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LOT 3166
U.S. Artillery
Model Colt
Single Action
Army Revolver
- Serial no. 134112, 45 Long Colt cal., 5
1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
walnut grips. This revolver was originally manufactured in 1890 as
a “Cavalry Model” with a 7 1/2 inch barrel under U.S. contract and
was later refurbished and re-assembled with a 5 1/2 inch barrel as an
“Artillery Model”. Many of these revolvers were issued during the Spanish-American War, including
by Theodore Roosevelt’s famous Rough Riders, as well as during the Philippine Insurrection and
Moro Rebellion where the .45 Long Colt was reported to have been more suitable for stopping
Moro attacks. The barrel has a blade front sight, the one-line address, ejector with bulls-eye button,
“P” stamped twice on the bottom at the breech, and no serial number. The frame has the three-line
patent marking on the left followed by “U.S”, assembly number “20” on the loading gate, and “R A
C” and serial number “134112” on the bottom. The cylinder has “K B L” hand marked on the front
and “K” and “V” stamped on the rear. The trigger guard and back strap have serial number “139675” (1891) and “K” inspection
marks. The grip has “R.A.C.” inspection marks on both sides of the butt and an outline of a cartouche on the right.
CONDITION: Fine with 60% plus blue remaining, 40% of the case colors, smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, mild
overall wear, and some minor pitting. The grip is very fine and has minor edge wear, slight dings, faint cartouche, and distinct
stamps on the butt. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3165
Rare Documented U.S. Colt
Model 1878/1904 “Alaskan/
Philippine” Double Action
Revolver as Featured in the Book “Colt’s Double-
Action Revolver Model of 1878” by Don Wilkerson
- Serial no. 51057, 45 Long Colt cal., 6 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1904 this is a
very rare example of one of 50 Colt “Model 1904” revolvers
shipped to the U.S. military. Little is known about these
revolvers apart from that they were shipped to Springfield
Armory exactly one year after the last major shipment of Model 1878/1902 “Alaskan/Philippine”
revolvers were shipped. These 50 revolvers, like the Model 1902, were fitted with long triggers and
oversized trigger guards, and they were listed in the Springfield Armory records as “New Service”
revolvers. There has been some speculation over the years among researchers that this late
shipment of 50 revolvers was intended to replace a crate of Model 1902 revolvers that was dropped
overboard while en route to the Philippines. These revolvers are nearly identical to the Model 1902s
accepted by the government, except that these never received a government inspector’s mark like their counterparts
and are simply marked “U.S.” in a smaller font on the right of the frame. They also have the circled Rampant Colt on
the left of the frame like the commercially sold revolvers. These revolvers were originally shipped with checkered hard rubber grips, which
have been replaced on this example with a smooth walnut pair. This specific revolver is one of two examples pictured and described on p.
403-406 of “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver Model of 1878” by Don Wilkerson.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 85% plus of the bright original high polish blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a
smooth grey patina, primarily on the back strap, bottom front of the trigger guard, and edges. The grips are excellent with only the slightest
handling marks. Mechanically excellent. A very scarce documented U.S. Colt Model 1878/1904 “Alaskan/Philippine” Double Action revolver,
missing from even the most comprehensive U.S. military collections.
Provenance: The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
As pictured & described in
Colt's Double Action Revolver, Model of
1878 by Wilkerson
Collector’s Fact
According to "Colt's Double
Action Revolver, Model of
1878" by Wilkerson, only 50
U.S. Colt Model 1878/1904
"Alaskan/Philippine" revolvers
were manufactured.
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