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LOT 3194
Documented Antique Colt Flattop Target Single Action Army Revolver in Very Scarce
.32-20 W.C.F. with Relief Carved Ox Head Ivory Grip, Factory Letter, Provenance Letter
Attributing the Revolver to a Rough Rider, and Tooled Holster Rig - Serial no. 154066,
32-20 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, carved ivory grips. The accompanying
factory letter lists this Flattop revolver as shipped in a single gun shipment on November
6, 1893, to William Burkhard in St. Paul, Minnesota, with the note “For: Olaus Lutness,” in
.32-20 caliber, with an “illegible” barrel length, blue finish, and grips confirmed as “Ivory
with carved ox head motif.” Standard frame Colt Flattop Target revolvers are considered
scarce, with only 925 in total reportedly manufactured, per page 259 of “The Book of Colt
Firearms” (1971 publication) by Sutherland and Wilson. This particular example is rare in
that it is one of only approximately 30 of these Colt Single Action Flattop Target revolvers
chambered for the .32-20 W.C.F. cartridge, per page 252 of the aforementioned book and
reiterated on page 190 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” (published 1965)
by David Brown. An included letter of provenance, dated January 19, 1999, and addressed
from Stephanie Dutton, states, “Colt Single Action Flat-Top Target revolver, #154066, was
owned by my late husband Richard Dodds Dutton. It was given to him by his grandfather
Lewis T. Dodds. The gun was given to Lewis by Bade Smith (Lewis’s friend and hunting guide
from Mankato, MN) who was a member of the Rough Riders and carried the gun up San
Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War.” Bade Smith was unable to be located in the rosters
of the Rough Riders, although it is possible the first name mentioned may have been a
nickname. This Flattop Target Model revolver features the transverse mounted cylinder
retention crossbolt, which was an improvement that became a Target Model feature over 3
1/2 years prior to being incorporated into regular Single Action Army production, as noted in
a picture caption showing a similar example close in serial range with 155906, on page 119
of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” by Graham, Kopec, and Moore. It has a
provision for a target blade front sight (absent), with a dovetail mounted notch rear sight.
The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line Hartford legend, with “32 W.C.F.” on
the left of the barrel. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the two-line, three-date
patent markings followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark. Matching visible full
serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with an unnumbered cylinder,
and assembly number “10” on the loading gate. The revolver wears a set of highly attractive
factory ivory grips featuring a detailed relief carved ox head on the right side. Includes a
fancy period tooled leather Slim Jim holster rig with a tooled leather belt with cartridge
loops, with this rig exhibiting the characteristic appearance of having accompanied this
revolver all along.
CONDITION: Fine, exhibiting desirable character of a well cared for and well traveled trusty
sidearm, retains 40% original blue finish with areas of smooth brown and gray patina on the
balance, a few small patches of light oxidation, and sharp markings and edges in the metal
overall. Grips are very fine, with highly attractive grain, some natural age lines, defined edges,
and a crisp carved steer head. Mechanically excellent. Holster rig is very good with some
authentic general wear. This revolver has many features that make it a desirable specimen for
the Colt collector, as a Colt Single Action Flattop Target revolver in very scarce .32-20 W.C.F.
with factory documented factory relief carved ox head ivory grip!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 20,000
According to "The Book of Colt Firearms"
by Wilson, of the 925 Colt Flattop Target
Single Action Army Revolvers produced, only
30 were chambered in .32-20.
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