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LOT 3098
Excellent First
Year Production
Antique Colt
London Model 1878
Double Action Revolver
in .450 Boxer - Serial no.
1182, 450 Boxer cal., 5
1/2 inch round bbl., blue
finish, checkered walnut grips.
Manufactured in 1878, the first year
of production. “45 CAL/B” is marked on the left of the trigger guard,
denoting the .450 Boxer caliber. Reportedly, only 1,653 standard Model
1878 revolvers were shipped in .450 Boxer caliber with a 5 1/2 inch barrel
and blue finish, out of a total of 2,390 in .450 Boxer, according to figures
on page 354 of “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” by Don
Wilkerson. The barrel has the Colt London address stamped on top and
British proofs. The full serial number is marked on the butt, with the matching
last three digits on the rear face of the cylinder and loading gate. Blade front sight and groove
top strap rear sight. Includes a fitted hardwood case with Colt London trade label on the
interior of the lid, “101” hand marked on bottom of the case, and containing an oiler.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 95% original blue finish on the frame and barrel, 99% restored
blue on the cylinder, 75% original niter blue finish on the hammer and trigger, with some minor
edge wear, and crisp markings in the metal overall. Grips are excellent, with tight fitment, minor
handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Case is fine, keyhole plate absent,
with a crack on the lid and minor storage related wear.
Provenance: Douglas R. Carlson; The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
LOT 3097
Rare Documented London
Agency Shipped Factory Cutaway Antique Colt Model 1878 Double Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 3033, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. The accompanying factory letter states this revolver was
shipped in a 1 gun shipment on March 24, 1879, to Colt’s London Agency in London,
England, with the special notation “Skeleton configuration” confirming it as a factory cutaway,
in .45 caliber, with blue finish, barrel length and type of grips not listed. On page 334 of “Colt’s Double-Action
Revolver, Model of 1878,” author Don Wilkerson states that six cutaway Colt Model 1878 revolvers were discovered during research and that
this revolver, serial number 3033 is the only cutaway discovered by the author that can be traced to an invoice, and that this revolver was
requested by Frederick von Oppen to demonstrate the new double action mechanism. The cutaway sections appear nearly identical to
Model 1878 cutaway serial number 1 of the Museum of Connecticut History illustrated on page 333 of Wilkerson’s book. This revolver is also
referenced by R.L Wilson in “The Book of Colt Firearms” where he notes, “Cutaways appear on the M Hammerless gun, page 330 (B) and on Serial
#2, #3, #1248, #3033, and #30327 in the Connecticut State Library collection.” The barrel has the Colt London address stamped on top. The full serial
number is marked on the butt, with assembly number “745” on the rear face of the cylinder. It is fitted with a blade front sight and groove top strap rear sight.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus bright original high polish blue finish, with smooth brown patina and freckling on the balance, and distinct markings. Grips are also very fine with
some light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
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