December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/11/2024
According to the Colt factory archive letter, this gun left the factory as a .38 Colt with a 3 - 1/2" barrel. Finish was nickel, grips were pearl, and it was factory engraved. It was shipped to B. Kittredge & Company in Cincinnati, Ohio, on November 7th, 1878, in a shipment of 5 guns. It has a scroll and foliate engraving pattern with a punch dot background. There are other geometric designs incorporated into the engraving pattern. Factory pearl grips fit the gun superbly. The left grip has a "J.B.C" engraved onto the top of the grip. Nitre blue small parts. Two line address on top of the barrel, "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A." There is an etched panel on the left side of the barrel, "COLT D.A. .38". Three line patent dates on the front left side of the frame. "38 CAL" on the left rear trigger bow. Matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. Last three digits of the serial number are on the back of the cylinder. The number 18 is on the loading gate. The gun works in both single and double action. CONDITION: This gun retains the vast majority of the original factory applied nickel finish. The majority of the finish loss is to the muzzle and the front of the cylinder. The nitre blue small parts retain most of the blue finish. The grips are in wonderful condition. Dark bore with well defined lands and grooves.