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LOT 272
Very Fine U.S. Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army Revolver with John Kopec Letter
- Serial no. 91984, 45 Long Colt 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 was previously listed in their survey in 1989, and notes that it falls between serial numbers
91982 and 91908, which were an Artillery Model and a New York militia revolver respectively. He states that the frame of this
revolver was manufactured in 1883 and that David F. Clark’s sub-inspection mark “D.F.C.” is visible above the serial number,
and again visible on the cylinder. The letter states that while this revolver’s serial number could not be located in the National
Archives, because the revolver is today in Artillery configuration, it undoubtedly once served with a cavalry unit during the
Indian Wars period prior to being reconfigured. Those revolvers serving with the cavalry, apart from militia revolvers, were recalled
in 1893 by the Ordnance Department and placed into storage. In 1898, with the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, a lot of 16,000
cavalry revolvers were pulled from storage and refurbished at Springfield Armory. During the refurbishment process, the revolvers were disassembled, cleaned, unserviceable parts replaced, and barrels shortened to 5 1/2 inches. The revolvers were not refinished at the time, but were reassembled with no attention paid to making sure the serial numbers parts matched, thus creating what we now know as the “Artillery Model”, which were immediately pressed into service during the Philippine Insurrection. Kopec goes on to state that the trigger guard of this revolver comes from a Cavalry revolver that
was manufactured in 1875, bears W.W. Johnson’s “J” sub-inspection mark, and than many of the revolvers in this serial number range were issued to the reorganized 7th Cavalry after Custer’s previous 7th Cavalry were wiped out at the Battle of Little Bighorn. It is noted that the back strap of the revolver comes from a Cavalry revolver manufactured in 1890, and is marked with the “K” marking of A. Kind, a
Colt employee at the time. There is also an “L” hand scratched on the butt. The cylinder bears the partial serial number “2185” and the inspection marking of David F. Clark as stated above. The letter states
that the barrel bears the partial serial number “0528” and comes from the original revolver numbered “10528”, which was manufactured in 1874 bearing the inspection marking of O.W. Ainsworth. It states
that the grip fitted to this revolver bears no military or spare parts markings, but due to the incredibly good fit, Kopec believes the grip to have been fitted at Springfield Armory during refurbishment. The letter further states that the barrel was reblued at the arsenal at the time of shortening and repositioning of the front sight.
CONDITION: Very fine as Springfield Armory configured as an Artillery Model, the barrel retains 90% of the refinished blue, 75% plus of the original blue on the remaining components, and 70% plus of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina. The grip is also very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and a couple minor dings on butt of the right panel. As noted in the letter, the pawl fitted to this revolver remains slightly short, preventing positive lockup intermittently when cocked, otherwise mechanically fine.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 273
Attractive and Historic Framed Spanish-American War Battle of San Juan Hill Lithograph Published Dated 1899 by Kurz & Allison - Copyrighted in 1899 by Kurz & Allison, this is an excellent example of a period depiction of the Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War. The Chicago firm Kurz & Allison became well-known in the 1880s for
heir artistic representations of battles from the Civil War, not so much depicting historical accuracy, but rather images
hat invoked feeling of patriotism and emotion. They were also quite groundbreaking and controversial at the time, for not shying away from depicting African American soldiers in the prominent roles they played in some of the battles,
with this fantastic lithograph being a prime example of that. Though it was colonel Theodore Roosevelt and his “Rough Riders” who gained the lion’s share of the fame from the Battle of San Juan Hill, they were certainly not the only American heroes that forced the Spanish from the heights. This piece shows Teddy Roosevelt leading his troops in the attack up
he hill in the background, while the 24th and 25th Colored Infantry Regiments are depicted charging up the same hill n the foreground. This is a depiction of the battle that seems very accurate given what 1st lieutenant (at the time) John . “Black Jack” Pershing would later say about the battle, “White regiments, black regiments, regulars and Rough Riders, epresenting the young manhood of the North and the South, fought shoulder to shoulder, unmindful of race or color,
unmindful of whether commanded by ex-Confederate or not, and mindful of only their common duty as Americans.” There is a small description of the image written in the lower left and the 1899 Kurz & Allison copyright marking is likely covered by the frame in the lower right. The elaborate original period frame has a gilt finish and floral motifs throughout. It measures 37 3/4 x 31 1/2 inches including the frame.
CONDITION: Fine overall, showing minimal age-related fading overall, some minor staining mostly around the edges, and a couple minor holes near the top center. The elaborate period original frame is also fine with a few patches of moderate handling/storage wear around the edges and retaining most of the gilt finish. A rare piece depicting one of America’s most
amous battles during our rise to be a global power! Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
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