May 7, 2024 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
This revolver is a legend in its own right amongst the Colt collecting community, and has been featured in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Graham, Kopec, and Moore, Rampant Colt's 1999 Summer issue, Rampant Colt's Spring 2018 issue, and "The Book of Colt Engraving" by Wilson. The unique double "S" motif found throughout has led to beliefs from it being an agricultural magnate's gun, with the motif representating a rotary hoe, to a Basque lauburu. However, Don Jones's article in the 2018 Rampant Colt definitively identifies the gun to Seth Seider's, a Chicago-based businessman who ran on both sides of the law, with the double "S" motif appearing on many of Seider's personal pieces, including his book, Constructive Talks to Pivot Men. Per the included the factory letter, the revolver shipped as a 5 - 1/2" .45 Colt with blue finish, pearl grips, and factory engraving to Von Lengerke & Antoine, Chicago, Illinois, for F.A. Maidgett, on January 20th, 1926, in a shipment of 1 gun. It was processed on order 10919/1, and the letter remarks "Records also indicate engraved R.H. on side". Engraved in classic Glahn scrollwork in approximately B class coverage, with a striated background, with the double S motif on the right side of frame and inset as medallions at the top of each grip panel (belief is that the medallions originated in Glahn's shop). Other unusual features include a hand engraved Rampant Colt on the frame, ahead of the two line patent dates. Other features as standard include blade front sight, kidney shaped ejector rod housing, caliber designation on left side of barrel, and single line Colt information across top of barrel. Accompanied by a floral tooled holster with the "S" motif on cross strap. Accompanied by the aforementioned factory letter, Don Jones research, 2 copies of Rampant Colt's 2018 issue featuring this gun on cover, printouts of when this gun was featured in books, and an R.L. Wilson letter. CONDITION: Very good, retaining the majority of factory finishes, with some thinning to dove grey on barrel, primarily on left side. Case colors have started to fade, but are better in protected areas, perhaps as much as 30%. Cylinder with silvering to sharp edges. Grips are missing chips on right grip, top and bottom, with larger chip to the bottom. Typical superficial handling marks throughout. Holster with well-defined carving, supple, with some crazing to the bottom half. Seth Seiders is notable as a motivational speaker and businessman, and he produced a number of motivational posters for workers, as well as some less-than-legal business pursuits, including bootlegging, tax evasion, and the like. Circa 1924, he built the Ranch Rea, which was a luxury retreat ranch in New Mexico, apparently a favorite retreat of Al Capone. Seiders passed July 28th, 1946, in Chicago. A legend in the Colt collecting community, with several features believed to be unique to the gun, make this gun a mainstay in Colt lore.
Paperwork
Letter, Documentation