Page 119 - 85-Book3

AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK GUNS THAT TALK BY LAFEVER & ROOT
LOT 3174
Historic Documented Armi San Marco Hartford CT Model Single
Action Army Revolver Inscribed to Famous Western Star and Lone
Ranger Actor, John Hart with Holsters and Gunbelt, as Featured in the
Included Book “Guns That Talk” by LaFever and Root - Serial no. 17352,
45 LC cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The
included letter of authentication with this fantastic set lists the revolver by
serial number and mentions the R.L. Garritson holster as having been in the
personal collection of famous Hollywood actor John Hart. The letter is signed
by Mick LaFever, who was Hart’s agent as well as friend. Also included is a
photo of Hart, signed “John Hart/’The Lone Ranger’”, with a brief message
that mentions “The Great Western 45 & the R.L. Garritson holster”. This specific revolver is pictured and briefly described on p. 252 of the included book, “Guns That Talk” by Malcolm “Mick” LaFever and Larry Root. John Hart’s acting career began in 1937 with an uncredited role in “Daughter of Shanghai” followed by a plethora of rolls in all genres of film and TV, many of them Westerns. Two of his larger rolls were as Nat “Hawkeye” Cutler in “Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans” and as the Lone Ranger for a short time in the 1950s. Hart’s final acting roll in 1982 was an appearance on the show “Happy Days”, where he portrayed the Lone Ranger, who was Fonzie’s childhood hero. The revolver itself has standard markings and features apart from having been fitted with a pair of smooth walnut grips sporting Colt medallions and “John Hart” inscribed on the back strap. The included R.L. Garritson holster bears the maker’s mark and has light border tooling. Also included is an extensively tooled leather gunbelt with a plaque on the back portion marked “JOHN HART” and a matching holster with leather thong tie-down.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 95% plus of the original blue finish on the barrel and cylinder with some light edge wear and a cylinder drag line. The frame shows traces of original case colors with the balance having been cleaned to a smooth grey patina. The slightly oversize replacement Colt medallion grips are very good with some light wear and handling marks. Mechanically excellent. The holsters and gunbelt are very fine with a few scattered minor marks and minimal wear. A great set of memorabilia once owned by “The Lone Ranger”!
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
117