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Documented San Francisco Individual Shipped Colt Sheriff's Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Fa

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,600.00 USD Estimated At:3,250.00 - 4,500.00 USD
Documented San Francisco Individual Shipped Colt Sheriff's Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Fa
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This is a very fine example of a Colt Model 1878 Double Action Sheriff Model revolver that was manufactured in 1889. The revolver is complete with a Colt factory letter that describes the revolver and states that it was shipped to the Colt's San Francisco Agency C/O Sol Hilp (research should be done on this individual) on September 17, 1889. The letter describes revolver serial number "22952" as caliber ".45/c" with four inch barrel, blue finish and rubber stocks. The revolver is a "Sheriff's Model" and lacks the ejector rod found on revolvers with 4 3/4-inch or longer barrel lengths. Sheriff's Model 1878 revolvers are scarce, and individual shipments are even rarer; Colt manufactured only 537 caliber .44-40 Model 1878 revolvers with four-inch barrels and 451 caliber .45 revolvers with four-inch barrels. Although the factory letter indicates that the revolver was originally chambered in .45 Colt; it is fitted with a .44-40 barrel roll-stamped: "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" on the left side. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with: "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co./HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in two lines. The caliber designation "44" is stamped on the underside of the barrel just in front of the frame. The revolver has a standard frame that lacks the flutes found on some Sheriff's Models. "44 CAL" is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard bow. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "235". The rear face of the cylinder is stamped with a Colt "G" inspection mark. The serial number: "22/952" is stamped in two lines on the bottom of the bird's head butt. The revolver is fitted with black, hard rubber, bird's head grips. The grips are checkered and have the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval. The discrepancy between the caliber listed in the Colt letter and the actual caliber of the revolver is unclear. All the components appear to be original to the revolver and exhibit similar wear and wear patterns.
BBL: 4 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 44-40 WCF
Finish: blue
Grips: hard rubber
Serial Number: 22952
Condition: Very fine. The revolver retains 80% plus of the original high polish blue finish with light handling wear. Most of the blue finish is present of the barrel and frame; most of the finish wear is confined to contact points and the back strap. The cylinder has a blue-gray patina and retains most of the blue finish in the flutes. The hammer has most of the niter blue finish on the top strap; the sides retain most of the bright polish. The sides and back of the trigger have most of the niter blue finish intact; the face of the trigger has a dark patina. The hard rubber grips have faded from black to dark brown but remain in excellent condition with minimal handling wear. The markings are sharp. The bore is bright. The action is tight and functions well. This is a very fine, desirable example of a scarce Colt Sheriff's Model 1878 D.A. revolver that research could prove to be even better.