December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
In his article from the Summer 2022 volume of "The Rampant Colt" entitled "One Favorite Colt", Dick Burdick best characterized John Garrett as "a man of many accomplishments". Garrett was born in December of 1865 in Pembroke, New York, later moving to Cedar Rapids and attending Iowa College. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1895 and became a centerpiece of the local area with his sporting goods store, which would be described in 1928 as "the most unique, novel, and attractive gun and sporting goods room in the West". John Witwer Garrett also hunted with the Theodore Roosevelt party at White River in northwest Colorado in 1901, set a trap shooting world record of clay targets at the Grand American Handicap Tournament of 1903 in Chicago, was an advertising advocate of the Winchester Arms Company, and even shot with Annie Oakley in championship events. This Colt Smoothbore Frontier Six Shooter single-action revolver was sent to Garrett on August 21, 1912. Only 15 Colt single-action revolvers would be manufactured with a smooth barrel in .44 caliber for the .44 Smoothbore cartridge. Additional features include 5 - 1/2" barrel with single line barrel address, blue finish, color case hardened frame, and checkered brown gutta percha grips featuring a Rampant Colt on either side in an oval. The blade front sight was likely modified by Garrett himself, with modification including filing and reshaping of the blade to make acquisition of moving clay and glass ball targets easier. Accompanying documentation is quite extensive, including Colt factory letter confirming configuration and shipment, an ATF exemption letter from 2003 stating that this revolver is exempt from NFA regulation, research and provenance regarding John Garrett, and a copy of the Rampant Colt article mentioned above. Accessories include 4 period glass target balls perfect for display. PROVENANCE: Richard "Dick" Burdick collection. CONDITION: Excellent, with comfortably more than 90% original bluing remaining, with some scattered light handling marks throughout. Frame retains brilliant case colors. Grips are very good, with some fading and handling marks but no visible cracks. Action locks up tightly and retains all 4 hammer stops. Bore is lightly frosted with abrasion toward muzzle, consistent with being shot heavily during the period. Target balls are very good. An exciting opportunity to own an extremely rare Colt single action with a historic shipping destination to a man of many accomplishments.
Accessories
Glass Target Balls
Caliber/Bore
.44-40 Smoothbore