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LOT 3271
Scarce Cased Colt
London Address Etched
Panel Model 1877
Lightning Double
Action Revolver - Serial
no. 6951, 38 LC cal., 4 1/2
inch round bbl., nickel
finish, hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1878.
The barrel is stamped
“COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co.
HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./
DEPOT 14. PALL MALL
LONDON” on top and has
the desirable acid etched
“COLT D.A. 38” panel on
the left side. Per R.L. Wilson
in “The Book of Colt Firearms” about 1,500 Model 1877s, mostly in .38 caliber
with 4 1/2 and 5 inch barrels, featured the Colt Pall Mall London barrel legend.
London proofs appear on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder
flute. The left side of the frame has the three-line patent dates marking. Matching
serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap and both grip panels.
The cylinder is numbered to a different gun. The partitioned case contains an
added cartridge block holding 20 rounds of .380 Eley (similar to .38 LC) and holds
a case key, cleaning rod/screwdriver, and bore brush. The interior of the case lid
has a Colt London paper label.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original nickel plating with some blistering. The etched panel is crisp. 97% niter blue remains on the trigger, hammer, screws and cylinder pin. The grips are also excellent. Mechanically needs work as hammer does not lock in the half or full cock positions, otherwise action cycles properly. The case is fine with a crack on the lid, minor handling/storage marks and typical high spot wear on the lining.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 3272
Cased Colt London
Model 1878 Double
Action Revolver in
Desirable .476 Eley
- Serial no. 22355, 476
Eley cal., 5 1/2 inch
round bbl., blue finish,
hard rubber grips.
Manufactured in 1889
and chambered in .476
Eley. Also known as
the Enfield Mark III Ball
cartridge, the .476 was
introduced in 1881 and
phased out in 1887
but continued to be
produced at the Woolrich Arsenal until March 1893
and the Dum Dum ammunition factory in India until
1918. The first .476 Model 1878 revolver was shipped
to the London Agency on June 26, 1884, according to the late Don Wilkerson in
“Colt’s Double-Action Revolver:”, and the last was shipped on October 24, 1898.
Wilkerson found only 2,458 revolvers were shipped in this caliber. The barrel has the
one-line Colt Pall Mall London legend, the trigger guard is marked “476 CAL.,” and
London proofs are on the underside of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute.
The partitioned case contains an added cartridge block holding 28 rounds of .476 Eley, case key, James Dixon & Sons oiler, tool and cleaning rod. The interior of the case has a Colt London paper label.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 60% plus original blue finish with the balance thinning to brown and some spots
of dark corrosion visible on the cylinder. The grips are also fine with some minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. The modified/relined case is fine with minor handling/storage marks and some high spot wear on the lining.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3273
Scarce Cased Colt London
Etched Panel Model 1877
Lightning Double Action
Revolver - Serial no. 10984,
38 LC cal., 4 1/2 inch round
bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
rosewood grips. Manufactured
in 1878. The barrel is stamped
“COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co.
HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./DEPOT
14. PALL MALL LONDON” on
top and has the desirable acid
etched “COLT D.A. 38” panel
on the left side. Per R.L. Wilson
in “The Book of Colt Firearms”
about 1,500 Model 1877s,
mostly in .38 caliber with 4 1/2 and 5 inch barrels, featured the Colt Pall Mall London barrel legend. London proofs appear on the underside
of the barrel and behind each cylinder flute. The left side of the frame
has the three-line patent dates marking. Matching full or partial serial
numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap and cylinder.
Fitted with a desirable checkered rosewood grip, a standard feature on early production models. The partitioned case contains an added cartridge block holding 20 rounds of .380 Eley (similar to .38 LC) and holds a cleaning rod/ screwdriver and case key. The interior of the case lid has a Colt London paper label.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 70% bright original blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance and a few patches of minor-moderate pitting. The etched panel is clear. The frame retains 80% original case colors with a patch of dark corrosion visible on the top strap and loading gate. The grip is very fine with some minor handling marks and crisp checkering overall. Mechanically excellent. The modified case is very good with minor handling/ storage marks and typical high spot wear to the lining.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 3274
Cased Colt London
Model 1877 Lightning
Double Action Revolver
- Serial no. 88135, 38 LC
cal., 4 1/2 inch round bbl.,
nickel finish, hard rubber
grips. This Model 1877
“Lightning” DA revolver was
manufactured in 1892 and
has “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG.
Co/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A”
on the top of the barrel
and “COLT D.A. 38” on the
left. The revolver features
a full nickel finish. The
three patent dates (1871,
1874, and 1875) are on
left side of frame. The cylinder has several British proofs and two more are stamped on the lower left side of the barrel. The serial number is marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and cylinder (partial). The assembly number is stamped on the loading gate. The rear right side of the trigger guard features a Colt ampersand rework mark. It is fitted with a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt emblem which are numbered to another gun “36811”. The English oak case has a screw-fastened lid with circular brass initial plate. The case is lined with red velvet and has a section fitted to the gun along with three compartments and a full nineteen round cartridge block. Included in the case are an oiler, screwdriver, cleaning rod, and 18 rounds head stamped “ELEY’S/.380 L” and 1 head stamped “KYNOCH/380”. The interior of the lid has a “Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co/14 Pall Mall. S.W./London” marked label.
CONDITION: Fine, retaining 75% original nickel finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance, some scattered handling marks and a rotation mark on the cylinder. The slightly oversized replacement grips are also very fine with a few small dings and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. The case is fine with a transfer of a printed piece visible on the lid, an attractive patina on the brass fitting, and some slight separation on the back of the lid. The screwdriver has an age crack in the handle.
Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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