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Referred to by Elmer Keith as "The Last Word in Fine Sixguns"
R.F. Sedgley modified the frame with a flat
top that extend back over the top of the
hammer, fit the new base pin and catch,
made the No. 3 type grip frame, welded
the base onto the S.A.A. hammer to fill
the longer cut in the top of the Bisley back strap,
manufactured the wide trigger, and made and fitted
the new mainspring. On the latter, Keith wrote: “The Croft-Sedgley spring is without a double the fastest in action of any S.A.A. spring, and should improve the S.A. greatly for target shooting. . .”The hammer had already previously been fitted with a Bisley style spur by J. D. O’Meara for Keith “by dovetailing and brazing in the Bisley thumb piece.” Keith states, “We decided to call this gun model No.
5.” It was tuned to an approximately 3 1/2 pound trigger pull. “To my notion this is the finest and best Colt in existence. I know there are many with inlay work and finer finish, but they lack Croft’s many improvements, which are to me worth far more than all the inlay
work, as they are a real help landing a bullet where I wish it to go. For
general excellence of grip, balance, sights, trigger and hammer, I do
not think this gun can be improved upon. Last spring I killed with this
gun over 59 magpies, around two dozen crows and hawks, six horned owls,
and a bobcat, to say nothing of over a hundred blacktail jack rabbits and a
few woodchucks.” He later indicates he even shot this revolver at animals hundreds of yards away. He indicates the grips were replaced by him after the custom work and notes
that the carving serves to fill the palm of the hand.
The exact age of the frame on this fabulously customized and engraved revolver is not
clear. In place of the usual serial number on the frame, this revolver is marked “M5.” The revolver a barrel turned down and fitted with an adjustable target front sight, an interesting cylinder pin release switch and pin with large grasping finial, a flat
top frame with an adjustable notch rear sight, a Bisley style hammer, modified grip frame, and different mainspring. It is engraved with extensive floral engraving with
serrated backgrounds. The top strap has the Masonic square and compass. The barrel has “RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL 44” in a panel and the one-line Hartford
address on top. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent marking and circled Rampant Colt trademark. The back strap is inscribed “ELMER KEITH” down the back and “DURKEE, OREGON” on the butt. Includes a George Lawrence Co. 5
1/2 russet leather holster tooled with floral patterns.
CONDITION: Excellent, as custom made/upgraded to current configuration
with 95% plus high polish dark blue finish with crisp engraving and light overall wear. The grips are also very fine and have crisp carving on the right
panel, minor crack on the upper right, and attractive natural tones and grain. Mechanically excellent. This exceptional revolver is a unique piece of 20th
century craftsmanship treasured and used by the 20th century’s most famous revolver shooter.
Provenance: Elmer Keith Estate Collection, Private Collection.
Estimate: 65,000 - 130,000
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK SIX GUNS BY KEITH AND "GUNS & AMMO" FROM DECEMBER 1967
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