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LOT 3113
Historic Documented
Factory Wells Fargo & Co.
Marked and Shipped Colt First Generation Single Action
Army Revolver with Factory Letters - Serial no. 305396, 45 Long Colt
cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The
three different accompanying factory letters list this revolver as shipped in a 12
gun shipment on October 19, 1908, to Wells Fargo & Co. in New York City, under care
of purchasing agent W.M. Ashton, with factory marking “W.F. & Co.” on the butt, in .45
caliber, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grips not listed.
William M. Ashton of Omaha, Nebraska, served as the purchasing agent for
the express company’s New York depot between 1888 to 1910. This is a rare
and highly desirable example of a Single Action Army revolver documented
as purchased by Wells Fargo & Co. to arm their express agency agents. On
page 105 of “Colt Peacemaker Collector Handbook and Guide” by Keith
Cochran, it is noted that in the early 20th century Wells Fargo & Co. began
arming all of their express agents and ordering large quantities of firearms
directly from manufacturers instead of through local retailers. The author notes that William Ashton,
who was based in the company’s New York office, was in charge of these orders. This revolver’s serial
number, features, and shipment date is listed as a known Wells Fargo shipped example on page 106
of the aforementioned book and is also listed with the same details on page 408 of “Colt Peacemaker
Encyclopedia, Volume 2”. The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address, and “45 COLT” caliber
marking on the left. Two-line patent date markings and circled Rampant Colt on the left of the frame.
The desirable “W.F. & Co.” marking is on the butt. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with
an unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “3792” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Very good overall, retains traces original blue finish with the balance showing the smooth gray patina of a Wells
Fargo & Co. western working gun, some light pitting and freckling, some light handling marks and characteristic wear on the
grips. Mechanically excellent. A rare opportunity to add a documented Wells Fargo & Co. Colt Single Action Army
revolver to your collection!
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 3112
Scarce Well-Documented Documented Mexico City Shipped
Antique Colt Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Factory
Letter, Featured in Don Wilkerson’s Book
“Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of
1878” - Serial no. 25965, 45 Long Colt cal., 7
1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber
grips. The accompanying factory letter lists this
revolver as shipped on August 1, 1890, to A.
Combaluzier in Mexico City, Mexico, in .45 caliber
with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of
grips not listed. This was a 500 gun shipment. Mexico City shipped Colt
Model 1878 revolvers are rarely encountered today. Mexico at that time
was under the rule of Porfirio Diaz who became president by overthrowing
the re-elected president in 1876 and then using his Rurales (rural police)
to establish a period of peace and relative prosperity that lasted until the
Mexican Revolution erupted after Diaz was elected to an eighth term via
massive fraud and the imprisonment of the other major candidate in 1910.
This exact revolver is featured on page 104 of Don Wilkerson’s book “Colt’s
Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878”, where it is noted as being out of
The Charles Marx Collection. The barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford
address on top, and “45 COLT” on the left. Full serial number marked on the
butt, with matching “965” on the rear cylinder face, and assembly number
“73” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% original blue finish with some patches of
oxidation, some scratches, and crisp markings. Grips are fine, with a brown appearance, light handling marks, and defined
checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3111
Desirable Documented Copper Queen
Store Sold and Arizona Territory Shipped
Colt First Generation Single Action Army
Revolver in .32-20 W.C.F. with Factory Letter -
Serial no. 307977, 32-20 WCF cal., 4 3/4 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. The
accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as sold to Copper
Queen Store in Douglas, Arizona Territory, and shipped in a 3 gun
shipment on January 21, 1909, to Phelps Dodge and Company,
also in Douglas, Arizona Territory, in .32-20 caliber with a 4 3/4
inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grips not listed. This is a solid example of
a Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered in the desirable, “easy-shooting” .32-20 W.C.F. The
top of the barrel has the two-line Hartford address with “32 W.C.F.” on the left. The left side of the
frame is marked with the two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt trademark,
with a triangle “VP” proof and “6” on the left of the trigger guard. Matching visible serial numbers
on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap; unnumbered cylinder and grips, and assembly
number “2693” on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Good with an even frontier patina, retains
strong traces of untouched original blue finish and case
colors in protected areas, with oxidation, and mostly legible
markings. Grips are also good, with some western wear, and
defined logos. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 3110
Well-Documented London Agency Shipped
Antique Etched Panel Colt Frontier Six Shooter
Single Action Army Revolver with Holster Rig
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 108566, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The accompanying
factory letter states this revolver was shipped
in an 18 gun shipment on February 25, 1884,
to Colt’s London Agency in London, England,
in .44-40 caliber with nickel finish, with barrel
length and type of grip not listed, a common
indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and walnut
grip, which were standard for the period.
Although shipped to London, this antique Colt
Frontier Six Shooter has the characteristic appearance as if it may have possibly found its way back to
the American frontier, with a look desired by many western collectors. 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, and the
“44” caliber designation stamped in small font on the underside of the barrel. “44.C.F.” stamped on the
left side of the trigger guard. London proof marks on the barrel and cylinder. 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 unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number “6402” on the loading gate. Includes
a left handed “Slim Jim” or “California” pattern unmarked period leather holster with border tooling, and
period leather belt marked “99” and “44”. This exact revolver is pictured on page 46 of the fall 2025 issue
of The Texas Gun Collector magazine in the article “The Allure of Dirty Nickel Finish” by Bill Welch.
CONDITION: Fine with an honest appearance and desirable character, retains 50% untouched original
nickel plated finish with holster pattern wear showing even smooth brown patina on the balance, and
much of the etched panel visible. Grip is also fine, with much of the original glossy varnish finish, dings
on the bottoms, handling marks, and nice fitment. Mechanically excellent. Holster and belt are fine.
Provenance: The Bill Welch Collection.
Estimate: 7,000 - 9,500
As pictured & described in
Colt's Double-Action Revolver,
Model of 1878 by Wilkerson