Posted on 11/27/2016 9:52:44 AM PST by Swordmaker
Description: Rare and Unique Documented Colt U.S. Contract Artillery Model Single Action Revolver with Un-Numbered Replacement Frame Colt Artillery Model Single Action Army revolver with un-numbered replacement frame, barrel, cylinder and trigger guard.
The Ordnance Department purchased 171 unnumbered replacement frames from Colt between 1874 and 1891. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/two-line patent marking initially used by Colt in 1890 at approximately serial number 134,000.
"A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Graham, Kopec and Moore states that the Army purchased six replacement frames from Colt on May 4, 1891. These were the last replacement frames purchased from Colt.
The inside of the loading gate is stamped with a "K" instead of a assembly number which indicates it is a replacement part circa 1890-1891. The frame is not stamped with the "U.S." property mark. The barrel is roll-stamped "45 COLT" on the left side which indicates it is a commercial replacement installed during the Colt overhaul of Single Action Army revolvers circa 1903.
The underside of the barrel is stamped with the small "R.A.C." sub-inspection mark utilized during the 1903 Colt overhaul. The cylinder is also a replacement that dates from the same overhaul and is stamped "R.A.C." sub-inspection mark of the rear face. The bottom of the back strap has the conventional serial number marking: "133/764/K".
The lower left side of the walnut grip is stamped with a faint and illegible Ordnance final inspection mark. Un-serial numbered Single Action Artillery revolvers are discussed by Kopec and Fenn on page 100 of "Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers". Kopec and Fenn identified a total of Twelve artillery single action revolvers with un-marked frames and note that several of these revolvers have "45 COLT" marked barrels and "R.A.C." marked replacement cylinders.
Only two of the revolvers with un-serial numbered frames were stamped with "U.S." property marks. Kopec and Fenn state that the 'no-number" Artillery revolvers represent a final effort by Colt and the Ordnance Department to use the last remaining Single Action parts at the conclusion of the 1903 Colt overhaul.
The revolver retains traces of the factory blue finish used in the Colt 1903 overhaul on those portions of the barrel protected by ejector housing. More than 25% of the faded case colors remain on the frame and hammer. The balance of the revolver has a silver-gray patina. There is shallow pitting on the left recoil shield and top strap, bottom of the trigger guard and cylinder. The cylinder shows the greatest concentration of pitting. The Colt and Ordnance sub-inspection markings on the barrel and frame are sharp. The walnut grip is in good overall condition with the exception of the butt which has numerous dents from use as a hammer. The action is tight and functions well.
This is a rare and documented variation of the Colt Artillery Single Action revolver that rarely is ever offered at auction!
I had to do quite a bit of research which took several months of digging and letters to the Colt Historian, reading scholarly books on the history of the Colt Single Action, and the Springfield Armory, etc, before I finally discovered the story behind this un-serial numbered Colt SAA.
What I learned was that in 1891 Colt shipped six (6) un-serial numbered replacement part frames to the Springfield Armory of the US Army. The Armory records showed that FOUR of the un-serialized frames were used with mixed serial numbered parts to make up guns destroyed in service and were marked by the armorer and duly recorded in inventory.
However, after much discussion, the remaining two un-serial numbered frames were made up into a matched pair of revolvers with brand new replacement parts, all with no serial numbers. A special military holster rig was made with both a left and right holster for these guns. This matched set-up of unserialized guns was then presented to the commander of the Springfield Armory.
The story the Grocer told me about he came into possession of the single gun and holster rig was that a elderly rancher friend of his in the Winnemucca area had BOTH un-serial numbered guns in the holster rig hanging in his barn on a nail on a post. He'd admired them and the childless rancher had told him that he could have them when he died. When he did die, his widow called the grocer and told him her husband had told her about the promised bequest and he could come and get them. . . so he stopped by to get them out of the barn. When he went out to the barn, the holster rig was there, but only one gun was still in it. The other gun never turned up.
The gun being sold in this auction is one of the four un-serial numbered frames made up of mismatched parts, not the other missing gun. . . but it is the first one of the six I've seen to ever come to light! The barrel on this gun was apparently replaced in 1903 with a 5 ½" barrel.
Somewhere out there, likely in central or eastern Nevada, the other completely un-serial numbered military marked Colt SAA 7 ½" barrel .45 Long Colt revolver, the one stolen from the rancher's double holster rig before the Grocer was able to claim his inheritance.
Here is the link for the auction of the unserial numbered Military Colt SAA.
