Colts 3

HERE WE OFFER A BLACK POWDER COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER IN 38/40 CALIBER. THIS IS A STRAIGHT FORWARD ANTIQUE SINGLE ACTION. IT MATCHES THE LETTER, 4-3/4 INCH BARREL, BLUE FINISH, HARD RUBBER GRIPS. THE ORIGINAL BLUE FINSH IS PRESENT AT ABOUT 20% LEVEL. IT HAS BLENDED WITH A SOFT AND ALL ORIGINAL PLUM /GRAY PATINA. ALL FCATORY APPLIED MARKINGS ARE PRESENT. BARREL ADDRESS, FRAME PATENTS, CALIBER MARKING AND ALL MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERS  160227 IN CORRECT LOCATIONS  . THERE ARE GOST TRACES OF CASE COLORS AND ALL HAMMER CHECKERING IS SHARP. ALL PARTS ARE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY 1895 PARTS. THE HARD RUBBER GRIPS SHOW NORMAL HAND WEAR FOR 130 YEARS. CHECKERING STILL PRESNT AND THE COLT LOGO AT TOP OF GRIPS ARE WELL DEFINED MOST IMPORTANT. AFTER 130 YEARS ALL THE WORKING ACTIONS ARE IN 100% WORKING ORDER, NO MECHANICAL ISSUES HERE. COLLECTORS TEND TO PLACE THE 38/40 WAY BEHIND THE 45 OR 44, BUT IN ACTUALITY NOT SO MUCH. EXAMAPLE, AN INDIAN TY. OUTLAW BILLY RADLER CARRIED A 38/40 AND WAS KNOWN AS A “SHOOTIST” THE FACT THIS COLT SHIPPED TO CHICAGO, IS SOME WHAT A FACTOR, BUT THE COLTS USED BY THE DALTONS FOR THE ILL FATED COFFEEVILLE JOB WERE BOUGHT AR HIBBARD SPENCER AND BARTLETT, WHILE ON AS WE SAY TODAY VACATION, THEY WERE MAKING THEMSELVES SCARCE. ONE LAST FACTOID: THE LAST HORSE MOUNTED BANK ROBBER FROM INDAIN TY. HENRY STARR WAS KILLED LATER IN LIFE IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, STILL PRACTICING HIS ‘TRADE” SHOT WITH A 38/40 IN THE BANK , LATER PASSING ON. THE SAA 38/40 WAS DESCRIBED AS FLAT SHOOTING , HARD HITTING AND ALLOWED MULTIPLE SHOTS WITHOUT HAVING TO RE-SET YOUR AIM.

Here we have an Early production NUMBER 2 Deringer from COLT. It remains in very high condition, the grips are exceptional ! varnish, no damage and Crisp Checkering. All the engraving remains strong and quite !! visible as well as sight groove on hammer and checkering. VERY IMPORTANT, the original checkered release to open button is ALL original, and there !! seldom seen on this model!  The checkered Walnut grips are exceptional, all the original varnish, crisp checkering NO ! wear. The frame engraving is crisp as is barrel address and the No.2 Marking Serial No. 452X is EARLY production @ 1870-1871, and is all Factory original. RARE FEATURE: Mr. Robert Schwartz a well known Colt Researcher, in the field of Steel and the quality and periods of usage with Colt. In addition the unique history of Strikers ( hammer & firing pin. This No.2 has a long Conical firing pin, normally associated with Center Fire cartridges. The frame also has the round hole for the pin. This shows the thought of Colt to transition to Central Fire Ctg’s after buying the Moore Pattern Deringers, No. 1 & 2. Quoting Mr. Schwartz, “it’s a pretty rare gun, if anyone cares”

The balance of The finish is an untouched original light gray patina smooth metal, making a very pleasant appearance

