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Desirable Documented Black Powder Colt Single Action "Buntline Special" Revolver with Octagon Barrel

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:17,000.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 65,000.00 USD
Desirable Documented Black Powder Colt Single Action  Buntline Special  Revolver with Octagon Barrel
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Desirable Documented Black Powder Colt Single Action "Buntline Special" Revolver with Octagon Barrel with Factory Letter

Colt Single Action Army revolver with carbine length octagon barrel ("Buntline Special") and detachable shoulder stock manufactured in 1876. This unique revolver has a non-factory installed replacement 16 inch octagon barrel with dovetail mounted nickel silver Rocky Mountain style front sight and standard ejector rod housing with bullseye ejector rod head. A unique non-factory replacement carbine style spring secured folding rear sight is mounted on the top strap. The top of the frame has a gas port immediately ahead of the rear sight cut-out. A special elongated hammer screw engages notches on the lugs of the detachable skeleton shoulder stock. The one-piece grip is straight grain black walnut. The top barrel flat is roll stamped "COLT'S PT.F.A. MFG. Co.HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. The left side of the barrel is hand scribed with the inscription "J.S. Jack Childress" and the right side of the barrel is hand scribed "J S Childress". The left side of the frame is roll stamped with the Colt two date, two line patent markings. The assembly number "22" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The serial number "28825" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "8825" is stamped on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. Two small notches are neatly cut in the butt at the front of the back strap at the junction with the trigger guard. The revolver is complete with a nickel plated skeleton shoulder stock with blue knurled tightening knob. This revolver falls within the accepted 28,800-28,830 serial number range for single action revolvers with carbine length barrels. This revolver is listed by serial number as one of the 23 known "Buntline Special" single action revolvers on page 25 of "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER" by Graham, Kopec and Moore. The revolver is accompanied by an undated letter by Colt expert R.L. Wilson that provides an exhaustive description and analysis of single action #28825. The Wilson letter states that this revolver is not only a Colt Single Action with factory carbine length barrel but also the only octagon barreled Single Action revolver ever made. In addition to the analysis of the octagon barrel, the Wilson letter discusses the unique folding carbine rear sight, the roll die barrel marking used only on carbine barrel single action revolvers and the distinctive shape of the frame. The Wilson letter concludes that this revolver, serial #28825, is the "rarest of all Colt Single Action revolvers". Also included with the revolver are two 1957 dated letters from Colt that state there is no factory record of serial #28825. The Wilson letter suggests that in some instances Colt hand delivered special order guns and in those situations factory ledger records were by-passed. Wilson's letter also indicates that when he first examined the revolver, the barrel had been shortened to 5 9/32 inches and the ejector housing removed "for quicker draw and faster shooting". The revolver now has a 16 inch barrel with ejector housing and ejector rod head. Included with the revolver is a 5 1/4 inch octagon barrel marked "COLT'S PT.F. A. MFG.Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A" on the top flat with illegible script markings on two of the flats and equipped with a blade front sight.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: Buntline Special
BBL: 16 inch octagon
Stock: nickel
Guage: 45 Colt
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 28825

Good as rebarreled. The revolver has traces of the original case colors in protected areas of the frame. The balance of the frame, cylinder, trigger guard, hammer and back strap have a mottled silver-brown patina. There is scattered light pitting on the frame, cylinder and hammer. The serial numbers and patent markings are clear. The barrel has an even brown patina with sharp edges and crisp legend. The "Childress" markings on the sides of the barrel are clear. The grip is good overall with moderate handling wear. The modern replacement skeleton stock is excellent; nearly all of the nickel plated finish remains intact and the tightening screw retains nearly all of the blue finish. The action is tight and functions well. Colt Single Action revolvers with carbine length barrels and leaf sights are the rarest and most desirable Single Action revolvers. As Colt expert R.L. Wilson stated in his evaluation letter, this revolver is perhaps "the rarest of all Colt Single Action revolvers". This is a rare opportunity to own a unique Colt Single Action "Buntline Special" with custom octagon barrel and special leaf sight. A Colt Buntline is the "Holy Grail" of single action collecting!