April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
This outstanding, early black powder Colt was shipped on May 6th, 1886 in a shipment of 20 guns to one of Colt's largest Midwest distributors, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. It was shipped as a 4-3/4", .45 Colt with rubber grips. Full or partial matching numbers on frame, trigger guard, backstrap and cylinder. CONDITION: Short two line barrel address barrel retains 95% of its original high polish factory mirror blue with just a hint of muzzle wear and light handling marks. Sight has never been filed down. Housing has nearly all the fire blue on top while the side is basically gunmetal patina. The cylinder retains approximately 50% original factory blue with the balance blending silver patina. Backstrap has high polish blue at the top and grey on back. Intermixed touch of blue with grey patina on front strap. 75% brilliant blue on trigger guard and forward section. The loading gate has patterned out but the recoil shield has traces of case colors; the balance of case colors on frame are nearly all intact. Hammer exhibits 75% case colors. The eagle Colt checkered gutta percha grips fit snugly, are not numbered and have one small chip at right front toe. All four Colt clicks. Locks up like a vault. Near mint, early, wide groove rifling. It would be nearly impossible to find a better condition all original, untouched, early Colt short barrel .45, and this one is a top condition example.