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LOT 3218
Antique Etched Panel Colt
Sheriff’s Model 1877 Lightning
Double Action Revolver with Scarce 2
1/2 Inch Barrel, Ivory Grips, and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 37289, 38 Long Colt cal., 2 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, ivory grips. The accompanying
factory letter states this revolver was sold to Schoverling,
Daly & Gales of New York City, and shipped on August 18, 1882,
to J.P. Lovell & Sons in Boston, Massachusetts, in .38 caliber,
with a 2 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, and hard rubber grips.
This was a 12 gun shipment. It features the scarce and desirable
2 1/2 inch ejectorless Sheriff’s Model barrel with the sought after
acid etched panel with “COLT D.A. 38” on the left side, and is fitted with a pair of
period ivory grips. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address. The left
of the frame has the three-line patent date markings. “38 CAL” marked on the left of the trigger
guard. Matching visible serial number “37289” on the frame and trigger guard, with matching
“289” on the rear face of the cylinder, and “38289” (likely a factory error) on the back strap.
Assembly number “347” marked on the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight and groove top
strap rear sight. Includes a .38 chamber gauge.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original nickel plated finish with smooth brown patina on the balance, some
patches of minor pitting, and a legible etched panel. Grips are also fine, with attractive natural aged patina, a
few minor handling marks, and tight fitment. Mechanically functions.
Provenance: Mitch Reston; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 3219
Scarce Documented 2 Inch
Barrel Antique Etched Panel Colt
Sheriff’s Model 1877 Thunderer
Double Action Revolver with Factory
Letter - Serial no. 33990, 41 Long Colt cal., 2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory letter states this revolver was
shipped on May 23, 1882, to Hartley & Graham in New
York City, in .41 caliber, with a 2 inch barrel, nickel finish, and
hard rubber grips. This was a 25 gun shipment. It features
the scarce and desirable 2 inch ejectorless Sheriff’s Model
barrel and has the sought after acid etched panel with “COLT
D.A. 41” on the left side. This short barreled revolver would have
been highly valued by someone in the West in need of discreet firepower, such as a gambler
or a banker. “COLT” marked on top of the barrel. The left of the frame has the three-line
patent date markings. “41 CAL” marked on the left of the trigger guard. Matching visible serial
numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap,
with matching “990” on the rear face of the cylinder.
Assembly number “444” marked on the loading gate. It
is fitted with a blade front sight, groove top strap rear
sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with
the Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original nickel plated
finish with smooth gray patina on the balance, some
light surface freckling, and a legible etched panel.
Cylinder has several dents. Grips are good, with wear,
and tight fitment. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx
Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3217
Antique Acid Etched
Panel Colt Sheriff’s
Model 1878 Frontier
Six Shooter Double
Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no.
17296, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard
rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this
revolver as shipped in a single gun shipment on February
2, 1887, to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. in Chicago, Illinois, in
.44 caliber, with a 4 inch barrel, nickel finish, and type of grips not
listed. Only 647 ejectorless Sheriff’s Model 1878 revolvers were
reportedly shipped in .44-40 WCF caliber, with 289 listed as shipped
in this specific configuration with a 4 inch barrel length and nickel
finish, according to figures on page 266 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. This Sheriff’s Model revolver correctly lacks an ejector
rod assembly. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-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 CAL” marked on the left of the trigger guard. Full serial number
marked on the butt, with the matching last two digits on the rear face
of the cylinder, and assembly number “6” on the loading gate. It is fitted
with a blade front sight, groove top strap rear sight, a pair of checkered
hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops, and a lanyard swivel
on the butt.
CONDITION: Fine with a fresh appearance, retains 75% original nickel
plated finish, with some flaking showing smooth gray patina and some
authentic frontier freckling, and a legible etched
panel. Grips are very good, with moderate wear, and
tight fitment. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Dean Williams; The Charles Marx
Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500 LOT 3220
Antique Etched Panel Colt Model 1877 Lightning
Double Action Revolver with Scarce Documented 6
Inch Barrel, Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no. 71734,
38 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
pearl grips. Manufactured in 1888, per Colt serial number
records. The accompanying factory letter states this revolver
was sold to Marks H.C. St. Jose, and shipped on an unlisted date
to Huchmeyer & Company in Guatemala, in .38 caliber, with a 6 inch barrel, nickel finish (factory
recording error), and pearl grips, and the letter further states, “As noted above, the records do
not provide the exact date subject revolver was shipped from the factory. However, further
examination of the records indicates that shipment would have occurred between April 2 and April
7, 1890.” This was a 12 gun shipment. It features the sought after acid etched panel with “COLT D.A.
38” on the left side. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address. The left of
the frame has the three-line patent date markings. “38 CAL” marked on the left of the trigger guard. Matching
visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with matching “734” on the rear face of the
cylinder. Assembly number “15” marked on the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight, groove top
strap rear sight, and a pair of pearl grips.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 75% bright original high polish
blue finish with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance,
80% original case colors, sharp markings and edges in the metal
overall, and a distinct etched panel. Grips are very good, with
some chipping around edges and screw with handling marks, and
attractive fiery colors. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: Doug Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
Collector’s Fact
According to "Colt's Double-
Action Revolver, Model of
1878" by Don Wilkerson, only
289 Colt Model 1878 Frontier
Six Shooter Sheriff's Model
revolvers were shipped in
this configuration.
189