Colt was moving ahead with new designs to keep up with newer client demands. First they introduced the Model of 1877 in 3 caliber, .38, .41 and .32 . It had a very delicate Double Action system and was by physical size a smaller revolver. There was a demand for a LARGE frame Double Action, chambered in the larger frontier calibers, .45 and .44, later on 38/40 and 32/20. In 1878 Colt Introduced the Model of 1878, in close appearance to the fabled Single Action in size and weight. However Double Action with a Crescent Style grip. It had a stronger trigger pull and “heft” This EXAMPLE Serial No. 496X represents the EARLY production, not quite yet finalized ! It had a larger grip frame size than the standard production after serial no. 5,000. Initially it came with Checkered Walnut grips, but then Colt was in a transition of grip material. In 1881 – 1882 Colt began to replace the One Piece Walnut grips with Checkered Hard Rubber. So ! why not with the 1878 model also ! However this period fell into a small window, because after Serial 5,000, Colt decided the grip was too large and downsized to a smaller grip, which ran thru end of production.  How does this effect this 1878, well it came at the precise time of transition checkered Walnut to Hard Rubber, then quickly became out of production by 1882. So, what this means there are probably around or less than 200 Hard Rubber Fat Grip revolvers EVER !! That make this 1878 very rare and scarce. Colt Factory Letter: say’s shipped March 1, 1881 to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY.  Nickel finish, .45 Rubber, 7-1/2 inch,  exactly !! as you see it today. MECHANICS: This 1878 has absolutely 100% correct working actions. Single Action mode, Double Action mode, cylinder rotation and index and lock up are perfect. Releasing to fire. NO. NO mechanical problems. The overall finish has about 15-20% original nickel, the main surfaces are a pleasing gray patina. ALL factory applied markings are clear and present. By the way, the Hard rubber grips are in PERFECT condition, NO damage. Even the Lanyard Ring is present ! Do not be fooled, these revolvers were popular and there are MANY existent photo’s of Frontier Westerners carrying and using  1878’s.  Very suitable for a Colt Collection , and a RARE Model of 1878.

COLT FACTORY LETTER…..HARTLEY & GRAHAM JANUARY 4, 1887 (MANUFACTURED IN 1886) IT APPEARS AS YOU SEE THE COLT. 4-3/4 INCH, BLUE. RUBBER GRIPS, .45 This Colt short barrel Single Action epitomizes the preference of the 1880’s. Easier to handle and convenient. This Colt has perfect mechanical working actions. ALL hammer notch stops are present and hold tight, the cylinder rotates and aligns with the chambers each and every time, locking tight. It releases to fire, as I said NO mechanical issues. The overall finish is a smooth soft medium to dark gray patina, natural and untouched. There are traces of original blue in protected areas and case color hardening very visible on the hammer. ALL factory applied markings are present: frame patents, barrel address, ALL matching serial numbers 11775X, are present and in the correct locations. ALL parts are the original 1886 factory parts with clean screw heads. The hard rubber Eagle Pattern grips show normal hand wear, and the Eagle and checkering are very strong with a soft patina on the grips. This Colt came out of the West Texas area west of Fredericksburg. Undoubtedly carried and used in Texas.

The Colt Bisley Model, named after the Bisley Target Range in England was introduced in a very small quantity in 1895. Most of them were shipped to England and were Flat Top Models, with a few in the standard frame configuration. Production was slow, and very few. It is very sound to state when searching for or Collecting Colts, BLACK POWDER ANTIQUE Bisleys are simply not to be found ! Why ? the large bulk of production, probably 95%++ are all made after December 31, 1898, therefore considered modern. This Bisley .45, with a 4-3/4 inch barrel , Serial No. 18091X was manufactured prior to December 31st, 1898. It has about 45-40% original Factory Blue finish, balance . The case colored frame has abloutv40% case color showing, slightly faded and some silvering.being a blending patina. ALL fcatory applied markings are present and clear: barrel address, frame patents, serial numbers (all matching). the screw heads are crisp, and still have their blue finish. ALL parts are factory original, and the WORKING actions are 100% correct in every mode !The checkered hard rubber grips are in excellent condition, and show hardly no hand wear.