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LOT 3205
Desirable Early Production Cased Colt London
Model 1878 Double Action Revolver - Serial no. 2718, 450 Boxer cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1879, the second year
of production.
The barrel
has the scarce
“COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG Co
HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.
DEPOT 14 PALL MALL
LONDON” address and is chambered in .450
Boxer. The trigger guard is marked “45 CAL/B.” London proofs are stamped on the underside
of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. Includes a partitioned hardwood case with a Colt
London paper label on the interior of the lid and contains a cartridge block, cleaning rod, oiler, and tool. CONDITION: Very good, retains 60% plus of the original blue finish on the frame assembly and barrel with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily on the grip straps, ejector housing, and right of the frame. The rechambered replacement cylinder is refinished with most of the blue finish remaining. The grips are very fine with some scattered minor dings and otherwise crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The case is very good with some scattered light handling/storage marks. Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3206
Cased Antique Colt London Model 1878 Double Action Revolver in .455 Eley - Serial no. 8379, 455 eley cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1882. The barrel has the scarce “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG
Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON” address and is chambered in .455 Eley. The
trigger guard is marked “455 CAL/E.” Only 1,147 Model 1878s were manufactured in .455 Eley with a 5 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish per Don Wilkerson in “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver” (pg. 359). London proofs
are stamped on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. The cylinder is numbered to
the gun. The period case has a Colt London paper label on the interior of the lid and contains an empty cartridge block, “L” shaped screwdriver, James Dixon & Sons oiler, combination tool, case key,
and cleaning rod.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 80% bright original high polish blue finish with a smooth brown patina on the balance and a scuff on the top strap. The grips are excellent with overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with minor handling/storage marks, some typical high spot wear on the lining and a clear paper label.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3207
Fine Colt Bisley Model Single
Action Army Revolver in Desirable
.45 Long Colt - Serial no. 326881, 45
Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard
rubber grips. Manufactured in 1913. It has the standard two-line address
on top of the barrel and “(BISLEY MODEL)” and the caliber marking on the
left. The left of the frame is marked with the two-line patent dates and Rampant
Colt. Matching serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back
strap, and the assembly number “649” is on the inside of the loading gate. It has
standard features and is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with
Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish and 30% of the original case colors with
the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and some scattered very light surface spotting. The grips are also fine with three minor scuffs in the butt of each panel, some scattered light handling marks, and mostly well-defined checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3208
Very Fine Antique Colt Etched
Panel Model 1877 Lightning Double
Action Revolver - Serial no. 68359, 38 Long Colt cal., 4 1/2 inch round
bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The Colt Model 1877 revolvers were
Colt’s first double action revolvers and were designed by William Mason who
also helped design the Single Action Army. Like the latter, these revolvers were
popular in the Old West, and Colt also worked to market them in the United
Kingdom where they competed with popular British designs like the Adams and
Webley revolvers. Manufactured in 1888, the top of the barrel has the standard two-line address and
the left is marked with “COLT D.A. 38” in an etched panel. The three-line patent dates marking is on the
left of the frame, and “38 CAL” on the left of the trigger guard. The matching serial number is visible on
the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and the
assembly number “233” is inside the loading gate.
It has standard features and is fitted with a pair of
checkered hard rubber grips with
Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original
nickel finish with some minor flaking at the muzzle
and on the front edge of the cylinder, and a crisp
etched panel. The grips are also very fine with a
few scattered light blemishes in the otherwise crisp checkering. In double action, the trigger must be manually reset, otherwise mechanically fine.
Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 3209
Antique Colt Black Powder Frame
Single Action Army Revolver with
Factory Letter - Serial no. 101292, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. Few firearms are more
synonymous with the American west than the Colt Single Action Army
revolver, and with this example having shipped to Simmons Hardware Co. in St.
Louis, it is almost certain that this specific revolver’s final destination was the
western frontier. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration,
grips not listed, as well as the shipment to Simmons Hardware Co. on 1 July 1884.
The two-line address is marked on top of the barrel and matching serial numbers
are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. “1292” has been restamped
to match on the cylinder, and the loading gate has the assembly number “9135”.
CONDITION: Good, showing strong traces of the original blue finish in sheltered
areas with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina, and a few scattered patches
of light pitting characteristic of a western working gun. The refinished cylinder
and backstrap are both replacements, renumbered to match the frame and
trigger guard. The grips are fair, showing heavy wear and a weathered appearance that was likely equal to that of its previous owner. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
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