GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
RARE, HISTORIC, AND POSSIBLY ONE OF A KIND DOCUMENTED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. FULL NICKEL FINISH, PEARL GRIPS, ORDERED BY TEXAS RANGER CAPTAIN H. M. JOHNSTON AND SHIPPED TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.COLTSAA33728845 LCMODERN; C&RCal. 45 LC. 4-3/4" bbl. Full nickel finish. 2-pc Colt Mother of Pearl grips. Bbl shows standard 2-line address with cal mark on left side. High profile front-sight. "1" is stamped on bottom of bbl under base pin. Frame has 2-line patent mark on left side with rampant Colt logo to rear. SN matches on frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. Last 4-digits of SN is stamped on rear-face of cyl. Assembly no. "261" is stamped on rear-face of loading gate and on right rear of frame under grips. 2-pc Pearl grips with Colt escutcheons and a blue screw. Frame screws are nickel plated. Nickel plated hammer and trigger. Base pin is also nickel plated. This revolver is accompanied by a ream of paperwork documenting this historic Single Action Colt revolver. A Colt factory letter showing cal, bbl length, finish, and grips. Showing shipment to State of Texas on February 15, 1919 in a one-gun shipment. From the Texas State Library and Archives, there is a letter dated January 10, 1919 to Colt Firearms from H.M. Johnston Quarter Master Ranger Force, ordering this revolver. A Colt Firearms Company Acknowledgement of the Order, dated January 15, 1919 to Captain Johnston, saying that they will ship the revolver "as soon as possible." An invoice from Colt to the State of Texas dated February 18, 1919 for this revolver with a balance due of $26.93. A letter from Captain Johnston dated April 3, 1919 acknowledging payment of the invoice, the previous Colt invoice also notes this payment from a citizen bank account. Also included is a 4-pg handwritten letter from noted Colt Single Action Firearms expert and author, Ron Graham, describing this revolver by SN. In which he states, "this revolver is the ONLY Colt Single Action Army revolver known to have been Colt factory shipped directly to the State of Texas, Adjacent General's Department, Austin, Texas." Graham also mentions that Johnston was a Texas Ranger Captain. Ron Graham's letter finishes with the sentence "nothing else need be said or written." Over his signature. A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase a Colt Single Action revolver with special finish and grips ordered by, shipped to, and paid for by a Captain of Texas Rangers in a period of history when the Ranger Force was very active on the border during Prohibition, in interdictions "Teguilleros" running liqueur across the border into Texas. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl retains 80% orig nickel finish with some light pitting and holster wear on left side and some flaking on left muzzle. Front-sight is full-sized and has flaking on right side. Bbl marks are sharp and crisp. Bore is frosty with strong rifling. Frame retains 90% nickel finish with some slight pitting on left re-coil shield and light scratching overall. Frame markings are sharp. Screws are very good. Trigger guard retains 90% nickel finish with a sharp SN and light scratching. Screws are good. Backstrap retains 90% nickel finish with some flaking at heel and light scratching at butt. SN is sharp. Cyl shows 50% nickel finish with some flaking and a drag-mark at rear. Chambers are dark. Face of cyl is stained. SN is sharp. Cyl base pin is slightly battered. 51061-1 TEP (20,000-30,000)