May 7, 2024 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/7/2024
According to the Colt Factory Archive letter, this gun was shipped as a .38 Colt with a 4 - 1/2" barrel, nickel finish, pearl grips, factory engraving, and was furnished with an ejector. It was shipped to W.H. Wentworth, address unavailable, on October 3rd, 1881, in a shipment of one gun. The interesting thing about this gun is that it has a three line Pall Mall address on the top of the barrel, "COLT'S PT. F. ARMS MFG. CO. / HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. / DEPOT 14 PALL MALL LONDON" but it does not have any English proofs; it never made it to England. On the left side of the barrel, the caliber marking is engraved in a ribbon "COLT D.A. 38". Three line patent dates on the left side of the frame and ".38 CAL" on the left rear of the trigger bow. Beautifully engraved by Herman Ulrich. It has about 65% coverage of a floral pattern with a punch dot background. There are some geometric designs engraved on the barrel, frame, and the top of the grip. The hammer is also engraved, which is very unusual. Grip panels fit extremely well and show lots of fire in them. It comes with an original Colt pink picture box. The box is not original to this gun, but is an original Colt box. CONDITION: This gun retains 80% of the original nickel finish with the majority of the loss at the front of the cylinder and the ejector rod housing. Action works in both single and double action. Good bore with some frosting in the lands and grooves. Grips show a couple of small age cracks but are very minty. The trigger and hammer have some nitre blue finish. The box is solid with the top label missing some of the label around the edges.
Item Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 2"