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LOT 1210
Fine Acid Etched Panel Black Powder
Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single
Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 60940, 44
WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut grips. The .44-40 WCF SAA has found a
special place in the hearts of Peacemaker collectors.
When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 WCF SAA was intended to be used injunction with the another legendary Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, which used the same cartridge. This example was manufactured in 1880. The left side of the barrel has the highly desirable “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an acid etched panel. In 1889 this highly desirable acid etched panel was replaced with
a roll stamped marking. The
barrel has the correct “44” caliber designation stamped in small font on the underside. The
top of the barrel is stamped with 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 stamped “44 CF.” Matching full or partial serial numbers appear on the frame (factory double struck), trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 30% plus original blue finish and 40% plus of the original case colors, mostly visible in the protected areas of the frame with a mix of smooth brown and gray patinas. The acid etched barrel panel
is clear. The grip is also very good with some minor dings, high edge wear and most of the original varnish remaining. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
LOT 1211
Desirable U.S. Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army
Revolver - Serial no. 33238, 45 LC cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue 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. The revolver has mixed numbers and components typical of the Artillery variants. The trigger guard is numbered “98075”. The frame dates to 1887, was inspected
by John T. Cleveland, and has the three-line patent marking followed by “U.S.” on the left side. The back strap is numbered “34106”, and the barrel and rear face
of the cylinder both appear to be marked “K” and “P”. The grip
shows some signs of removal of a cartouche on the left and
has three horizontal “kill” grooves on the right, indicating that
this revolver may have found its way out of the U.S. army’s
possession. The bottom left side of the grip is stamped with
Rinaldo A. Carr’s inspector initials “RAC.”
CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a smooth grey-brown
patina and a few scattered patches of very light surface
pitting, the revolver shows all of the signs of having been used
regularly, but well cared for. The grip is good, showing some
evidence that the revolver may have left the army through nefarious means (see above), some mild wear, and otherwise minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A revolver that truly exudes “Old West” character!
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1212
Fine Documented Black Powder Colt Single
Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter
- Serial no. 158161, 41 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch barrel in
.41 caliber (type of stocks not listed). The letter also states the
revolver was sold and shipped to Simmons Hardware Co. of St.
Louis, Missouri, on August 20, 1894. This was a 15 gun shipment. The barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address on top and “41 COLT” on the left side. The left
side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking an encircled Rampant Colt. Matching full serial number appears on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The matching partial serial number “8161” is hand marked
on the back of both grip panels.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. 40% plus original case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The grips are also fine with wear along the top of the checkering and some scattered minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter Formerly of the Hank Williams, Jr. Collection - Serial no. 217468, 32-20 cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Bisley Revolver was once owned by world famous American country singer and song writer Hank Williams, Jr. The accompanying factory letter is addressed to Hank Williams, Jr. and lists the revolver with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .44 caliber, blue finish and type of stocks not listed when it was shipped on November 13, 1901 to J.F. Schmelzer & Sons Arms Co. Colt’s factory rework ampersand (“&”) appears on the right side of the trigger guard, indicating that the revolver was returned to the factory for refurbishment. As pointed out by Hank Williams, Jr. in his included signed letter from May 5, 2014, “It is obvious from the factory letter the gun was returned to Colt and ordered changed from 44 WCF to 32 WCF. This was a common practice in those days because of the 32 WCF’s light recoil.”The barrel is marked“(BISLEY MODEL)/COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .32-20”on the left side and has the one-line Hartford address on top. The frame has the standard two-line patent dates marking followed by a circle Rampant Colt. The back of both grip panels are marked with the number “4716.” Matching full serial number “217468” appears on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. A Rock Island Armory plastic case is included.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine retaining 95% factory blue finish on the replacement barrel and cylinder with some high edge wear, some thinning to brown on the back strap and a cylinder drag line. 85% of the factory refurbished case colors remain on the hammer and frame. The faded grips are very good with some wear along the top of the checkering and some minor handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Hank Williams, Jr. Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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LOT 1213
Colt Bisley Model