Colts 3

This Colt Single Action Army was once used by Wells, Fargo & Co. Guarding the Shipments, on Stage Coaches, Wagons, Trains and the Various Offices in the Old West Serial No. 3987X was manufactured in 1877, In 1877 it had the standard 7-1/2 inch barrel. All other features remain the same. Donut Ejector rod head, One Piece Walnut Grips. It has the Single Line Barrel address, and two line Frame Patent. All serial numbers are matching. ALL other parts are the factory original and present. Now it is important to discuss it’s working life with Wells Fargo. PRIOR to 1895, all Fir arms were purchased at Regional Office levels by W.F. & Co. Superintendents. Why, well, the Company Started in 1852, during the percussion era. It continued arming their representatives right into the cartridge era. All phases were armed, Stagecoach, Railways, Offices and delivery Wagons. You ask why ? Simply because Well Fargo stood behind every shipment, especially high $$$$$$ shipments. The client would not lose,  the company covered any losses. They were not going to surrender the ” goods” easily. That alone added to the legend of Wells Fargo. In 1877 or there about this Colt was purchased by W.F. & Co. They marked ALL their property, even office feather dusters. It was a deterrent to theft both outside and internally. Which they backed up with dogged determination to stop theft, and the Colt was part of that program. When the Superintendent acquired what he believed to be a satisfactory weapon of resistance, it was entered into the property log books in the office. THEN, ALL property was Stamped with the Company Name.  This Colt has W.F. & Co. on the butt. This kept track of whom it was issued to, as they were responsible for it’s care and property . This was known as property Room Marked. This is how it was done PRIOR to Direct Purchase which Began in 1895 with William Ashton NY. Looking at the letters, they are quite small, and of the Roman Serif Style, which was the type used in the 19th century. Even the periods are square. One other feature is the fact the butt of the revolver shows Express Co. use ! the wood has several+ dents from nail heads, gun used as tool. In fact a few chips in the edge of the grip have been worn smooth by the hand Also, the butt of the revolver is heavily worn. The WF& Co. marking is very faint, as is the Colt serial Number. Not only that even the screw head in the butt is worn. This Colt saw service from the 1870’s probably right up until early 1900’s through out the western theatre, on Wagons, Trains, Stage Coaches, Offices , Agents etc…. The barrel was reduced “in the day” to 5-1/2 inches, from the 7-1/2 inch factory length. Well done, level and crowned, probably done by a Gun Smith in one of the western towns.. Currently, the finish is Gray patina, all original, never been cleaned or buffed, all original. The one Piece Walnut Grips shown a hand patina from being handled. BUT the but shows tool usage, very typical to express co. guns. Many decades ago I was considered in the trade to be a Express Compony firearm’s expert, along with a few others, like Tom Martin, Greg Martin. WE built large collections of everything, signs, furniture, blankets, strong boxes, firearms,  so and so forth. A fun enterprise. WHY ? who do you think all the famous bandits of the old west robbed?? Wells Fargo, American Express, Adams Ex. Pacific Ex , the Wagons, Stage coaches and Train Cars had all the RICHES  being mover about the old west. This Single Action Colt from 1877 guarded the goods, probably fired in anger, most likely. A great piece of the “life” on the old Frontier. It is absolutely authentic.

HERE WE OFFER A TRUE WESTERN COLT SINGLE ACTION, IN THE WINCHESTER CALIBER OF 38/40. YET, THE FAMOUS LOOK, 4-3/4 INCH BARREL, EAGLE GRIPS, SINGLE ACTION LOOK ! IT SHIPPED TO MEACHUM OF ST.LOUIS, A DOMINANT SHIPPER TO THE FAR WEST AND FRONTIER. SHIPPED IN JULY OF 1891. THERE WERE 20 IN THE SHIPEMNT WHICH ATTEATS TO THEIR POPULARITY IN 38/40 . LETS DO AN ENDORSEMENT HERE, LITTLE BILLY RADLER TOOK THE OUTLAW TRAIL IN INDIAN TERRITORY HE RODE WITH THE COOK GANG AND DALTONS AT TIMES. WHEN QUESTIONED ONE TIME ABOUT HIS COLT, HE HAD THIS TO SAY. A 38/40 IS A FLAT SHOOTIN, LOW RECOIL ROUND TO USE, WHICH HITS HARD ! IN FACT HE STAES HE COULD SHOOT FAST! WITH OUT THE NECESSITY TO RE-AIM EACH TIME, IT STAYED ON TARGET

