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LOT 3191
Incredibly Rare Well-Documented Factory 12 Inch
“Buntline” Barrel Nickel Plated Colt Model 1878 Double
Action Revolver with Factory Letter, Formerly of The
William Locke Collection and Featured in Don Wilkerson’s
Book “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” - Serial
no. 17475, 45 Long Colt cal., 12 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this
revolver as shipped in a single gun shipment on August 30,
1886, to Schoverling, Daly & Gales in New York City, and confirms
its current configuration with the extremely rare 12 inch barrel
in .45 caliber, nickel finish, and hard rubber stocks. This 12 inch
“Buntline” barreled Model 1878 revolver is a true rarity in Colt
collecting. It is reportedly the only example known to have been
factory made in this configuration, as shipped in .45 Long Colt
caliber with a 12 inch barrel length and nickel finish, according
to figures on page 213 of Don Wilkerson’s book “Colt’s Double-
Action Revolver, Model of 1878” (published 1998). This exact
revolver is featured on page 47 of Wilkerson’s aforementioned
book, in which the picture caption indicates there is only one
other 12 inch barreled example known to have been made,
differing in being chambered in .38-40 with blue finish. This
exact revolver is also featured on page 209 of “The William M.
Locke Collection” book. Both publications mention the special
features of this revolver including the 12 inch barrel, and notably
that it has special provisions in the grip straps for a shoulder
stock and the special rear sight. 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, and “45
CAL” on the left of the trigger guard. Full serial number “17475”
marked on the butt, with assembly number “176” on the loading
gate, and a “1” and an “L” on the rear face of the cylinder. It is
fitted with a blade front sight, the noted special rear sight, and a
lanyard swivel on the butt.
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