Colts 2

This is a very handsome Colt Single Action Army revolver, and has a great “presence” The grips add significant value to this Colt. Yes, being period Ivory, BUT the real point of interest is the right grip. Professionally and Perfectly Inlaid is the State of Texas in SILVER. The owner of this Colt must have been particularly proud of being a Texan. The Colt Letter states shipped January 17, 1898 to Dunlay & Co. Houston, Texas. A 4-3/4 inch, Blue, 38/40 Caliber, 3 in shipment. Due to the quality of the Grip, the Silver State of Texas was undoubtedly done by a master probably at Dunlay in Houston. Today , about 35% of the original blue finish is present, the balance is a soft gray patina. Ghost traces of the Case Color on the Frame are visible. ALL Factory applied markings are present: two line barrel address, Rampant Colt in Circle, Caliber on Barrel. ALL Serial Numbers are present, matching and clear Screw heads are all clean and NO tool marks, as is the head of the cylinder pin. The WORKING ACTION: is absolutely 100% prefect and exact, NO mechanical issues. ALL parts are the factory original. The grips have a prefect aged cream yellow patina and are a perfect fit to the Colt. * The 38/40 Caliber was actually quite popular in the Old West. Several Outlaws extolled it’s quality, flat shooting, hard hitting, less recoil, faster to shoot with less re-aiming time. Not to mention a mate to the 1873 Winchester Carbine/Rifle. J. S. Dunlay & Co. was Located 72-74 Travis St. in Houston. A solid Black Powder Colt Single Action Army, with the Magic Shipping Address, TEXAS !

FACTOID: Black Powder revolvers are all antique prior to December 31, 1898

A very interesting Colt Single Action, shipped to Sherman, Texas 1893. First, it is a long barrel ( not 4-3/4 inch) black powder Single Action in .41 Colt caliber. The firm of Roberts, Willis & Taylor Co. got this Colt, interesting to note: ONLY 2 in Shipment. The Pearl Grips were most assuredly placed on the revolver at the dealership for the buying customer. As letter states type of Stocks: Not Listed. Sherman was a bustling transportation hub, wagon and Rail Road and the standard, Casino or bar on every corner, with it’s share of rough and tough cowboys, as cattle drives passed through to cross the river going North, and shootists. Interesting to note: it is literally across the red River from Indian Territory, surely many a revolver wound up in Indian Territory. This SAA, Serial No. 15230X was shipped as a blue revolver. Today, the finish is mostly a dark gray patina. However, there are traces of original blue present in protected areas and bottom half of barrel and cylinder flutes. A faint trace of case color on frame in front of cylinder. ALL parts are the Factory Original parts. The Working Action is 100% correct. Each time cocked, cylinder rotation, indexing, locking tight, all hammer positions are correct and present ! Simply stated, there are  NO mechanical issues. the pearl grips has excellent radiance and color, only one outside corner is slightly missing, all other area are 100%. ALL factory applied markings are clear and present, frame patent, matching serial numbers, one line barrel address, caliber designation on left side of barrel. This is a very fine example of a scarce Texas Shipped location Single Action in scarcer caliber.

This 4-3/4 inch Single Action Army .45 just screams the Old West. It has a relatively a new name  for it’s appearance. In collecting circles it is referred to as a ” Dirty Nickel”  finish Why? It has about 50-55% original nickel finish. It states in the COLT FACTORY Letter nickel finish, and Hard Rubber grips. Just as you see it now ! Grips are the Eagle Pattern, considering 1888. Letter say’s 4-3/4 inch, nickel, rubber, Shipped May 12, 1888 Hartley & Graham, one of 5. This Colt .45 as you see it showed upo originally at a Wyoming Arms show, Including the Holster. The holster is a carved  Floral Pattern, 2 loops and the .45 fits in it perfectly, as it has been with it forever !!!! This package makes a strong appearance, with the distribution of the original nickel finish. the balance is a dark plum/gray patina. Never having been cleaned or polished. ALL factory applied markings are present and very legible: two line barrel address, 3 line frame patent, and caliber on left shoulder of  trigger guard. IMPORTANT: The working action is 100% perfect.  Hammer notches, hammer cocks, cylinder rotates, indexes to each chamber, and locks tight/ every time called upon. the Eagle Hard Rubber grips show acceptable hand wear, and have clear and distinct Eagles, and checkering, wit NO damage. ALL serial numbers 12477X are matching and in correct locations. even the hammer knurling is crisp and well defined. Amazing, the trigger has 100% original nickel ! Screws are all original with clean slots. The holster shows some carry wear, but NO broken leather or stitching. Just a wonderful old Colt and holster. The right image for any collection of the Old west.

Colt Single Action Army, .45 Shipped to Dunley & Geisler Houston, Texas on October 2, 1891. Today Houston is a Busy Metropolitan City, with all the amenities of a modern city. It’s location was very important in the 19th Century. Close to the Gulf, and Maritime Business, yet a starting Hub for the Cattle Business. Many of the largest Ranches were located close to Houston. It served most of South Texas, down to the open prairies, and later the Railroad. This .45 Single Action Army found it’s way into the surrounding area of working Ranches. It could have remained in Houston, as in 1891, it was still a rough & tumble Texas town ! However, in looking at the Colt, it shows the wear of being carried in the Brush Country . The original Factory Nickel Plated finish shows the use. Currently it has about 10-12% original nickel, found mostly on less wear areas. the underside and top  of the ejector housing, patches on the frame and recoil shield. The balance is a natural antique patina, NEVER having been cleaned or polished. the patina is a soft dark gray with undertones  of plum color . A totally untouched and original Colt with 135 years of honest use. Regarding use, the Working Mechanical actions are 100% correct. Each and every time the hammer is pulled to the rear. All notches present, the cylinder rotates, indexes, and locks tight. The trigger releases to fire smoothly. It comes with it’s original Eagle Pattern Hard Rubber grips. Showing wear, bot no broken corners etc….. This colt tells the story of Texas. If you were shipped to Texas, you were going to be used, and used close to every day, in all kinds of weather. FEW ! Texas shipped Colt are super high condition, however, they have stories to tell, about the real west. They show the story just looking at them !

