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LOT 1214
Scarce New York Engraved Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top Single Action Revolver Serial Number 2121 with Tooled Slim Jim Holster and Factory Letter - Serial no. 2121, 44 RF cal., 7 3/8 inch round bbl., nickel finish, antique ivory grips. Given only approximately 7,000 of this model were manufactured over the course of less than three years, very few Colt Open Tops were engraved by retailers or the factory. Only eight are documented as factory engraved; serial numbers 1932, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1992, 1993, 2003, and 2004 were shipped two J.P. Moore’s Sons in New York City on July 4, 1876, for the city’s Independence Day and U.S. centennial celebrations. Few others were engraved in the period for New York retailers. This revolver was shipped prior to the factory engraved revolvers despite being a later serial number and features similar, but actually higher quality, engraving in classic German-American scroll patterns with punched backgrounds on around half of the barrel, the side of the ejector housing, all of the visible areas of the frame, around the border of the cylinder scene, and on areas of the grip frame. The grip is checkered. The revolver also features a nickel-silver blade front sight, integral notch rear sight at the breech end of the barrel, and standard markings (including matching
visible serial numbers), and it comes with a dark brown leather “Slim Jim” holster with scroll and border tooling. The factory letter lists this revolver in .44 Rimfire with
a 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, and type of stocks
not listed and confirms it was part of a shipment of 15 guns of this type shipped to Spies, Kissam & Co. of New York City, on April 1, 1874. Spies, Kissam & Co. are also known to have had batches of early Colt Single Action Army revolvers engraved by L.D. Nimschke and other New York engravers, making this revolver an interesting connection to the earliest New York engraved Colt Single Action Army revolvers as well.
CONDITION: Good with mostly smooth gray patina, some mild pitting, and general mild overall wear suggesting honest period use, possibly on the western frontier. Most of the engraving and markings remain distinct. The grip is also good and has numerous noticable age cracks, small chips at the edges, crisp checkering, and natural aged tones. Mechanically fine. The holster is good with distinct tooling, the original stitching absent, a section of period replaced stitching, some flaking and crackling, and mild wear. Overall, this is a beautiful New York engraved Colt Open Top, a rare model scarcely found with period engraving.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000