Page 128 - 4096-BOOK2

126
LOT 1134
Rare Antique Colt Model 1877 “Rainmaker” .32
Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter -
Serial no. 100930, 32 Colt cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as shipped in a
single gun shipment on September 26, 1895, to J.P. Lovell Arms Co. in Boston, Massachusetts,
in .32 caliber, with a 4 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber grips. This is one of only
approximately 200 of Colt’s Model 1877 revolver that were chambered in .32 Long Colt and
nicknamed the “Rainmaker,” per Sutherland and Wilson on page 325 of “The Book of Colt
Firearms”. Though the nicknames “Rainmaker,” (.32 caliber) “Lightning,” (.38 caliber) and
“Thunderer” (.41 caliber) are all excellent marketing material, they were not names ever
actually used by Colt. These nicknames are believed to have been coined by the famous Colt distributor,
Benjamin Kittredge, who is also believed to have been responsible for giving the Single Action Army its iconic nickname, “Peacemaker.” The top of the
barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address, with “COLT. D.A. 32” on the left. The left of the frame has the three-line patent date markings and
the circled Rampant Colt. Matching visible full serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with matching “930” on the rear face of the
cylinder, and assembly number “532” on the loading gate. Blade front sight and groove top strap rear sight.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% plus bright original blue finish, 50% vivid original case colors on the frame, with smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, a spot of cold blue touch up at rear of the cylinder,
some light pitting on the recoil shield, and sharp markings. Grips are also very fine, with defined edges, minor handling wear, and crisp checkering and designs. Mechanically functions. A Colt Model 1877
“Rainmaker” .32 revolver is a prized rarity in Colt collecting, and is missing from the strong majority of advanced collections!
Provenance: Douglas R. Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "The Book of
Colt Firearms" by Wilson,
approximately 200 Colt Model
1877 "Rainmaker" revolvers
were produced in .32 LC.
LOT 1133
Very Fine Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver
in Very Scarce Documented .32 Colt with Factory Letters
and Ron Graham Letter - Serial no. 287692, 32 Colt cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard
rubber grips. Both of the accompanying factory
letters indicate this revolver was sold to Lull &
Hartford at an unlisted address, and shipped in a
1 gun shipment on January 19, 1907, to William
Read & Sons in Boston, Massachusetts, in .32 Colt, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel (factory recording error), blue finish, and
type of grips not listed. The .32 Colt cartridge was first introduced by Colt in its production of New line revolvers starting in 1873. Colt only
manufactured 192 standard frame Single Action Army revolvers in .32 Colt, per page 202 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by
David Brown. It is one of the rarer chamberings encountered in First Generation Single Action Army production, making this high condition
example a hard to find piece. The barrel carries the one-line Hartford address on top and “32 COLT” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent
date markings followed by an encircled Rampant Colt. Matching visible full serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with matching “7692” on the
interiors of both grips, an unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “7884” on the loading gate. An included March 15, 1994, dated handwritten letter addressed
from noted author and Colt researcher Ron Graham states, “Limited production Colt Single Actions have been, and always will be, on the wish list of most Single Action collectors.” He
further indicates this revolver to be one of only 192 factory recorded like it and states, “As those of us who are familiar with Colt’s factory records know, a miniscule, fractional percentage
of the factory’s shipping records are in error. Their ledgers indicate serial number 287692 was originally fitted with a 5 1/2 inch barrel. Several intensive examinations of this piece have
correctly concluded the factory’s 5 1/2 inch barrel notation for this particular revolver is in error.” Graham further states, “It suffices to say that Colt Single Action Army 287692 is a factory
original, 7 1/2 inch, .32 Colt caliber revolver which just happens to retain an amazing amount of its factory blue and casehardened finish.”
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus original blue finish, 70% plus original case colors, with some minor holster type wear, and distinct markings. Grips are fine, with spots on bottom,
tight fitment, some light handling wear, and defined edges. Mechanically excellent. Single Action Army revolvers in .32 Colt are often missing from the most advanced collections, and this
is a very nice example offered!
Provenance: Doug Stein; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "The 36
Calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army" by Brown, only
192 standard frame Colt
Single Action Army revolvers
were chambered in .32 Colt.