2003

1ST MODEL COLT DERINGER WITH EXTREMELY RARE SOUTH AFRICAN LICENSE TO OWN & POSSESS A FIREARM WHICH I

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,350.00 USD Estimated At:2,700.00 - 4,500.00 USD
1ST MODEL COLT DERINGER WITH EXTREMELY RARE SOUTH AFRICAN LICENSE TO OWN & POSSESS A FIREARM WHICH I
SN 952. 41 cal. short rim fire. This 1st Model Deringer, was made in the first months of production. It is British proofed & was sold through the London Agency at 14 Pall Mall. Some how it made its way to the Union of South Africa. The "License to Possess a Firearm" accompanies this piece. It was issued in the Transvaal district which is where the major gold mines were located. It is dated 20 August 1903. A very rare document. The gun was finished in all nickel plate. PROVENANCE: Peter Holder Collection, L.D. Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: The gun which was finished in nickel plate overall retains 80% of that orig finish with flaking occurring around the muzzle. The top of the bbl flat edges have some dings & denting from improper storage. The piece has a knife-ejector blade. The hammer retains 50% of the case color on the sides & the trigger retains 50% of its orig blue. The license was made out to "Christiaan Joseph George Kirsten/20 Central Road, Fordsbury" in the District Transvall of South Africa. It is serial numbered to the gun & stamped as being issued "20th of August 1903" in Fordsbury. An interesting feature to this license is on the reverse side which states "This endorsement to be made by person issuing license if issued to a native or coloured person" but was never issued to such and is unsigned. To my knowledge, this is the only firearms license to this type of weapon known to exist in modern times. 4-47454 DE74