Lot 43: Texas Shipped First Generation Colt Single Action Army with Rig

The factory letter lists the revolver in .38-40 with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, and blue finish when it was part of a shipment of 18 guns of this type shipped on August 15, 1902, to Bering Cortes Hardware Co. in Houston, Texas. The company was formed by Julius C. Bering and H.W. Cortes c. 1885. The revolver has a blade front sight, two-line address, no visible caliber marking, the two-line patent marking followed by a faint encircled Rampant Colt on the left, matching serial numbers, and checkered hard rubber grips with embossed Rampant Colt emblems. The brown leather double loop holster and cartridge belt are not marked.

Good with gray and brown patina, mild pitting, and moderate overall wear. The grips are also good and have well-worn checkering, attractive aged coloration, edge wear, and some scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. The holster rig is fair with heavy overall wear including crackling and rub wear. Overall, a classic Colt Single Action Army and holster rig with a lot of old Southwest character.