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Collector’s Fact
According to The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army by David Brown, only 12 standard frame Colt Single Action revolvers were produced in .44 S&W.
LOT 54
Documented Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver
in Rare .44 S&W with Factory Letter - Serial no. 176318, 44
S&W cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard
rubber grips. Manufactured 1898, the top of the barrel has
the standard two-line address while the rare and desirable “44
S&W” caliber marking is on the left. The left of the frame has the
two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The
included factory letter confirms the .44 S&W caliber, finish, and grip type, while listing the barrel length as 5 1/2 inches, and shipment to Jack Morris on 12 February 1898 (one could certainly research this individual). According to “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by Brown, only 12 standard frame Single Action Army revolvers were chamber in .44 S&W Russian (only). There are factory rework stars stamped on the underside of the ejector rod housing and on the right side of the front strap, though it is unclear what all was done during the rework (this might explain the shorter 4 3/4 inch barrel, rather than the listed 5 1/2 inch). It is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very good as factory reworked (see above), retains traces of the factory blue finish and faint case color patterns with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered patches of light surface pitting. The front sight is slightly modified by raising the profile. The grips are also very good with moderate wear, a few scattered minor dings/chips, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 55
Fine Colt Bisley Model Frontier Six Shooter Single
Action Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no.
298664, 44-40 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1907. The
barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and is marked
“(BISLEY MODEL)/COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on left side.
The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking
followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers are
on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The accompanying factory
letter confirms the 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 caliber and blue finish with
type of stocks not listed as well as shipped to Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney Dry Goods
Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, on September 10, 1907. The revolver wears a set of pearl grips.
According to author David Brown in “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” Colt
manufactured 6,803 standard frame Bisley Models in .44-40 WCF compared to 64,389 standard frame SAAs in the same caliber.
CONDITION: Fine. The barrel and ejector rod housing retain 70% original blue finish, the cylinder retains 50% original blue finish and the grip straps retain 20% original blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance. The frame retains 30% of the original case colors mostly contained on the front. The period replacement pearl grips are very good with a couple hairline cracks, some chipping on the bottom, and attractive color. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 56
Attractive U.S. Colt
Model 1878/1902
“Alaskan/Philippine”
Double Action Revolver - Serial no.
46622, 45 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber
grips. Fixed sights, with the one line address and “45 COLT” markings
on the barrel, “Rampant Colt” and “R.A.C.” (Carr) marks on the left
side of the frame, and “1902” and “U.S.” on the right side of the frame. The triggerguard bears a six-pointed star factory rework mark, with a niter blue finish on the top of the hammer and all sides of the signature extended trigger. Fitted with a pair of checkered Rampant Colt grips.
CONDITION: Very fine as factory refinished, with 97% plus of the factory high
polish blue, showing minor handling marks and spotting overall. Some of the markings are faded, and the niter blue is strong. The grips are also very fine , with a few light scuffs on the crisp checkering. Mechanically very good.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 57
Fine Colt Model 1877 Thunderer
Double Action Revolver with Desirable 6 Inch Barrel - Serial
no. 121394, 41 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1900, the barrel has the
standard two-line address while the left side is marked “COLT. D.A. 41”. The
left of the frame is marked with the three-line patent dates and a circled
Rampant Colt. The matching serial number is on the frame, trigger guard,
and back strap, and the partial matching number “394” is on the bottom of the
longer, 6 inch barrel and rear face of the cylinder. It is fitted with a blade front sight, sighting groove on top of the frame, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish and 30% plus of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a small patch of light pitting on the right of the frame. The grips are very good with some light wear, a few light handling marks, and otherwise well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 58
Colt Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. 50839, 44-40 cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, hard rubber grips. Designed by William Mason and
Charles Brinckerhoff, Colt’s factory manager and Superintendent
of Engineering, the Model 1878 revolver was intended to be a double
action alternative to Colt’s legendary Single Action Army revolver. With
51,210 being produced, the 1878 was never nearly as popular as its single
action cousin; however, there were still many that favored it in the West for its
firepower, including Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts” shortly
after the Battle of Little Bighorn. This example was manufactured in 1904 and has the standard one-
line address marked on top of the barrel and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” on the left. “5” is on the
left of the trigger guard and a circled Rampant Colt is on the left of the frame. There is a blade front
sight at the muzzle and a sighting groove in the top of the frame. It is fitted with a pair of checkered
hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts in ovals at the top of each panel.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 50% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a few scattered patches of light pitting.
The grips are very good showing an attractive
chocolate tone, some scattered light handling marks,
and well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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