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LOT 126
U.S. Colt Artillery
Model Single Action
Army Revolver with Pre-
Custer Battle Lot 3 Frame
and Lot 6 Back Strap - Serial
no. 3152, 45 LC cal., 5 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. These Colt “Artillery Model” Single Action Army revolvers were brought back into service during the Spanish-American War,
Filipino-American War, and Moro Rebellion. Though nicknamed “Artillery Models”, they were actually issued to a variety of U.S. Army units and particularly known to have been favored for use against
LOT 128
Desirable Antique
Colt Single Action
Army Revolver in
.41 Colt - Serial no. 175997, 41 Long Colt cal.,
7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, wood grips. Manufactured in
1898. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line Colt address, the left side
is marked “41 COLT”, and the left side of the frame is marked with the two-line,
three-patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is marked on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The loading gate is marked with the assembly number “341”. Standard blade front and frame notch rear sights, blue finish with casehardened frame and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top.
CONDITION: Very good. The revolver retains 25% original blue finish concentrated in protected areas, with smooth brown and gray patina on the remaining metal surfaces. There are 11 kill notches on the left side of the barrel. The replacement undersize wood grip is in good condition with some minor gouging on the lower left edge and moderate handling wear. The markings are crisp and clear. The action is excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,000
LOT 129
Black Powder
Colt Frontier Six
Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with
Acid Etched Panel Barrel - Serial no. 100158, 44 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. When introduced in 1877, the
.44-40 WCF SAA was intended to be used in conjunction with another legendary
Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873 rifle, which used the same cartridge. “The .44-40
WCF was added to the list of Colt calibers for use with the popular Winchester rifle of the
same caliber,” wrote Colt author David Brown. “This combination of a rifle and a six shooter
using the same cartridge made it possible for their user to buy only one kind of ammunition, and
he could carry ‘fodder’ for both guns in the same cartridge belt.” Offered here is an antique black powder frame
.44 WCF SAA with the highly desirable etched barrel panel that was manufactured in 1883. These .44 WCF SAAs
have found a special place in the hearts of Peacemaker collectors. The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford
address. The left side of the barrel has the highly desirable “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an acid etched
panel. In 1889 this highly desirable acid etched panel was replaced with a roll stamped marking. The barrel also has the correct “44” caliber designation stamped in small font on the underside. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking, and the left side of the trigger guard is stamped “44 CF.” The cylinder is a replacement (“0197”). The matching full or partial serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap and barrel.
CONDITION: Very good as a “working man’s” SAA in highly desirable .44 WCF. The barrel, ejector rod housing, and cylinder retain half of the dull reapplied blue finish and the grip straps retain traces of blue with smooth gray patina on the balance. The etched barrel marking is legible. The very good grip has all the
character of “frontier use” with a series of dings from
using the butt as a hammer and high edge wear from
spending a lifetime in the hand. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 130
Desirable Omaha, Nebraska Shipped
Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 166549, 41
Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1896. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Colt
address, the left side is marked “41 COLT”, and the left side of the frame is marked
with the two-line, three-patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The
matching serial number is marked on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The loading
gate is marked with the assembly number “901”. Standard blade front and frame notch rear sights, and fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Lee, Clarke, Andreesen Hardware Co. in Omaha, Nebraska on 25 July 1896.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% of the original blue finish and traces of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to a smooth grey or brown patina and a few scattered patches of light surface pitting. The front sight is trimmed down slightly. The grips are also very good with some mild wear and some minor dings in the butts of both panels. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
the Moro warriors who were known to continue
fighting after being shot with the weaker .38 caliber Colt double action revolvers also in use. The revolver has mixed numbers and components typical of the Artillery variant, including a Lot 6 back strap (“6446”) featuring a faint sub-inspector Ainsworth “A” initial. Lot 6 (5505-6516) was one of the prime groupings of SAA revolvers issued to the 7th Cavalry from Ft. Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1874, just before the 7th’s departure to the Black Hills and Custer’s infamous defeat at Little Bighorn. The frame is numbered “3152” which dates to 1874 and falls in the Lot 3 serial number range of Cavalry Models issued to the 4th Cavalry. The trigger guard (“49768”) dates to 1879 and has sub-inspector Henry Nettleton’s “HN” initials. The revolver also has a David Clark inspected cylinder and Johnson inspected barrel.
CONDITION: Very good as arsenal refurbished and proudly displaying all the characteristics
of an Artillery Model that most likely spent its latter career in the Filipino jungle with slight traces of blue finish in the protected areas and otherwise very good, moderately worn grip. Mechanically fine. This Artillery Model is certainly a surviver of the Indian Wars and Filipino- American War that has a story to tell.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 127
Documented Texas Shipped Colt First
Generation Single Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 230512, 45
LC cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, hard rubber grips. The Colt Single Action Army
is one of the most iconic firearms of the American
west, and it, alongside the Winchester Model 1873, are often cited as the “guns that won the west”. This example certainly has the look of “been there, done that”. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, and blue finish with type of stocks not listed. The letter also states the revolver was shipped to
Roberts, Sanford & Taylor Co. of Sherman, Texas, on
August 13, 1902. Matching serial numbers are on
the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Good displaying a classic smooth gray
patina from spending a lifetime in the Texas wilds.
The grips are good replacements with the right
panel well worn, left fine. Mechanically excellent. A
Texas shipped Single Action Army revolver that has all the hallmarks of seeing serious action. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
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