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LOT 1115
Matching Numbered U.S. Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter and John Kopec Letter - Serial
no. 120711, 45 LC cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter indicates the revolver was originally shipped to the U.S. Government inspector
at the Colt plant on March 8, 1887 as part of a delivery of 450
units. The full serial number “120711” appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the matching partial serial number “0711” appears on the cylinder and barrel. The matching serial numbers on all components is scarce. During refurbishment to Artillery Model configuration, it was common for the revolvers to be refinished and reassembled without attention being paid to keep serial numbered parts matching. Only a small percentage escaped complete refurbishment. As explained in “Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers...a Continuing Study,”“Between 1896 and 1903 Springfield Armory altered 14,900 Colt Army revolvers, some of which were still in ‘new’ or serviceable condition and did not require refurbishing
by Colt. Most of these had seen little or no military action and
were still in stores at the Springfield Armory. The first of the Springfield-altered Artillery revolvers have matching serial numbers, or only a mismatched barrel, while the majority of later Springfield alterations have mixed
serial numbers” (page 267). This revolver retains the original blue and color casehardened finish on the trigger guard, cylinder, back strap, frame, hammer and loading gate. The barrel was probably refinished when it was shortened and the front sight relocated. The underside of the barrel and the cylinder have a David F. Clark (D.F.C.) sub-inspection mark and a small “P” proofmark. The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The frame lacks the “US” and sub-inspector initials. In the included 1977 dated letter on Arms Gazette letterhead, Colt expert and author John Kopec addressed the absent “US” marking. Kopec wrote, “We find that the absence of any U.S. markings was noted on several surveyed specimens throughout the entire U.S. production series. They are simply oversights, and of course add some degree of collector interest to the particular revolver.”
CONDITION: Very good. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 30% of the blue finish. Traces of original blue remain on the trigger guard and back strap in the protected areas. The frame retains traces of silvered original case colors. Flashes of original case colors remain on the hammer. The sanded and reoiled grip is very good as repaired with a couple small chips at the toe. Mechanically excellent. A U.S. Colt Artillery Model Revolver with all matching numbered components that is nearly impossible to find.
106 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1116
Antique Black Powder
Colt Single Action Army
.41 Long Colt Revolver
- Serial no. 136047, 41
Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
hard rubber grips. Colt introduced the .41 Colt caliber to its
famed SAA line in 1885. Colt author David Brown passionately
summarized the .41 Colt caliber’s alluring image: “The .41s were favorites
in the West among men who wanted something a bit less husky than the
.45 or the .44-40, yet something still dependable for man-stopping power
at short ranges. The lawmen for the most part, clung to the bigger bores;
but several famous outlaws are known to have liked the .41 Colts” (see “The 36 Calibers of the
Colt Single Action Army,” page 146). This example was manufactured in 1891 and has a classic
look of a well seasoned sidearm that spent a lifetime carried at the hip of its previous owner.
The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and “41 COLT” on left side. The frame has
the two-line patent date marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard and back strap.
CONDITION: Fine as exhibiting an as-found appearance of a well traveled, well used and well cared for late 19th century small arm. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 40% bright original polished blue finish, the cylinder retains 20% original blue, and the grip straps retain 30% original blue with a smooth brown-gray patina on the balance and some pitting at the muzzle. 40% original case colors remain on the frame and hammer. The grips are very fine with a couple of worn spots in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1117
Colt Model 1878 Frontier
Six Shooter Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. 38905,
44-40 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish. The barrel
has the two-line Hartford address on top and “COLT FRONTIER
SIX SHOOTER” marked on the left. The underside of the barrel is correctly marked “44” is small font. Matching partial serial number “905” marked on the rear of the cylinder. Assembly number “405” marked
on the rear of the loading gate and left of the grip frame. “O.E.” and
“GWR/1961” carved on the underside of the right grip panel. Includes a
copy of the book “Colt’s Double Action Revolver” by Don Wilkerson.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 70% original high polish blue finish thinning to smooth gray and brown patina on the balance. The grips are very good with some general light wear and handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1118
Colt Pre-War
Single-Action
Army Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 356162, 32 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1938, this single action revolver is marked
with the single line address on the top of the barrel and “32 W.C.F.”
on the left side. The left side of the frame is marked with the two line,
three patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt. The matching serial
number is stamped on the bottom of the frame and on the right side
of the grip strap and is also hand marked on each of the grip panels. The
assembly number “870” is marked on the loading gate. Blue finish with
casehardened frame, hammer with polished sides, blade front and frame
notch rear sights, and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the
Rampant Colt on each side. Includes a factory letter explaining that the
pistol was manufactured on February 2, 1938 and sent to the shipping
room a week later and also indicates that further details are unavailable
due to lost or destroyed records from the period of 1933-1944.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver retains 85% of the original blue finish with 40% case colors remaining on the frame. There are some cylinder rotation marks, some finish wear on the trigger and trigger guard, some areas of spotty oxidation, residue on the hammer, and some light handling/storage marks. The grips are fine and have slightly faded to a dark brown with some golden brown and minor marks on the butt. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 2,500 - 3,500