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LOT 3183
Very Fine Antique Nickel Black Powder Frame Colt
Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 83396, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, antique ivory grips. The Colt Single Action Army was one of the most popular handguns in late 19th century and is easily the most iconic and most thoroughly associated with
the American West. Offered here is a fine, early example of the legendary Peacemaker in .45 LC. In the words of Colt
author and expert David Brown, “[T]he Colt Single Action Army .45 was ‘the soldier’s friend’ throughout the remaining years of the Indian Wars in the West. Adopted also with equal enthusiasm by civilians, it was the pet and the ‘good right arm’ of lawman and outlaw alike on every American frontier of its era” (“The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 70). The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on October 24, 1882, to Harley & Graham of New York City in .45 caliber with nickel finish. The barrel length and type of stocks are not listed, a common indication of 7 1/2 inches
and walnut. The shipment was for 50 guns. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. The left side of the trigger guard is marked “45 CAL.” Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% original nickel finish with some gentle flaking strongest on the muzzle, cylinder and high edges. 90% original nitre blue remains on the screws and pins. Grips are also very fine with typical age lines, slight shrinkage, and attractive color. Mechanically excellent. A very impressive nickel plated antique Colt SAA. Estimate: 10,000 - 15,000
LOT 3184
Documented Antique Colt Black Powder Frame Acid Etched Panel Frontier
Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 93951,
44-40 WCF cal., 5 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 barrel under the ejector rod housing. The assembly number “1086” is marked inside the loading gate. The included 2007 dated factory letter address to John Fox confirms the current configuration (grips not listed) as well as shipment to Simmons Hardware Co. in St. Louis on 15 August 1883. Simmons Hardware was a large distributor of arms at the time, many of which made their way farther into the American West.
CONDITION: Very good plus, retains 25% of the original blue finish, remaining mostly in the sheltered areas, with the balance mostly a smooth brown-grey patina, a few scattered patches of light surface pitting, and a visible
original acid etched panel. Patterns of the mostly dark silvered out original case colors remain. The grip
is fine, retaining much of the original varnish and some scattered minor handling marks and mild wear.
Mechanically excellent. Blued finish, acid etched panel, Colt Single Action Armys with 5 1/2 inch barrels are
scarce and much sought after by collectors!
Provenance: The John Fox Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 3185
Very Desirable F.A. Meanea Cheyenne Marked Double Loop Colt Single Action Army Holster and
Double Row Cartridge/Money Belt Rig - This is a Cheyenne gun rig by perhaps the best of the West’s master saddlers: Frank
A. Meanea, who was the successor to Gallatin & Co. established in 1867. As with many holster makers, his main business was making horse tack. The business in Cheyenne, Wyoming was started by his uncle and was taken over by Meanea in 1880. Among his numerous customers were Charles M. Russell and Buffalo Bill Cody. The rig is made from brown heavy skirting leather. The
belt has an elongated oval “F.A. MEANEA/CHEYENNE, WYO” maker’s mark on the 14 1/4 inch billet, and the same maker’s mark is visible on the outside surface of the holster. The holster has some light border tooling and features a sewn-in “tear drop” shaped plug at the toe. The holster will fit a Colt Single Action Army Revolver with up to a 7 1/2 inch barrel, and the belt’s cartridge loops appear to accommodate .44 and .45 caliber cartridges. The double row “ranger” belt also has “money” pockets. The belt is the highly desirable 4 inch wide variety with a double row of cartridge loops and measures 43 inches in overall length. Includes a copy of an advertisement for the Meanea business.
CONDITION: Both items are fine overall showing a dark aged tone, some moderate wear, and most of the visible stitching appearing to remain tight. Holster has been relined/backed. A classic and desirable western holster rig for a Colt Single Action Army revolver! Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
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