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Tom Mix
LOT 3267
Elaborate Silver Overlaid Colt Bisley Model Single Action Revolver Attributed to Hollywood Western Film Legend Tom Mix - Serial no. 263232, 41 LC cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1905 and subsequently custom embellished with heavy sterling silver scroll overlay patterns covering much of the surfaces including the hard rubber grips. With the exception of the frame serial number and the assembly number on the loading gate, the revolver lacks Colt markings. Includes a French fitted custom hardwood case containing two separate empty cartridge blocks located in the upper left and lower right hand corners. Per the accompanying Burbank, California, dealer Weapon Arts Museum artifact placard, circa 1950s, “This Colt Revolver was given to Tom Mix by one of his California admirers. Tom used this particular Colt in many of his Western Pictures.” Also included is a Hy Hunter’s Rod and Gun Shop 1952 dated price tag stating it was Tom Mix’s gun with a price of $850. In the early 1900s Tom Mix (1880-1940) found employment with the Miller brothers of the vast 101 Ranch, working as a cowboy for them and as a traveling performer in the ranch’s Western show. His film career began in 1910, and he would go on to appear in more than 160 films throughout the 1920s. Mix is often credited as defining the Western genre in film, as well as being Hollywood’s first true Western star. Mix served as a pallbearer at the funeral of Wyatt Earp. The two men came to know one another when the legendary lawman was a consultant for Hollywood during the silent film era. Bruce Willis played Mix along side James Garner as Earp in “Sunset,” a 1988 film loosely based on the Earp and Mix relationship. CONDITION: Fine as extensively custom embellished, retaining most of the high polish blue finish over pitting and all of the sterling silver overlays. There is some pitting under the finish. Mechanically fine. A highly embellished Colt Bisley that certainly is befitting of Hollywood’s first cowboy star: Tom Mix. Estimate: 4,500 - 7,000
LOT 3268
Attractive Engraved Black Powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Case - Serial no. 89740,
45 Long Colt
cal., 5 1/2 inch
round bbl.,
nickel finish, antique ivory grips. Manufactured in 1883, and subsequently custom engraved with floral scroll, geometric, and punch dot patterns on over 75% of the metal surfaces. The barrel is marked with the one-line address on top, and the frame has the three-line patent information on the left side. The trigger guard is marked “45 CAL” on the left side. The assembly number “621” is marked on the loading gate. The frame, trigger guard, and back strap are marked with the matching serial number. It is fitted with the standard blade and groove sights and a smooth “one piece” grip. Comes with a case fitted for a 7 1/2 inch barrel SAA and containing 6 .44 WCF brass casings.
CONDITION: Fine as custom engraved, refinished, and remarked. The revolver has only some minor handling and storage marks and a thin cylinder drag line. There are also some signs of modification in the hammer recess. The grips are also very fine with slight age cracks and attractive yellow and cream tones. Mechanically needs work as the hammer currently doesn’t lock up at full cock and the cylinder timing
is off.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3269
Antique Colt Flattop Target Model
Single Action Revolver - Serial no.
158920, 38 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue finish, smooth grips. Manufactured in 1894 and subsequently factory
refurbished as one of approximately only 925 Flattop Target Model Single Action
Army revolvers produced, with only 122 of them chambered in .38 Colt. The top of
the Colt factory replacement barrel is marked with the single line address while the left
has “38 COLT”. The right of the frame is marked with the two-line patent dates and circled Rampant Colt, and the matching serial number is on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The assembly number “8” is marked inside the loading gate. It is fitted with pinned German silver blade front and dovetailed notch rear sights and a pair of smooth grips. An included response to a Colt factory information request addressed to Hank Williams Jr.
states that no information on the revolver could be found in the ledgers. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 97% plus of the factory refinished blue, some of the markings slightly lightened, restamped caliber marking, and a cylinder drag line. The slightly undersized period non-factory replacement grips are fine with some hairline age cracks scattered throughout.
Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3270
Cased Engraved First Generation Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter and
Fine Quality Custom
Knife - Serial no. 326279, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, plastic grips. Manufactured in 1913 and subsequently engraved with floral scroll on a stippled background patterns. The back strap is checkered along with an engraved blank inscription banner. A simple vine and leaf motif is engraved on the ejector rod housing. The barrel has the one- line Hartford address
on top, “COLT FRONTIER
SIX SHOOTER” inside a
banner on the left side.
The assembly number
“504” is marked on the
loading gate and rear of
the frame. An additional
factory rework assembly number “324” is on the barrel under the ejector rod housing, face of
the cylinder, loading gate and both grip straps, indicating that the revolver was returned to the
factory most likely to be rebarreled and nickel plated. The grips are numbered to a different gun.
Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The included factory
letter lists this revolver as having a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .32/20, blue finish, and grips not listed
when shipped to Pinney & Robinson in Phoenix, Arizona on May 19, 1913. The revolver is housed in a hardwood case with a compartment for the gun as well as five other compartments and a reproduction paper label on the interior lid. Also housed in the case is an empty reproduction .45 Long Colt box and Damascus steel bladed knife with gold inlaid spine, handle, and pommel and engraving on the guard handle and pommel.
CONDITION: Very fine as custom embellished, retaining 98% plus of the factory replated nickel plating with limited light flaking. The oversize much later production replacement grips are fine with crisp checkering overall. Mechanically functions but action needs stronger mainspring. Case is very good with storage and handling marks, some corner separation, and light high edge war on the lining. Knife is very fine with patches of spotting on the blade, bright gold inlays, and crisp engraving.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
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Collector’s Fact
Of the 925 Colt Flattop Target Single Actions manufactured, only 122 were chambered
in .38 Colt.