October 25, 2023 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/25/2023
According to the Colt Archive letter, this gun shipped November 16, 1896, to Robert Schutz, address unavailable, in a shipment of 1 gun. It was shipped as a .38 Colt with a 4 - 1/2" barrel and rubber grips. It is factory inscribed "WCS" with gold inlay on the right side of the frame. There is also a special order record that comes with this gun that is dated November 11th, 1896, and it states that a "4 - 1/2" .38/c Army gt Pistol Rub. Blue" and a "2 1/2" .32/S&W New Pocket" were to be monogrammed of the letters W.C.S. in gold on each pistol. This gun has been sent back to the Colt factory for repair, as there is the factory star mark on the left rear webbing on the trigger guard. That is probably when the 6" barrel was installed, and possibly the ivory grips. The gold inlaid monogram "WCS" are the initials of one of Colt's past presidents, Colonel William C. Skinner. He was elected President in 1909 and stepped down in 1911. He resumed the president's position at Colt in 1916 and remained there until 1921. 2 line barrel address on top of the barrel. "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / PATENTED AUG. 5, 1884 NOV. 6, 88 MAR 5, 95" with a roll die caliber designation on the left side of the barrel "COLT. D.A. 38". Rampant Colt logo on the left side of the frame just above the grip. The screws, trigger, and the back of hammer are nitre blue. 2-piece smooth ivory grips. It comes in an original Colt pink picture box that is numbered to a different gun. CONDITION: Gun retains the vast majority of the deep polish blue finish. There is some high-edge wear and a turn ring on the cylinder. Nitre blue is very strong, and the screws have not been molested. Bright and shiny bore with sharp lands and grooves. The gold inlay is sharp and crisp. There is no flaking to the monogram. The ivory grips show some age and fit the gun very well. It comes with the original 4 - 1/2" barrel. The box is solid with a great label, but does have some edge wear, and a couple of seam splits on the top. A very historical gun.
Item Dimensions: 13 x 7 x 3"
Accessories
Case, Original barrel
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Information