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LOT 1127
Exceptional Documented B. Kittredge Sold J.P. Lovell Shipped Nickel Plated
Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Incredibly Rare Attachable
Skeleton Stock and Factory Letters - Serial no. 20970, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. This exceptional factory nickel plated Colt Single
Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1875 and includes a rare factory attachable
skeleton stock, one of a very limited amount of these stocks made. The frame is fitted
with extended hammer screws to engage the stock hooks. Both of the accompanying
factory letters list this revolver as sold to B. Kittredge & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, and
shipped on November 24, 1875, in a shipment of 40 guns of the same type, to J.P. Lovell &
Co. in Boston, Massachusetts, in .45 caliber with nickel finish, and barrel length and type
of grip not listed, a common indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and walnut grip. The factory
letters make no mention of the stock.
These skeleton stocks are nearly impossible to find, and are a prized accessory missing
from even the most advanced Single Action Army collections. These rare stocks were
offered as accessories, and there are no known records for how many, if any, were sold
directly with Single Action Army revolvers. A few other examples with shoulder stocks
are pictured on pages 12 and 50 of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver”
by Graham, Kopec, and Moore, with further information on page 8. These stocks
were particularly popular in England. Two lengths of the skeletonized stock as well as
additional extended frame screws were known to have been shipped to Colt’s dealers in
England in the mid-1870s to fulfill demand.
The revolver has the early “bullseye” ejector rod tip and hammer with bordered knurling
on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line address “+COLT’S
PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+”. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with
the two-line patent date markings. “45 CAL” is stamped on the left side of the trigger
guard. Fitted with a one-piece varnished walnut grip. Matching visible full serial numbers
marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap, with matching “0970”
on the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. “1588” is also
marked on the bottom of the barrel along with a small “P” proof, and small “A” inspection
stamps of Orville W. Ainsworth are on the bottom and left of the barrel, indicating this
was a condemned U.S. inspected barrel that was factory used in the assembly of this
civilian production Single Action Army, as Colt had a no throw away policy and was
known to use leftover military parts. Assembly number “2911” on the loading gate. A
small “C” is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and in the hammer well above the
firing pin hole. The included attachable skeleton stock is brass with a nickel plated finish,
casehardened iron adjustment nut, and correctly with no visible markings.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus bright original nickel plating, with a dark
patch of pitting on the front of cylinder, smooth brown patina on top of the back strap,
and absolutely crisp markings and edges in the metal overall. Grip is very fine, with most
of the original glossy piano varnish finish, light handling wear, and well-defined edges.
Mechanically excellent. Stock is excellent, retains 97% plus original nickel plating with
minor handling marks. This exceptional antique Colt Single Action Army revolver with
the incredibly rare attachable skeleton stock would make a very fine addition to any
advanced public or private collection!
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 25,000 - 40,000