GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
COLT MODEL 1878 DA FRONTIER REVOLVER IN A SCARCE CALIBER WITH FACTORY LETTER.COLT1878 DA FRONTIER30184476 ELEYCal. 476 Eley. Blue finish with 5-1/2" bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address with Cal. marking on the left side. Mounted with 2-pc Rampant Colt bird head hard rubber grips that are turning slightly chocolate. Bottom of grip frame is mounted with a factory lanyard ring. Left side of the grip frame, under the grip, is marked with assembly number "32" which also appears on the loading gate. Rear face of the cylinder is marked with last three digits of matching SN. Bottom of the bbl, just forward of the frame, is marked with the number "460" and tiny British proofs which also appear in flutes of cylinder. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in Cal. 476 with 5-1/2" bbl, blue finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Colt's London agency on April 2, 1892 in a 38 gun shipment. Of the approximately 51,000 Models 1878 produced 1878-1905, very few were chambered in 476 Eley. PROVENANCE: Ex-Bob Allen Collection. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching as noted above. Bbl and frame retain about 95% glossy orig factory blue with minor flaking and slight holster wear, more pronounced on the top strap. Ejector housing retains about 90% glossy orig blue and the cylinder also about 90% with losses mostly from flaking with some light holster wear and a couple spots of pitting. Grips are crisp showing extremely light diamond point wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 52173-1 JRL (4,000-6,000)