April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
With the addition of the 4 - 3/4" barrel, we are offering, for what might be the first time, a blued etched panel in all three standard barrel lengths. We do not know the production of the 4 - 3/4" and 5 - 1/2" etched panels but they are at least twice as rare as the 7 - 1/2". Partially due to the fact that these two barrel lengths were not even offered until 1875 and the etched panel was only offered until 1888, leaving a scant 13 years where the two could mix. According to factory letter, this was one of a six gun shipment sent to one of Colt's largest Midwest retailers - Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, and Co., Chicago and was shipped in .44 caliber with 4 - 3/4" barrel, blue finish, and rubber grips, which is how it remains today. Revolver has matching serial numbers on frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. Barrel stamped 44. CONDITION: Etched panel is totally visible and readable, with barrel retaining 75-80% original factory bright blue finish with razor sharp two line barrel address. Cylinder has nice blue in all the flutes. Scattered blue on trigger guard and backstrap, approximately 25%. Frame still has some bright case colors in recesses with balance patterned out. Eagle gutta percha grips fit fine and are in near mint condition but are unnumbered. Screws are basically true with generous amounts of nitre blue finish. Has all four Colt clicks, indexes and locks up correctly. Near mint bore, sharp rifling, some minor residue in the barrel. This is an extremely difficult example to find, with this being one of the better collection grade examples we have seen.
Model
Frontier Six Shooter