL” caliber marking is on the left of the trigger guard.
Matching serial number “86043” marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with matching “6043” on the cylinder, and assembly number “4341” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Fine, with a fresh and charming appearance, retains 60% plus original bright blue finish on the barrel, 30% original blue finish on the trigger guard, back strap, and cylinder
concentrated between the flutes, 50% plus vivid original case colors on the frame, with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance and scattered frontier surface freckling, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall.
Grip is also fine, with tight fitment, some surface flaking and light handling marks, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. A fine example of an antique Colt Single Action Army revolver!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,500
LOT 3189
Documented Western Cartridge Company Shipped Antique Colt Single Action
Army Revolver in .32-20 WCF with Factory Letter - Serial no. 121970, 32-20 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter indicates this revolver was shipped in a single gun
shipment on July 9, 1887 to Western Arms Cartridge Company (better known as Western Cartridge Company), and lists it as “.32/c”
caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. Upon a double check, it was found that this revolver is chambered for the
.32-20 WCF cartridge, which may indicate it was possibly used by the Western Arms Cartridge Company for ammunition testing purposes. Only
268 blue finished, 7 1/2 inch barrel .32-20 WCF caliber Single Action Army revolvers falling in the 1-164100 serial number range were reportedly
manufactured by Colt, per page 361 of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” (published 2008) by Wilkerson and Hoyt. The same page of
that book also states, “The Winchester Repeating Arms Company introduced a new caliber [.32-20 WCF] for their popular Model 1873 rifle in 1882. Colt would formally chamber the
Single Action Army revolver for this cartridge in 1888 with a small production run of 56 revolvers. By the early 1900’s this caliber would be one of the most popular.” The book further
states, “The first .32-20 caliber revolver was a special order shipped to the Ideal Manufacturing Company on December 20, 1887.” The shipment date of this revolver predates this, although the
factory letter does not specify its caliber as being .32-20 WCF, which may have possibly been a factory recording error. As author Dan Brown put it, “The .32-20 WCF cartridge had good range
and accuracy. It is very easy to shoot, as it does not make the revolver buck as the larger calibers do. It also was used as a companion to the Winchester rifle of the .32-20 WCF
caliber,” per page 190 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army.” Features a blade front sight and top groove rear sight, with the one-line Hartford address on top of the
barrel. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The caliber designation “32 CAL” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. Matching visible serial
numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with assembly number “728” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 20% original blue finish and strong patterns of original case colors concentrated in protected areas, with smooth natural brown and gray patina on
the balance, some minor flash pitting, and defined markings and edges in the metal overall. Grips are very good, with a crack in the right panel, a few light handling marks, and
distinct designs. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 3,750 - 6,000