Page 146 - 87-BOOK2

LOT 1151
Very Scarce and Highly Desirable Documented Black Powder Colt Frontier Six Shooter Sheriff’s Model Single Action Revolver with Desirable 3 Inch Barrel and Factory Letter as Pictured in “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” - Serial no. 145307, 44 WCF cal., 3 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The ejectorless black powder Colt Sheriff’s Model Single Action Army Revolver is one of the rarest and most sought after variations of the legendary Peacemaker. In “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver,” approximately 1,000 of these “ejectorless” revolvers were estimated to have been manufactured with the majority of the production occurring before 1900 (page 69). In the seminal work “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” the authors tabulated only 5 blued 3 inch barrel ejectorless SAA revolvers chambered in the always desirable .44 WCF caliber manufactured by Colt within the serial number range 1-16410 or prior to the cylinder pin retaining screw being changed to the spring loaded system (page 338). The revolver is pictured on page 336 of the aforementioned book with the following additional information cited in the caption: “This revolver was shipped to Simmons Hardware on May 13, 1899. Simmons actually received 29 Sheriff’s Models in .44-40 caliber on that date- 26 revolvers were fitted with 4” barrels and three with 3” barrels. This 1899 shipment probably represented a clean up of the assembly line as the frames for the 26 revolvers had been produced in the years 1884, 1887 and 1892 respectively. Simmons more than likely received a special price break on this order. A similar sell off of Sheriff’s Models occurred in 1914.” Includes a leather bound special edition of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver,” number 164 of 200. The accompany factory letter confirms the 3 inch barrel in .44-40 caliber, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. The letter also confirms the revolver was shipped to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, Missouri, on May 13, 1889. This was a 3 gun shipment. Simmons stood at the gateway to the West and supplied many pioneers looking for fame and fortune out West. The western frontier was undoubtedly one of harshest and most unforgiving environment in America’s history. The lawmen of such a time period definitely had their work cut out for them on a daily basis. Whether on the hip of a lawman, carried by an outlaw or under the counter of a storekeeper’s shop, the Sheriff’s model Colt SAA was at the forefront of trying to tame the western frontier, as well as all manner of ruffians and outlaws. This example has all the appearance of serving on the frontier as the trustworthy sidekick. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top, the frame has the two- line patent dates marking followed by an encircled Rampant Colt, and “44” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard and on the underside of the barrel. Matching full serial number appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The matching partial serial number “5307” is on the barrel.
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