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LOT 1224
Cased Documented Antique Black Powder Frame Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .450 Boxer with Factory Letter - Serial no. 14867, 450 Boxer cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut grips. In “The
Official Record of the Colt
Single Action Army Revolver
1872-1895” on page 46 the
authors write, “An interesting
fact became evident when
comparing listings in the Colt
ledgers with copies of the
actual invoices found in the
Connecticut State Library. The
designation ‘Eley’ or ‘Boxer’
was used interchangeably.
Revolvers listed in .45 Eley in
the record ledger may be listed
on the shipping invoice as .45 Boxer and vice versa.”They accounted for
a total of 3,385 Peacemakers in .45 Eley Short (.450 Boxer) falling in the
1-164100 serial number range. The barrel has a blade front sight, the
one-line Hartford address, and London proof marks. The left side of the
frame has the 1871 and 1872 patent marking in two lines. The left side
of the trigger guard is marked “45 CAL/B.” London proofs appear on the
barrel and behind each cylinder flute. Matching serial numbers are on
the cylinder (partial), frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The included
factory letter lists the revolver in .45 Eley with blue finish and the special notation “short barrel” when shipped to Colt’s London Agency on 5 November 1874. The partitioned oak case features a Colt London Agency paper label on the interior of the lid and contains a cartridge block full of .450 cartridges, an L shaped screwdriver, oiler, and a cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine with 70% original blue finish, 80% original case colors, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, minor spots of oxidation, cylinder drag lines, and generally only minor overall wear. The grip is also very fine and has nearly all of the original finish, light edge wear, and a few minor scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine with some minor chips on the outside of the case and mild aging and small contact tears on the lining.
Provenance: The Norm Vegely Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 13,000
LOT 1225
Fine Documented Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Etched Panel Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 70981, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 W.C.F. Single Action Army, or Frontier Six Shooter, was intended to be used in conjunction with another legendary western
icon, the Winchester Model 1873 rifle, which came standard in the same chambering. “The .44-40 WCF was added to the list of Colt calibers for use with the popular Winchester rifle of the same caliber,” wrote Colt author David Brown. “This combination of a rifle and a six shooter using the
same cartridge made it possible for their user to buy only one kind of ammunition, and he could carry ‘fodder’ for both guns in the same cartridge belt.” It has the standard one-line address on top of the barrel and “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an etched panel on the left. The left side of the frame is marked with the three-line patent dates. Matching serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the
partial matching number is marked on the cylinder and barrel under the ejector rod housing. The original varnished single piece wood grip is matching
numbered “0981” in ink on the interior. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration (barrel length and grips not listed, as was standard) as well as shipment to Hartley & Graham in New York on 10 March 1882 in a 50 gun shipment. CONDITION: Fine, retains 30% plus of the original blue finish and 40% plus of the vibrant original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a few scattered patches of light surface pitting/acid type oxidation visible on the top strap and loading gate. The grip is very fine with some scattered scratches and light handling marks and retaining most of the original varnish. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500 209