GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
EXTRAORDINARY FACTORY ENGRAVED IVORY GRIPPED COLT MODEL 1877 THUNDERER.COLTLIGHT1633141IVORYCal. 41. Nickel finish with 3-1/2" bbl, full front sight, 2-line Hartford address and crisp "COLT D.A. 41" etched panel on left side. All the screws, base pin, trigger & hammer are bright fire blued. Mounted with orig, factory, smooth ivory grips. Frame is beautifully engraved in flowing foliate arabesque patterns with about 80% coverage. Top strap is engraved with leaf & vine patterns. Foliate arabesque patterns extend up both sides of bbl with a geometric pattern forward of the address on top. Back of the hammer slot on the backstrap and down the backstrap are engraved in geometric patterns. Cyl is engraved on lands between the flutes with foliate arabesque patterns. Left rear web of trigger guard is stamped "41 CAL". Inside grip strap is engraved in script initials "J.B.H.". Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 41 with 3-1/2" bbl, nickel finish, ivory stocks and factory engraved, shipped to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO on October 25, 1879 in a 2-gun shipment. Model 1877 revolvers are rarely found with high orig finish as they were very popular in their day and usually saw very hard service on the American frontier with infrequent or no maintenance. History records numerous individuals on both sides of the law carrying this model of revolver including Billy the Kid and others. We wonder who "J.B.H." may have been. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching. Overall retains virtually all of its crisp, orig nickel finish. All the screws, base pin, trigger & hammer retain most of their orig bright fire blue. There are small areas of bubbling in nickle noted at rear of top strap & there is scratching & light reductions to nickle on butt & inside grip strap near inscription as seen in photos. "Certifiable antique elephant ivory" grips are well fit with minor shrinkage, ivory patina with light scratching & scuffing to high areas. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 50194-2 JS (12,000-15,000)