April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
One of the most desirable of all Colt Single Action Armies are the scarce and beautiful blue and case colored black powder frame etched panel .44's. This example is exceptional in all respects. You will find full matching serial numbers on frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. Colt was no longer numbering the cylinders and barrels at this time. Has the type 2 ejector rod head, screw in black powder frame, and Colt eagle gutta percha grips. Trigger bow stamped .44 cal, bottom of barrel stamped .44. Blue and case colored finish. According to factory letter, this revolver was shipped with four other guns on October 2nd, 1888 to one of the largest midwest distributors, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, and Co., Chicago, in .44 caliber with a 7 - 1/2" barrel, blue finish, and rubber stocks. We removed the stocks and the number 7007 is written inside base of right panel. One thing that should be understood is that Colt very seldom sent revolvers to smaller companies and if they did, the price was much higher. Therefore, a majority of the Colts purchased west of the Mississippi at this time were ordered by small gun shops from the larger distributors in Chicago, New York, St. Louis, and Cincinnati as well as large West Coast suppliers in California. Therefore, it is just as likely that this was ordered by a small firm in Kansas as its chances of remaining in Chicago. CONDITION: The etched panel is near perfect, and one of the best we have seen on a blued gun. Barrel retains approximately 85-90% of the original factory high polish blue. Ejector rod retains 50% of the original factory high polish blue. 70% blue on trigger guard, thinning on straps, with some nice high polish blue on top of backstrap. Frame has three line patent address with early type 1 hammer. Hammer retains approximately 75% case colors. Frame retains approximately 35% case colors, balance having greyed out. Razor sharp barrel legends. Generous amounts of fire blue on screw heads. Cylinder retains 40% of original blue, balance toned. Has all four perfect Colt clicks, locks up like a vault, with a near mint bore with sharp lands and grooves and a tiny hint of light frosting which may clean. Grips are perfectly fitted in near mint condition with no chips. Because the blue finish is far more fragile than nickel, it is extremely difficult to find a blackpowder frame with etched panel in the blue and case color configuration that retains this much of the original condition. This example would be a prize in any collection of early, high condition Colts.
Model
Frontier Six Shooter