December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Shipped May 23, 1894 as part of a 5 gun shipment to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company of Chicago, Illinois. Blued 4 - 3/4" barrel rolled on the left "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" and with 2-line address on top. Blade front sight and frame notch rear. Extremely early smokeless frame stamped on the left with 2-line patent date and encircled Rampant Colt. Grips are very attractive smooth 2-piece ivory. Accompanied by a double loop holster stamped "C.F. PERKINS / MAKER / DIXON, WYO." for Indian fighter, miner, rancher, trader, stage contractor, and owner of the Perkins General Store, Charles Perkins of Dixon, Wyoming, as well as an unmarked 40 loop gun belt with clipped corner buckle. An included appraisal done by a previous owner notes that her father, the original owner of the gun, lived in Craig, Colorado, as a young man, about 50 miles from Dixon. Further research done by Dick Burdick identifies the original owner as Robert Joseph Nicholson (1876-1948), who is listed on the 1900 census as a "Proprietor of Placer", along with his brother Norris a "Placer Miner", in the Precinct of Four Mile, Colorado. Accompanying research includes copies of documents and photographs related to Nicholson as well as Perkins, in addition to a 2015 dated factory letter. CONDITION: Very good overall. Traces of original factory blue are present on the protected areas of the ejector rod housing and grip straps, the balance fading to a pleasant gunmetal gray patina. Trigger and some screws also display portions of their original nitre blue. Grips exhibit an extremely attractive warm honey patina, fitting somewhat shy to the back strap. Rifling is well defined, some frosting and light pitting present. Especially fine and crisp mechanics. All 4 tumbler clicks intact. Matching numbers observed on frame and grip straps. Cylinder is unnumbered, loading gate numbered "372". Holster and belt are sturdy and still somewhat supple, showing frontier use with crackled and worn surfaces. A great Colorado miner attributed Frontier Six Shooter with scarce Wyoming leather. PROVENANCE: Richard "Dick" Burdick collection.
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Information