The rest of the three days of gun auctions (Great Gun Porn) which include such guns as engraved Henry Rifles, engraved 1866 Winchesters, cased percussion Colts, and many other fine collectors' pieces are here:
Rock Island Premiere Firearms Auction Day 1 (995 Lots)
by Rock Island Auction Company
Rock Island Premiere Firearms Auction Day 2 (847 Lots)
by Rock Island Auction Company
Rock Island Premiere Firearms Auction Day 3 (880 Lots)
by Rock Island Auction Company
ENJOY!
What’s your guess on the going price for the SAA in the article?
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I’m not interested if it doesn’t have matching serial numbers. /s
There were around 15 to 20 very desirable collectors' guns in the "collection," but, the bulk of the over 200 guns was made up of guns customers of his grocery store had given him over 45 years in business in payment for bills they couldn't pay, and represented everything from old rusty junkers found in the desert to some nice modern stuff. As he was retiring and moving to Florida, he wanted them all gone. He also wanted to proceeds in cash.
To facilitate these requirements, I required the buyer who wanted the "good" collectors' guns had to buy the entire "collection." I sent out a detailed list and description of each firearm in the collection to shops and dealers around the country and opened it to bids. Best bid by a specific date got the whole kit and kaboodle. The winning buyer offered $140,000.
Have you ever seen $140,000 in cash? In twenties through hundreds? My wife and I drove it across Nevada to deliver it.
That creep would offer $400 and throw in a big song and dance about how he has to pay employees, it won’t sell for years, and a long list of other lies.
Regarding the “Shall not be infringed.” part of that, I would imagine owning a firearm without a serial number has most likely been made illegal or requires massive amounts of governmental oversight and fees to possess.
Your opinion,not mine
It has problems. It is not in the condition it was when the armory finished the build. The barrel was replaced in 1903. . . also apparently by the Army as it has military inspector's marks from that era. . . as it is now a 5½" barrel, but 1891 standard barrel would have been 7½". That change detracts from the value somewhat. The wear and tear also has a big effect. The condition is not that good.
The auction estimate is $6000 to $8000.
Let me call a buddy who knows everything about everything... hang out for a while; buy something.
No, they aren't "lies." You obviously have not been in business paying overhead and expenses, have you?
From what I have seen, and from having been a gun buyer, especially antique firearms, and as an appraiser, he offers fair pricing on what he buys.
Frankly, it is fairly normal for an antique gun dealer, or any used firearm dealer, to offer just 50% of the expected retail price he will get when a firearm eventually sells. This is a pretty much industry standard offer level.
Anyone who offers more will unlikely stay in business long. They won't be able to keep the doors open.
When I was running a gun shop, the markup on new guns purchased from a wholesaler was only 18%. You had to make your money on the used gun, ammunition, and accessory sales.
I always thought that using a Colt Revolver was mythology in western movies. Interesting to read that the butt has numerous dents from using it as a hammer.
The article reminds me of story told long ago about a teen friend’s beater car. Everything was worn out and had to be replaced. His Dad advised, “Son, you’d best overhaul that car by jacking up the radiator cap and driving a new one underneath.”
Old Colts go for Crazy money.
Specific pieces that are “traceable”
like this one,,,
10 to 12 grand,
My estimate.
If you make it for personal use, you dont need a s/n.
Firearms made before 1968 did not have to have serial numbers and are very legal to own.
There are millions of them out there and noted in another reply home made ones to not have to be serialized.
I bet this one goes for a lot more then the numbers you mentioned.
To true,,
Probably twice My
“current Bid”
In all my years of collecting, buying, selling and just wanting...the SAA is the only gun that I've ever bought for pure speculative investment.
I've paid more than I should have, but then, the person that I sold to paid more than they should have.
The SAA is the exception to the rule, when it comes to buying and selling based on the Blue Book.
I have seen 40-60% guns go for 90% prices, simply based on a dubious "provenance", as in personally carried by Duck-Bill Hickok or Custer or some other silly shit that no one can realistically prove.
I think you'll find that Winchester lever actions also can engender that exception also. I once went to a general antique where they had ONE gun included. It was a Winchester 1873 rifle. It had only one thing unusual about it in that it had a single-set trigger. At the time a realistic market price for that rifle was approximately $275 as other versions with normal triggers were selling for $225 or so.
When that Rifle came up the auctioneer said "We have a rifle, it says 'Winchester' on it."
Suddenly, there was a rustle of whispers going around the audience of bidders. . . "Winchester?" . . . "Winchester!" "Winchester!" "Did he say 'Winchester'?" "What did he say?" "What was that, was it 'Winchester'?"
Everyone there had had just as much of an opportunity to look at that gun as everyone else and could have even handled it.
Every lot up to that point had an opening bid of $5. . . but the auctioneer asked for an opening bid of $500. . . and there were paddles up all over the audience! When the final sales gavel came down, the final bid price, not counting 10% buyer's premium and sales tax was $2250, more than 8 times the real value of the rifle!
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