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LOT 1140
Well-Documented, Phenomenal B. Kittredge & Co. Shipped Factory
Engraved Etched Panel Antique Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action
Army Revolver with Steer Head Carved Ivory Grip and Factory Letter -
Serial no. 53073, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, carved ivory
grips. This famous and incredibly high condition Colt Frontier Six Shooter from
1980 has been featured in multiple publications and easily ranks among the
finest condition factory engraved, etched panel Frontier Six Shooters extant.
It was featured on the cover of the March 1978 issue of “The Gun Report” and
discussed in the article “Colt Factory Single Action Engraving Techniques” by
Ronald A. Ogan and Ben Lane Jr. It was also the subject of the article “Two of
Ten” by Ronald A. Ogan in the October 1980 issue along side serial number
53117. A December 1992 advertisement noted that this revolver has always had
a mismatched barrel. It is also featured on page 411 of “The Colt Engraving Book
Volume I” and “Colt Engraving” by R. L. Wilson. In the included information, it is
noted as having won the best gun in show award at a show in January 1987 in
Florida. The factory letter lists the revolver in .44-40 with a nickel finish, ivory grip,
and factory engraving. The barrel length was not listed which typically indicates
the then standard 7 1/2 inch barrel. The revolver is listed as one of ten of this
type in a shipment to B. Kittredge & Co. on May 3, 1880. Page 89 of “The Official
Record of the Colt Single Action Army 1873-1895” by the Wilkersons and Hoyt
indicates Kittredge ordered 268 Frontier Six Shooters in 1880, including a total of
17 with factory engraving. On page 340, the book indicates there were only 195
total factory engraved .44-40 caliber revolvers with 7 1/2 inch barrels recorded
in the 1 to 164100 serial number range. Of these, only 23 also had ivory grips.
The engraving consists of double line borders, double entwining line motifs,
“Nimschke stars” on the frame at the breech, beautiful flowing scrollwork with
finely beaded backgrounds, wavy line and dot designs, and checker board and
dot pattern above the loading gate.