THEN OF COURSE YOU COULD CARRY A ’73 WINCHESTER IN THE SAME CALIBER, CARRY ONLY ONE CALIBER IN YOUR CARTRIDGE BELT OR SADDLE SACK. THIS COLT SERIAL No 14162X  SHIPPED IN JULY OF 1891 TO MEACHUM ARMS, ST. LOUIS THSEFACTORY BLUE FINISH IS NOW AN SMOOTH ATTRACTIVE PATINA FINISH ASFTER 135 YEARS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN CLEANED OR PLISHED. IT IS NOW A DARK PATINA EXBITING BLUE AND PLUM TONES. ALL FACTRORY APPLIED MARKINGS ARE PRESENT, TWO LINE BARREL ADDRESS, 38 WCFG ON LEFT SIDE OF BARREL, PLUS 2 LINE BARREL ADDRESS.  ALL SERIAL NUYMBER ARE MATCHING AND IN CORRECT LOCATIONS.EXCELLENT KNURLING REMINS ON HAMMER SPUR ALL PARTS ARE FACTORY ORIGINAL. THE FACTORY GRIPS ARE THE HARD RUBBER EAGLE/CHECKERED PATTERN, TOTALLY CPORRECT FOR 1891 NOTE: THIS COLT IS 100% MECHANICALLY CORRECT, ALL NOTCHES, CYLINDER ROTATIUON, LOCKING TIGHT AND INDEXING CORRECTLY. RELEASING TO FIRE CORRECTLY NO, NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS HERE !!!

THIS .44 COLT FIRST MODEL .44 DRAGOON IS VERY, VERY EARLY COLT HISTORY. FIRST CAME THE PATERSON REVOLVERS, THEN 1847 THE WALKER. THEN THIS REVOLVER, 1st MODEL DRAGOON IN .44 IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE DRAGOON SERIES, 1st, 2nd AND 3rd. IT HAS ALL THE EARLY FEATURES CIRCULAR BOLT STOPS ON THE CYLINDER, SQUARE BACK TRIGGER GUARD. i BELIEVE THIS DRAGOON SAW SERVICE DURING THE WAR WITH MEXICO WHY? THE FRAME SERIAL No. IS 1817, BACK STRAP IS 1817. HOWEVER, THE CYLINDER IS  2145, A CLOSE NUMBER DIFFERENCE TO 1817. THE BARREL IS No.2335. ALL OF THESE NUMBERS ARE EARLY 1st DRAGOONS, SHIPPED TO THE DRAGOONS IN THE FIELD/WAR WITH MEXICO. FIRST SHIPMENTS TO THE FIELD.  i THEORIZE, SINCE AS THE  DRAGOON IS TOTALLY MATCHING IN FINISH AND WEAR USE. THESE WERE BATTLE FIELD REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR BROKEN OR FAILED PARTS. PERHAPS EVEN ARSENAL REPAIR, AND THERE WAS NO BACKLOG OF PARTS, SO! PARTS FROM OTHER 1st DRAGOONS WERE USED, CREATING AS MANY SERVICEABLE DRAGOONS AS POSSIBLE. IN FACT THE INSPECTOR “G” APPEARS ON THE BRASS TRIGGER GUARD.CURRENTLY THERE IS ABOUT 15-20% BLUE REMAINING ON BARREL AND LOADING LEVER. CASE COLOR HARDENING IS FADED BUT THERE ARE MANY “PUDDLES” OF COLOR REMAINING ON FRAME.  AMAZING ! THRE IS A SUBSTANCIAL AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL CYLINDER SCENE. THE ACID ETCHED “COLTS PATENT” IS VERY CLEAR AS IS THE “USMR” ETCHED PANEL. ON THE BALANCE OF THE CYLINDER YOU CAN SEE THE MOUNTED DRAGOONS AND INDIAN LANCE ETC..MAYBE 30%. THE INDIAN FIGHT SCENE. PLUS THE Wm. ORMSBY ROLL LINE. MECHANICALLY IT FUNCTION 100% ON ALL WORKING ACTIONS, TIGHT AND EXACT IN THE ACTIONS. LOCKS TIGHT INDEXES, JUST A GREAT WORKING ACTION. THE ORIGINAL WALNUT GRIPS ARE DAMAGE FREE AND HAVE THAT SOFT PATINA ONLY YEARS OF HAND TOUHES CAN CREATE. THE BRASS HAS THE SOFT “MUSTARD” PATINA, ALL CORRECT. YES, THERE ARE A FEW BATTLE FIELD REPLACEMENTS, BUT, BUT ALL ORIIGNAL PARTS OF THE SAME PERIOD WITH A FEW NUMBERS OF EACH OTHER. THIS IS A FIRST DRAGOON!! AND WITH WHAT YOU HAVE THIS IS A FABULOUS DREAGOON. CYLINDER SCENE ON A FIRST, SELDOM SEEN UNLESS A DRAGOON THAT DID NOTHING, THIS IS A “I WAS THERE” DRAGOON IN 1848. WITH A MOUNTED DRAGOON  IN THE MILITARY. NO TIME MACHINE, BUT LIVING HISTORY IN YOUR HAND!

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

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.