May 7, 2024 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
According to the Colt Factory Archive letter, this gun left the factory as a .45 Colt with a 4 - 3/4" barrel, silver plated, ivory grips, and factory engraving. It was shipped to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, Mo., C/O J. Thielemann on October 13, 1894, in a shipment of one gun. Julius Thielemann lived in Bastrop, Texas, and is buried there. He was a locksmith and gunsmith, machinery repair, and gun and sporting goods dealer. This gun has a two-line barrel address on top of the barrel, "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.". Rolled caliber designation on the left side of the barrel, "45 COLT". Two line patent dates on the left side of the frame, "PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 ? JULY 2, 72. JAN.19,75". There is a Rampant Colt logo next to the patent dates. Matching serial numbers observed on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. This gun has a foliate and scroll pattern of engraving with a punch dot background. It has zig-zag borders and other geometric designs incorporated into the engraving. The engraving was executed by the hand of a master engraver. Factory ivory grips fit the gun very well; there is a little bit of shrinkage. The right grip has the serial number in pencil on the inside of the grip. The left grip has "J.D. FORBES / BASTROP, TEX." written in pencil on the inside of the grip. It is housed in a black fitted case with nickel hardware. CONDITION: This gun retains the vast majority of the factory's original untouched silver plating. The silver has turned to almost a black patina. There are some small spots of wear on the muzzle and scattered across the gun. The grips show age, and the right grip has a small chip at the heel. Very good bore with well-defined lands and grooves. A couple of the screws have been dinged a little. Most of them are unmolested. The action has all four clicks and locks up tightly. The case shows some storage wear and is missing the blue lining at the bottom of the case. A wonderful gun to add to any collection.
Item Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 3"
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Documentation