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LOT 3244
Unique Black Powder Colt ‘Overrun’
Single Action Army Revolver with Holster
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 50391, 45 LC cal.,
7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut
grips. Manufactured in 1879 as a “overrun” revolver. As defined
by Kopec and Fenn, “overruns” were “the result of a purposeful overproduction of military component parts, which were manufactured to assure a consistent supply of usable parts in quantities which would
satisfy the then-current military contract.” Unused U.S. Ordnance sub-inspected
components were assembled by Colt and sold on the civilian market. It has a
Henry Nettleton inspected frame that lacks “US” marking as commonly found on
“overruns.”The top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address, the frame has
the three-line patent dates marking, and the trigger guard is marked “45 CAL.”
Belgian “star/R” proofs are stamped on the barrel, frame and cylinder along with a
Liege proof on the cylinder. The left side of the grip is stamped “D 15” followed by
a grouping of three stamped circles. Matching serial numbers are on the frame,
trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel. The accompanying factory letter
confirms the .45 caliber chambering and blue finish. As typical the barrel length
and type of stocks are not listed, usually an indication of a 7 1/2 inch barrel and
walnut stocks. The revolver was part of a 50 unit shipment dated December 17,
1880 and delivered to Colt’s New York Office in New York City. Includes a Burgess & Co. U.S. leather flap holster. CONDITION: Very good plus, retaining 25% of the original blue finish in and around the protected areas, otherwise a mixture of smooth brown and gray patinas with pitting. The grip is fine with high edge wear and minor dings and scratches. Mechanically functions fine. The holster is good with some flex wear and age cracking.
LOT 3246
Desirable Documented Factory Nickel Plated Colt
Bisley Model Frontier Six Shooter Single Action
Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 241430, 44-40
WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1903. The revolver has highly desirable factory nickel
finish along with a casehardened hammer and niter blue trigger,
screw heads, cylinder pin and release. The barrel has the one-line
Hartford address on top and is marked “(BISLEY MODEL)/COLT FRONTIER SIX
SHOOTER” on left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates
marking followed by a circled Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers are on
the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The included factory letter confirms the 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44-40 caliber and nickel plating. The revolver was sold and shipped to William Read & Son of Boston, MA on January 8, 1904.
Per the handwritten letter of provenance,
a Mr. McVey who won the SAA “on a $1.00
chance ticket purchased from a retired Army
colonel” said to have used this SAA in the
Philippines. In the 1950s the pistol was sold
by McVey to Kennith Webster for $35.00. In
the late 1950s the gun was purchased for $135.00 by Bob Waskom who quickly sold it with two other SAAs to the consignor.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 75% original nickel plating with flaking and cleaned pitting on the top strap. 70% original case colors remain on the hammer. Traces of original niter blue remain on the trigger and other small parts. The grips are excellent with minimal handling marks and crisp checkering overall.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3247
Documented Colt First Generation Single Action
Army Revolver in Scarce Dual Caliber .44 Russian/.44
S&W Special with Factory Letter - Serial no. 350396, 44
Russian S&W special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, hard rubber grips. This revolver was manufactured in 1927 and
is chambered for both .44 Russian and .44 S&W Special cartridges.
Estimates list only 506 Single Action Army revolvers manufactured for
.44 S&W Special. Prior to the introduction of the .44 Special to the Colt line,
only 154 Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured for the .44 Russian
cartridge upon which the .44 Special was based. The accompanying factory letter lists this
revolver with a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 S&W, blue finish
and hard rubber stocks when sold to F.A. Williams Co.
(address not listed) and shipped to Max G. Krause (address
not listed) on August 29, 1927. On December 1, 1927
the revolver was returned to the factory for credit and
subsequently sold to Zork Hardware Co. of El Paso, Texas
and shipped to Phelps Dodge Mercantile Co. (address
not listed) on July 18, 1928. The barrel has the one-line
Hartford address on top and “RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL”
followed by “44” on the left side. Matching serial numbers
are on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. Rear faces of matching cylinder is stamped with the last two digits (“96”) of the serial number.
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 75% plus original blue finish and 80% original case colors with the balance a smooth gray patina. The correct style replacement grips are fine with a repaired chip at the bottom (right panel) and some wear along the top of checkering. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
147
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
from friend and famed firearms collector William M. Locke in January 1966. As Dr. Spyridon states in the letter, “The single action was one of several guns that came out of a private collection in Springfield, Ohio, that Mr. Locke purchased. I, in turn, purchased most of these guns from Mr. Locke.”
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 40% period replated applied nickel plating with the balance a smooth gray patina. The grip is also fine with much of the original varnish, high edge wear and minor dings and scratches.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3245
Documented Colt Black Powder Single Action Army
Revolver Purchased from Famed Collector William
M. Locke with Factory Letter - Serial no. 22517, 45 LC cal.,
7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. The accompanying
factory letter lists this revolver in .45 caliber and with a blue finish
when shipped to B. Kittridge & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 29,
1876. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address, the frame has the two-line,
two patent dates marking on the left side, and the trigger guard is stamped
“45 CAL” on the left side. The ejector rod has the bullseye head. Matching full or
partial serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder, and barrel. Per the included May 1974 dated letter of provenance, Dr. S.K. Spyridon acquired this SAA