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LOT 1142
Fine Antique Etched Panel Colt Sheriff’s
Model 1878 Frontier Six Shooter Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 9786, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 inch round bbl., blue
finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as shipped in
a 2 gun shipment on April 28, 1883, to Hartley & Graham in New York City, in .44 caliber, with
a 4 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber grips. Only 647 ejectorless Sheriff’s Model 1878 revolvers
were reportedly shipped in .44-40 WCF caliber, with 247 of those listed as shipped in this specific
configuration with a 4 inch barrel length and blue finish, according to figures on page 266 of Don
Wilkerson’s book “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” (published 1998). Whether on the hip
of a lawman or under the counter of a storekeeper’s shop, these Sheriff’s Models were at the forefront of
taming the wilds in growing cities or the western frontier, as well as in the hands
of all manner of ruffians and outlaws. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Hartford address, with
“COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an acid etched panel on the left of the barrel. “44.C.F.” marked on the left of
the trigger guard. Full serial number marked on the butt, with matching “786” on the rear face of the cylinder,
and what appears to be assembly number “135” on the loading gate. It is fitted with a blade front sight,
groove top strap rear sight, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% bright, original, high polish blue finish with smooth brown patina on the balance,
and a well-defined etched panel. Grips are also fine with a brown appearance, some minor handling marks, and crisp checkering.
Mechanically functions.
Provenance: Douglas R. Carlson;
The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
Collector’s Fact
According to "Colt's Double-
Action Revolver, Model of
1878" by Wilkerson, only
247 Colt Sheriff's Model
1878 revolvers were produced
in this configuration.
LOT 1141
Extremely Rare Documented Antique
Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .32-20 W.C.F. with Only Known Special Order 6
Inch Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial no. 122545, 32-20 WCF cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as
shipped in a 1 gun shipment on June 3, 1887, to Hartley and Graham in New York City, in .32
caliber, with a 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and hard rubber grips. Only 1 blue finished, 6 inch barrel, .32-20 caliber Single Action Army
falling in the 1-164100 serial number range was manufactured by Colt, and you are looking at it, according to research presented on page 361
of “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” by the Wilkersons and Hoyt, in which the authors indicate the first
.32-20 caliber Single Action Army revolver believed to have been shipped was on December 20, 1887. Although the factory letter does
not specify its caliber as being .32-20, this revolver, shipped on June 3, 1887, is chambered in the bottlenecked .32-20 W.C.F. cartridge
and predates that by over 6 months. This could be the earliest Single Action Army to leave the factory in .32-20! Rock Island Auction
company also recently sold another early shipped .32-20 Single Action Army, serial number 121970, with
a July 9, 1887, shipment date (August Premier Auction 4095, Lot 3189). Colt factory records show that
barrel lengths ranged from 2 inches all the way up to 16 inches. However, 3, 4 3/4, 5 1/2, and 7 1/2 inches
were the standard barrel lengths, making all other lengths built to suit custom orders. Features a blade
front sight and top groove rear sight, both period modified, with the one-line Hartford address on top of
the barrel, “32 CAL” on the left of the trigger guard, and three-line patent date markings on the left of the
frame. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and handwritten on the
interiors of the grips, with unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “186” on the loading gate. Also included is a three page letter from noted
Colt collector and historian William H. Gilbert covering his research and discoveries about this gun after purchasing it from a small collection.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish and 40% case colors, with smooth brown and gray patina on the balance, period recrowned muzzle, some minor pitting,
and distinct markings in the metal. Grips are very good, with a brown appearance, light handling wear, and defined checkering. Mechanically functions. This is likely a once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to acquire the reported only known factory documented 6 inch barreled .32-20 W.C.F. standard frame Colt Single Action Army revolver!
Provenance: William H. Gilbert; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
Collector’s Fact
According to records in "The Official Record
of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver
1873-1895" by Wilkerson and Hoyt, in the
serial number range of 1-164100, Colt only
produced 1 Single Action Army revolver in
this configuration of a 6 inch barrel, blue
finish and chambered in .32-20.