May 18, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2022
Colt Single Action Army manufactured circa 1881, serial number 1809. 7 - 1/2" round barrel with block style single line Hartford, Connecticut barrel address with V-notch frame rear sight and blade front. Chambered for the rare and desirable .44 Rimfire cartridge, with an estimated production of only 1,892 ever manufactured. These revolvers were made in their own separate serial number range and were made in both .44 and .22 Rimfire. Frame is inspector marked with an upside-down "C" underneath rectangular firing pin channel; according to "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Graham, Kopec, and Moore, several revolvers in their survey of this serial number range and configuration with this upside-down factory inspector mark are known. Matching serial numbers observed on barrel underneath ejector rod housing, frame, trigger guard, cylinder, and butt. Barrel is marked "44" on bottom side near center pin. Trigger guard is marked on left side of front trigger bow "44 CAL". Early donut-style ejector rod head. Correct style hammer and firing pin slot. 1-piece plain ivory grips. Comes with a copy of page 191 of "COLT PISTOLS" by Wilson & Hable with the caption "Rimfire No. 1809 left the Colt plant on March 12, 1881, with one other identical pistol, and is recorded as .44 caliber, nickel finish, shipped to J. T. Moores Sons, New York City. Grips and barrel length were not listed. Finding a rimfire series Single Action in such an excellent state of preservation as No. 1809 is a matter of extreme difficulty." CONDITION: Excellent, as expertly restored with nearly all of the added nickel plating remaining. Nickel plating shows signs of age, with clouding and light handling marks throughout. As noted in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver", the rimfire SAAs were usually heavily used and typically not cared for and that could explain refinishing during the period. Grips are shy at backstrap but are complete with minor age related cracking at butt. Action is tight and crisp. Bore is bright with crisp rifling. A handsome, extremely collectible, and rare Single Action Army in .44 caliber rimfire. TON
Paperwork
Copy of pg. 191 of "Colt Pistols" by Wilson & Hable