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LOT 1443
Historic Documented Factory Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt New Service Target Double Action Revolver with World’s Indoor Record Inscription for Marksman C. C. Crossman of St. Louis and Factory Letter - Serial no. 17228, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/gold finish, walnut grips. The included factory letter confirms
the revolver was in .45 caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel,
blue finish, “Factory Engraved: Yes, along with the name ‘C.C. Crossman’ in gold on top of the frame” and that it
was “Furnished with a 3 lb. trigger pull” when sold to C.C. Crossman and shipped to Scruggs, Vandervoort, Barney Dry Goods Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, as the only gun of its type in the shipment on March 14, 1907. The engraving consists of panels of classic scrolls with beaded backgrounds on
the sides of the barrel and ahead of the address on the barrel, between the cylinder flutes, “X” pattern on the frame at the breech, star patterns just below on the crane and frame, wavy line patterns, gadroon pattern on frame below the cylinder, more classic scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds on the rear sides of the frame as well as the top strap and behind the hammer, and “C.C. CROSSMAN”
in gold inlay neatly positioned within the scroll on the
top strap. In addition, “World’s Indoor Record/Made with this Arm Nov. 15, 1907 by/C.C. Crossman, St. Louis, Mo.”
was subsequently factory inscribed on the left side of the factory refurbished barrel. The bottom of the barrel is marked with the factory rework six-pointed star followed by the last three digits (“228”) of the serial number (17228). The revolver has an adjustable target front sight, “NEW SERVICE 45 COLT” on the left side of the barrel, the two-line address and patent marking ending with the April 9, 1901 patent on the top of the barrel, an adjustable notch target rear sight at the rear of the flat top strap, a six-pointed star and “626” on the bottom of the barrel at the breech (factory refinished, probably from adding the record inscription), matching serial numbers on the frame and crane, the “VP” proof on the left side of the trigger guard, “+COLT’S+/NEW SERVICE” in a circle with the Rampant Colt on the left side of the frame, knurled/checkered front and rear grip straps, and the “fluer-de-lis” style checkered grips without medallions and with “C.C.C.” (C.C. Crossman) marked inside each panel.
Major Clarence Campbell Crossman (b. 1870) was an ordnance officer and firearms instructor in the Home Guards of Missouri (National Guard) and was also the secretary and later vice president of the Skinner & Kennedy Stationary Company of St. Louis, vice president and then president of the United States Revolver Association, vice president of the National Rifle Association, president of the Mound City Rifle Club, president of the St. Louis Colonial Revolver Club, and an organizer of the St. Louis Trap Shooters Association in addition to various other positions in other civic and social organizations.
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