Page 75 - 4096-BOOK2

73
LOT 1060
Antique Etched Panel
Colt Frontier Six Shooter
Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter
- Serial no. 95548, 44-40 WCF cal., 4 7/8 inch round
bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. The factory letter
lists this revolver as shipped in a 20 gun shipment on July
16, 1883, to J.P. Moores Sons in New York City, in .44-40
caliber with nickel finish and rubber grips, with barrel length
not listed. When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 WCF Single
Action Army was intended to be used in conjunction with
another legendary Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873
rifle. The left of the barrel has the highly desirable “COLT
FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” in an acid etched panel. Around
1890, this highly desirable etched panel was replaced with
a roll stamped marking. The top of the barrel is stamped with the one-line Hartford address,
with the “44” caliber designation in small font on the underside of the barrel. “44.C.F.” stamped
on the left side of the trigger guard. The left of the frame has the three-line patent date
markings. Matching visible full serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and butt,
with no visible numbers on the cylinder, and assembly number “4244” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Fine, exhibiting hints of western character, retains 70% original nickel plating with
smooth brown/gray patina and some minor pitting on the balance, period shortened barrel
and replacement front sight, and a well-defined etched panel. Grips are very fine, with tight
fitment, minor handling evidence, and crisp checkering and designs. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 1061
Highly Desirable
S. Newhouse No.
5 Bear Trap with
Anchoring Chain - Manufactured from 1911 to 1925,
this is a desirable example of a bear trap produced by the Sewell
Newhouse firm of the Oneida Community in New York, with this
large “No. 5” bear trap weighing in at just over 20 pounds including
the anchoring chain. Compared to firearms, traps such as these,
along with their smaller variations, are an often overlooked, but
no less important tool in surviving and taming the American
frontier. Newhouse began making traps in the early 1800s, at first by
using metal scraps from his father’s blacksmith shop. In 1849, Newhouse
joined a religious community started by John Humphrey Noyes and continued making traps by hand. The business gradually grew
until becoming a primary manufacturing operation for the community. Their primary sellers were always smaller traps, such as
those for beaver, with reported sales in 1864 being 7,250 beaver traps compared to only 30 bear traps, making these large game
traps incredibly scarce. This is the No. 5 variation, which appears to have been considered their “standard bear trap”. It has the S.
Newhouse, 1911 patent, and Oneida community markings on the pan in raised lettering and the offset jaws with exposed teeth.
CONDITION: Fine, retains most of an applied coat of black paint with some scattered minor wear and defined markings. A very
desirable, early production Newhouse bear trap!
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,500
LOT 1059
Remington-Hepburn No.
3 Single Shot Heavy Barrel
Sporting Rifle with Double Set Triggers - Serial no. 4041, 40 cal., 30 1/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. These rifles were manufactured beginning in 1883, but the low serial number and “E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION. N.Y.” address on the
barrel indicates this rifle was manufactured prior to 1888, when the company was reorganized as Remington Arms Co. The barrel is equipped with a modern
spirit level windage adjustable globe front sight and adjustable buckhorn rear sight, and a modern ladder peep sight is mounted on the upper frame tang. The
caliber designation “40.2 1/2” is marked on the bottom of the barrel ahead of the forearm, with the “2 1/2” over top of a previous “1 7/8”. It has been rechambered,
and was found to chamber a .40-70 Ballard cartridge. Features double set triggers. “HEPBURNS PAT./OCT. 7TH 1879.” marked on the left of the frame. Matching serial number “4041”
marked on the underside of the barrel, rear surface of the forend, front surface of the buttstock, on the lower tang and underside of the buttplate. Mounted with a smooth walnut forend
with casehardened forend cap, nicely figured round knob checkered pistol grip stock, and casehardened buttplate.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 40% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth brown patina on the balance, the casehardened frame surfaces exhibit a silvery gray patina, with strong niter blue finish
visible on the breech block and traces of niter blue finish on the other small parts. The wood is very fine with a few light handling marks and defined edges and checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1058
Highly Desirable, “Frontier
Issued” Winchester First
Model 1876 “Open Top” Frame “Centennial” Lever Action Rifle with Factory Letter - Serial no.
5112, 45-75 cal., 28 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1878, just the third year of production, this is a relatively scarce “open-top frame”
example of Winchester’s “Centennial” rifle, the Model 1876. These rifles were designed by Winchester to be an upscaled “big brother” to
their already popular Model 1873. Their “Centennial Model”, nicknamed for its year of release, was basically the same design as the ‘73, but
scaled up to handle larger and more powerful cartridges. The increased power the ‘76 had to offer found popularity with those heading
westward to the American frontier, providing a sense of security against the known and unknown dangers they might face. While not as
powerful as some of Winchester’s later models, the 1876 offered some of the strongest stopping power in a repeating rifle at the time,
with most of its chamberings capable of handling some of the largest game in North America as well as any human threats one might
face. These Model 1876s, particularly early production, standard configuration ones, often saw hard frontier use,
just like the Model ‘73, leaving relatively few surviving examples available. The included copy of the factory letter
with this example lists the rifle with an octagon barrel and plain trigger when received at the warehouse on 29
July 1878, and shipped the same day in order number 12531. The rifle has the early production First Model “open-
top” receiver, which has no provision for a dust cover. The top barrel flat is marked with the standard address and
King’s patent marking. The rifle correctly lacks caliber markings, as .45-75 W.C.F. was the only caliber offered until
1879. The model marking is on the upper tang and the serial number is on the lower tang. It is fitted with a No. 21
German silver blade front sight and an 1876 marked folding ladder/adjustable leaf rear sight. It is mounted with a smooth forearm and straight grip stock with the early pattern, trapdoor, “long toe” crescent buttplate.
CONDITION: Good as “frontier issued”, showing a mix of dark grey and brown patina, a minor outward ding on the left sideplate, light vise marks on the front sides of the receiver, and some scattered patches of light pitting, all
typical of a frontier rifle. The wood is also good, with the forearm lightly sanded/reoiled and scattered minor dings and scratches overall. Mechanically functions. A rare opportunity at an “open top” Model 1876 that has the look of
having been there when the West was being tamed!
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,000