Colts 4

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF THE FRONTIER DAYS OF ARIZONA, TERRITORIAL DAYS, AND EARLY STATEHOOD, WHERE IT WAS KEPT IN COLLECTION AS A REMINDER OF THE WILD DAYS, OUTLAWS ARRESTED AND REVOLVERS TAKEN ! ATTESTING TO ALL OF THIS IS A LETTER WRITTEN BY A DIRECT FAMILY MEMBER OF O.C. WILLIAMS, SHERIFF OF HOLBROOK ARIZONA. PRECEEDING HIM WAS A FAMOUS INDIVIDUAL, COMMODORE PERRY OWENS. AS AHERIFF WHO WORE HIS HAIR LIKE THE “OLD DAYS” LONG LIKE BILL HICKOK, AND DRESSED THE PART. HE REMAINED IN OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME, RETIRING IN 1915. THEN O.C. WILLIAMS TOOK THE JOB AS SHERIFF. OVER 800 OTLAWS HAD BEEN ARRESTED, THEIR WEAPONS SEIZED, WINDING UP IN COLLECTION LOOKED AFTER BY WILLIAMS. THIS COLT 1878 IN A PITEADO MEXICAN HOLSTER IS ONE OF THE OUTLAWS FIREARMS IT IS A COLT MODEL 1878 DOUBLE ACTION .45 , WITH A 4-3/4 INCH BARREL. FACTORY BLUE FINISH STRONGLY WORN. THE COLT SHOWS CONTINUED USE, THE PITEADO HOLSTER SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH USE, WEAR AND TEAR THE OUT FIT SUSTAINED IN THE OLD WILDS OF ARIZONA NOW ONLY ABOUT  30% OF THE ORIGINAL BLUE REMAINS, WITH WEAR LINE ON THE EDGES FROM HOLSTER WEAR ALL FACTORY APPLIED MARKINGS ARE PRESENT: TWO LINE BARREL ADDRESS, CALIBER ON TRIGGER GUARD SHOULDER ALL PARTS ARE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY PARTS, MOSTLY A DARK BLUE WITH PLUM PATINA WHATS NOT IS AN UNTOUCHED GRAY PATINA THE COLT EXHIBITS HOLSTER WEAR, LIKE THE SIDE OF THE EJECTOR HOUSING. THE ORIGINAL HARD RUBBER GRIPS SHOW A UNIQUE FEATURE, THESE WERE GUTTA PERCHA  COLT MATERIAL GRIPS, THEREFORE THERE IS A BROWN TONE IN PLACES CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO STRONG SUN LIGHT.WHY NOT IT WAS IN ARIZONA!!! THE MECHANICAL ACTION OPERATES PERFECTLY ON THE DOUBLE ACTION M ODE, IT WILL NOT HOLD COCK FOR SINGLE ACTION. i DON’T BELIEVE THE OWNER CARED AS HE WANTED A DOUBLE ACTION COLT AND IT DID THAT WELL ! THE HOLSTER, A PITEADO DECORATED WITH CACTUS THREAD ETC.. LINED WITH SOFTER LEATHER, CHAMOIS LIKE, IS WORN, AND SHOWS IT’S LIFE IN THE WILD BUT ! DID IT’S JOB. THIS 1878 DA, LEFT THE COLT FCATORY IN 1888, SERIAL No.2111x. THIS RIG WAS TAKEN FROM AN OLD FRONTIER ARIZONA OUTLAW. THE REALITY OF IT ALL, TO A COLLECTOR THIS WAS A REAL OLD WEST VETERAN, NOT A NEVER USED BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN. IT SHOWS JUST HOW TOUGH THE OLD WEST REALLY WAS, AND A SHERIFF TOUGH ENOUGH TO TAKE IT AWAY !!!! INTERESTING TO KNOW THE ORIGINAL NAME OF HOLBROOK WAS HORSESHOE BEND. RE NAMED HOLBROOK AFTER A RAILROAD ENGINEER  FINISHED THE RAIL LINE.

This Colt Revolver is one of the LOWEST production models from Colt, LESS than 4,000 were manufactured. It is also one of the MOST unique offerings from Colt, due to it’s grips ! The checkered Hard Rubber Grips were embossed, with NOT an Eagle, but a Cop and Thug ( Robber) in a confrontation. The Thug has a knife and the Cop is attempting an arrest. This Model came in two barrel lengths, 4-1/2 inch and 6 inch. Both had the cartridge ejection housing  on the barrel, with ejector rod. This Colt is Double Unique, first being a very scarce Colt with exceptionally low production and used by, and marked for United States Express. USX with the Serial Number on the left side of barrel.  USX was founded in 1854, for the express purpose of delivering packages and packages of value. Starting out using Stage lines, then later Railway cars, one consistent feature, the Agents were all Armed, with instructions to protect all good being shipped by USX On this “Cop N’ Thug” it was originally a factory Nickel Plate finish. Now, only about 10% remains, the balance is a soft gray patina, original never having been cleaned. IMPORTANT: all mechanical functions/ working action, operate 100% correctly. Cylinder rotates with hammer cocking, aligns, and indexes correctly, and releases to fire. ALL factory markings are present and clear: caliber, barrel address and serial number 1632X. the company marking of USX followed by the serial number of the Colt is present on left side of barrel. Obviously this Cop N’ Thug was carried and used,  guarding the “goods” from would be robbers.

The major significance of this Model was, it was the FIRST Pocket Model revolver to be made at the Hartford Factory ! Manufactured in a very small quantity of about 15,000 from 1847 to 1850. The name came from the similarity to the full size .44 Dragoon revolver. This Baby Dragoon, Serial No. 1124X would have been manufactured in 1848 and has the scarcer Five Inch barrel. ALL serial numbers are matching, all parts, and the frame patent is clear and distinct as is the barrel address. IT still has a perfect working action ! The overall surface is a soft gray patina, and the cylinder scene, “Stagecoach Holdup” is still present, just very light, but visible. Remarkably, the silver plating of the trigger guard and back strap is in abundance ! about 70% present.