This 3rd model Dragoon is really in very fine condition for a 169 year old Colt ! Serial No. 1732X was manufactured in 1856. It is quite remarkable that ALL the ORIGINAL parts are present, even the Matching Wedge by Serial Number. Along with Matching Rammer. ALL parts are serial numbered to the revolver, including Cylinder which STILL has some cylinder scene as shown in the Images with this listing. The Overall finish is a soft medium gray original untouched natural patina. However, there are visible traces of blue on the bartrel lug and cylinder. Traces of case color , faded are on the Rammer and Frame. ALL Factory Applied markings are present and easily seen. Barrel Address, Frame Patent and the US below. ALL Serial Numbers Present and MATCHING. there is quite a bit of original finish on the Frame screw heads, and extended screw to accommodate the Stock.. The original brass has the dull, smooth “Mustard Patina” NEVER been polished !!! The Walnut stocks are in very fine condition with a soft hand patina, ONLY one ding on left Grip. Amazing condition for a 169 year old issued Dragoon. Most Important: the Working Actions, are ALL 100% correct.  This is a very fine Dragoon suitable for any Cplt or US Collection

This is an exceptional Single Action / First it is a Colt Frontier Six Shooter , meaning chambered for the 44/40 Winchester Caliber. Additionally, it HAS A FACTORY Letter showing shipped in August of 1879 to H&D Folsom NY. Interesting Detail, this caliber was not added to standard production Single Actions until 1878. So very early. Also the factory letter states Nickel Finish !!! Once again, very early for Colt shipping Nickel finish Single Action revolvers.

Serial No. 5197X has about 25% of the original nickel present, and the Original one piece Walnut grips. Most important: ALL parts are the original factory parts, makin the Colt 100% original. After 146 years, the Working Actions are 100% Perfect !!!! ALL Factory applied markings are present, barrel address, frame patents, ALL matching serial numbers in correct locations. PLUS, the tiny 44 on bottom of barrel just ahead of ejector housing. By the way, the ejector housing has about 85% of the original nickel ! see photo. The remaining nickel is on the cylinder in select areas and the frame and barrel.  NOTE: ALL original black powder colt Single Actions, still at 100% mechanical FROM THE 1870″s  are nearly impossible to find !!

The year 1884 was still a very wild and wooly year on our Frontier, with just 2 years earlier Billy the Kid, and Tombstone were all playing on the stage! of history. Serial No. 10863X has about 25-30% factory nickel plating, the balance is a light to medium gray patina. The finish is all original never having been disturbed. ALL factory applied markings are clear and present: two line barrel address, caliber on TG, frame patents, and Serial Numbers. Regarding Serial Numbers there is a variance. ALL numbers are matching, except the back strap. Then again, the back strap is the same finish (Nickel) and displays identical wear, MATCHING identical wear ! Two numbers are different, BS is 108XX8 only 31 numbers different. There exists only 2 possibilities: the owner had two Colt, upon re-assembly mixed them up: it was a factory oops! in numbering. All other possibilities would be astronomical odds of happening. Observe the wear at frame and back strap juncture to the right , clearly show uniformity.

MECHANICS: the working action functions correctly, cocking, locking, releasing to fire, cylinder rotation and alignment etc… It does show a common use factor. The internal trigger tip is worn and therefore slightly shorter. So, it aligns with the hammer notches causing the trigger to be more forward of it’s normal position in the guard. However, the revolver still functions on all features. This 1884 Colt has the “classic” Eagle Hard Rubber grips. They show hand wear, but have no damage.

There is no question this Ainsworth has been on the raw frontier and shows it’s 149 years of age ! Serial No. 1250X was shipped to the Cavalry, maybe San Antonio Depot, on July 29, 1874. Since then, we can only guess the service it has endured. At that time about 322 were shipped, for issue to select cavalry units. 50 to a crate. I found it fascinating that of the approximate 12,000 Ainsworth revolvers produced, ONLY about 1,600 + or- are accounted for in collections! That means in any condition, not just all original. This Ainsworth , excluding the barrel length, is ALL original. It has ALL the parts it left Hartford with, no replacements. The barrel, in the day ( late 1800’s) was re-sighted and shortened to Six Inches, and shows appropriate matching wear. ALL Serial Numbers are matching, TG, BS, Frame, cylinder, and barrel, even faded in the one piece Walnut grip channel. Many features to the EARLY SAA’s are present: Italic Barrel Address, 1st style ejector housing, long knurled face hammer , the 1872 two line frame patent ,bulls eye ejector head and Inspector marks. Regarding Ainsworth Inspector markings: There are only two visible ones present, one on the trigger guard below serial number and one on the back strap behind trigger notch. This Ainsworth saw HARD use on the Frontier. Even the U.S. ( note: the early smaller size US ) is worn where the S is barely visible, while the U is definitively there. This Colt saw , as I said, unusual hard wear, even the Italic barrel address is hard worn, BUT visible.