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LOT 3131
U.S. Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army Revolver
with John Kopec Silver Seal
Letter and Spanish-American War Modified
Holster - Serial no. 133532, 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 the Moro warriors who were known to continue fighting after being
shot with the weaker .38 caliber Colt double action revolvers also in use. In the accompanying silver seal letter
of authentication from noted Colt expert and author John Kopec, he mentions this revolver is new to his survey falling
between nos. 133531 (a N.Y. militia revolver) and 133533 (a Cavalry revolver), and states, “The procedures that this revolver
had taken vary considerably from those we usually encounter with the Artillery revolvers. After being shipped to the Springfield Armory from Colt’s [1890], and packed within a ‘shipping crate’ holding 50 revolvers, this revolver remained unpacked at the armory along with a lot of five other shipping
crates, each totaling 300 revolvers. Ten additional brand-new revolvers were also included within this group and remained in storage until 1898 (eight years after manufacture). Then after all the Cavalry revolvers then in service had been recalled during 1893, and at the outset of the Spanish-American War in 1898,
a large lot of over 16,000 of these former Cavalry revolvers were refurbished at the Springfield Armory. At this juncture, all revolvers were dismantled, parts cleaned and barrels shortened to the 5 1/2” length and front sights repositioned. These revolvers [not including this
example] were then reassembled without attention being paid to keeping their serial numbers matching. These revolvers were not refinished during this procedure. During this huge undertaking at the Springfield Armory, six shipping-crates of
brand-new revolvers, plus ten additional new revolvers amounting to 310 examples were presented
to the armory workers to be altered into the Artillery configuration. These workers questioned the
feasibility of altering these brand-new revolvers. The commanding officer in charge quickly replied;
‘Cut the barrels’. It is the opinion of this writer that our subject revolver #133532 was among these
brand-new Cavalry revolvers to receive this order. Our subject revolver was then placed into service
during the Spanish American War.” and later in the letter in his detailed observations of this revolver states, “This revolver’s finish remains as-applied during 1890.” Unlike most Artillery models encountered with all mixed serial numbered components, this example retains matching visible serial numbers on its arsenal shortened barrel, frame, trigger guard, butt and cylinder. The arsenal replacement grip is hand numbered “6854” in the mortise. The ejector does not have an inspection mark, indicating it was replaced during the 1898 arsenal modification. The “RAC” inspected frame has the three-line patent dates marking followed by “U.S” on the left. Ordnance sub-inspector Rinaldo A. Carr’s “RAC” initials
are stamped on the frame, barrel, cylinder, and the bottom of the grip. Includes an arsenal altered/shortened “US” embossed Rock Island Arsenal M1881 leather holster for use during the Spanish-American War.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as modified, retaining 80% plus original blue finish, with a patch of moderate pitting visible on top of the barrel
obstructing the first part of the address with otherwise sharp markings and edges in the metal overall, moderate cylinder drag line, 50% plus original case colors on the frame and hammer, and some light handling marks. The grip is fine with some light chips and wear along the lower edges, some scattered light scratches and dings, and crisp stamping on bottom. Mechanically excellent. Included holster is very good with some light wear and an absent plug on bottom.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
108
LOT 3132
1903 Dated U.S. Inspected Colt Model 1878/1903 “Alaskan/Philippine” Double Action Revolver - Serial
no. 50658, 45 LC cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. This is a very scarce U.S. inspected Model 1878
that falls out of the accepted serial number range (43401- 48097) of the Model 1902, is dated 1903, and features U.S. inspected parts. A few U.S. government shipped examples are
reported in higher ranges as Don Wilkerson (this example was in his collection) notes in his included book “Colt’s Double Action
Revolver Model of 1878”: “On December 26, 1903, Colt shipped a .45 caliber revolver, 6” barrel, blue finish and rubber stocks to the Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory.
The serial number was in the 50000 range. This shipment of a single revolver to Springfield occurred exactly one year to the day after the last large shipments of Model 1902 revolvers.
Almost nothing is know regarding this revolver or the fifty identical revolvers shipped a year later on December 23, 1904, except that each was fitted with a long trigger and oversized trigger guard common to Model 1902 revolvers....Who ordered the revolvers and why remains a mystery” (page
403). Another possibility is that this is a civilian revolver
with overrun Model 1902 components. The left side of
the frame has an encircled Rampant Colt as featured
on commercially sold revolvers. The frame has the U.S. inspector initials “RAC” on the left side and “JEH” on the right side as well as the date “1903.” The frame lacks a “US” marking. The underside of the barrel has a “P” proof as well as the letter “K.” The rear cylinder face has “RAC” and is numbered to the gun (“0658”). The matching assembly number “25” is on the loading gate and grip frame.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 85% bright original high polish blue
finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The grips are also very fine with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,000