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LOT 1275
Excellent Colt New Service Double Action Target Revolver with Scarce Dual
Caliber .44 Russian/S&W Markings and Factory Letter - Serial no. 338731, 44
Russian S&W special cal., 6 inch round bbl., blue finish, checkered walnut grips.
The included factory letter confirms the current 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and .44
S&W caliber with grips not listed (usually indicating walnut) when the revolver was
shipped to Roskin Brother of Middletown, New York, on January 18th, 1935, as the only gun of
its type in the shipment. The gun features an adjustable blade front sight and windage adjustable
rear sight. The left side of the barrel bears the highly desirable “RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL 44”
caliber marking along with the otherwise standard markings. The revolver shows matching serial
numbers on the crane and yoke and a set of checkered walnut grips with Colt medallions.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 95% plus original bright blue finish with light handling
evidence, a cylinder drag line, minor rubbing at the muzzle, light edge wear on the grips, and crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 1274
Documented Denver, Colorado Shipped Factory Engraved Colt Officers Model Target
Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no. 538122, 38 Special cal., 6 inch round
bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Manufactured in 1928, this is an exceptional example of a factory engraved Colt
Officer’s Model Target revolver. In “The Book of Colt Firearms” on p. 357, Sutherland and Wilson state that only
approximately 20 of this variation of the Officer’s Model were factory engraved, making this example a very scarce
deluxe variation of the model. The included factory letter lists the revolver in .38 caliber with a 6 inch barrel, blue finish,
pearl grips, and factory engraved when shipped out on the loan account to Tritch Hardware Co. in Denver, Colorado on 16 January 1928, as
the only gun of its type in the shipment. The letter additionally notes that the revolver was returned to the factory and reshipped on the loan account to
Whitney Sporting Goods Co. in Denver on 30 April 1930, and then sold to the same company on 22 September 1931. The engraving on this revolver would be
considered grade “A” coverage, with beautifully executed flourishes of floral scroll on all the major components. The engraving was almost certainly executed
by Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn, who is responsible for the bulk of Colt’s engraving work during the period of 1923 to 1950. The top of the barrel has the
standard two-line address and patent dates, while the left has the model and caliber marking. The Rampant Colt is marked on the left of the frame, and the
left of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” proof and “3”. The matching serial number is on the frame and crane. It is fitted with a pinned beaded blade front sight,
adjustable notch rear sight, and a pair of smooth factory pearl grips with Colt medallions at the tops.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish, some mild edge/holster type wear, a cylinder turn line, and crisp engraving throughout. The grips are fine with some minor chipping at
the bottom rear of the right panel and otherwise only the slightest handling marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000