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Historic Documented 1908 Olympic Games United States Cartridge Company Presentation Cased Set of Smi

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:12,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Historic Documented 1908 Olympic Games United States Cartridge Company Presentation Cased Set of Smi
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Historic Documented 1908 Olympic Games United States Cartridge Company Presentation Cased Set of Smith & Wesson/Colt Target Revolvers Presented to Major Charles B. Winder -A) Colt Officers Model Double Action Target Revolver with Monogram


Historic Documented 1908 Olympic Games United States Cartridge Company Presentation Cased Set of Smith & Wesson/Colt Target Revolvers Presented to Major Charles B. Winder -A) Colt Officers Model Double Action Target Revolver with Monogram
This set of Colt Officers Model and Smith & Wesson Triple Lock target revolvers were presented to Colonel Charles B. Winder, a member of the gold medal winning 1908 Summer Olympic Games U.S. Rifle Team and the man whose name the Winchester Winder musket carries. The U.S. Cartridge Company presented the revolvers to Colonel Winder (at the time he held the rank of Major) for his accomplishments during the 1908 Olympic Games. Colonel Winder began his military career during the Spanish-American War when he enlisted in the 3rd Ohio Infantry in 1897. In 1904 Winder was commissioned a Captain and made Inspector of Small Arms Practice of the Ohio National Guard. He was asked to persuade Winchester to manufacture a .22 caliber single shot musket for the purpose of gallery practice. The result was the Winchester Model 1885 Winder Musket. The low cost and high accuracy of the musket did much to popularize small bore target shooting in the United States. While attached to Army Ordnance in World War I, the Colonel received a patent for a tube sight for the Springfield Model 1903 rifle. It was one of several patents on arms, sights, targets and ammunition the Colonel obtained throughout his military career. He was a prominent marksmen and won the 1903 Leech Cup Match and gold medal in the 1905 National Trophy Individual Pistol Match and participated in the winning 1903 and 1907 U.S. Palma Trophy Teams. As a member of the 1908 Olympic Games U.S. Rifle Team, Winder won a gold medal in the team military rifle event and was 16th in 1,000 yard free rifle event. The U.S. Cartridge Company was a sponsor of the team and presented these two target revolvers to Colonel Winder in 1910. One set went to each of the twelve members. The 1908 Games were held in London for a total of 187 days (6 months and 4 days), the longest in modern Olympic Games history. Research pertaining to Colonel Winder is included in the lot. The early Colt Officers Model target revolver is a true mark of superior marksman. These revolvers were hand built to exacting accuracy requirements and were the best target pistol at this time. The revolvers had a flat top target type frame, adjustable front and rear sights, checkered trigger and back strap and a super smooth hand honed double and single action trigger pull. The top of the barrel is marked with the two line address:1884, 1900 and 1905 patent dates and the left side is marked "OFFICERS MODEL COLT .38." The left side plate has a rampant Colt with a stylized "C" as well as a factory engraved "CBW" monogram. The revolver is fitted with two piece fleur-de-lis checkered walnut grips featuring a diamond pattern around the screw. The Colt factory letter confirms the caliber, barrel length, finish and factory engraved "CBW" on the side plate. All blue finish with niter blue trigger and hammer with polished sides. The revolver was shipped to the U.S. Cartridge Co. of Boston, Massachusetts, on February 12, 1910 as part of a 12 gun shipment. The case that holds the Colt Officer Model target revolver and the Smith & Wesson Triplelock target model revolver has a brass presentation plaque inscribed, "LEST WE FORGET/Presented to/MAJ. CHARLES B. WINDER/United States Rifle Team/OLYMPIC GAMES 1908/by the/United States Cartridge Co." The oak case is bound in leather with the French fitted interior lined in chamois. The case also contains a glass bottle of P.J. O'Hare sight black, a tin oiler and an ivory handle screwdriver.

Manufacture: Colt
Model: Officers Model
BBL: 7 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 38 special
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 313186

Excellent. The revolver retains 90% bright original high polish blue finish with a smooth gray patina on the balance. Some mild pitting is present. 97% original niter blue remains on the hammer and trigger. The grips are very fine with some minor handling marks on the bottoms and a few blemishes in the overall crisp checkering. Mechanically fine. The case is good showing moderate wear on the leather and high spot wear on the chamois.

B) Scarce Smith & Wesson First Model 44 Hand Ejector Triple Lock Double Action Target Revolver with Monogram
Manufactured from 1907 to 1915 within the serial number range 1 to 15,375. This revolver is the scarce target version of the .44 Hand Ejector with the very desirable triple lock mechanism. Most S&W experts are of the opinion that the triple lock mechanism was more an expression of the ultimate in precision machine work than as a necessity for strength and function. Smith & Wesson's normal two locks provided more locking strength than their competitor Colt. The target revolver is equipped with the pinned blade front sight and adjustable notch rear sight with two screws. It has a 7 1/2 inch barrel, smooth grip straps, checkered hammer, checkered cylinder latch and smooth trigger. The barrel is marked with the two line S&W address/patent date marking on the top flanked by Maltese crosses and "44 S&W SPECIAL CTG" is marked on the left side. The S&W trademark is stamped on the right side plate of the 5-screw frame. The engraved "MCBW" monogram for Major Charles B. Winder (see description "A") is featured on the left side of the frame. The barrel and the cylinder are numbered to the gun and the frame and crane have matching assembly number "6335." Casehardened hammer and trigger and fitted with checkered diamond pattern walnut grips with a square butt and featuring blank stock circles. The right grip panel is numbered to the gun.

Manufacture: Smith & Wesson
Model: 44 Hand Ejector
BBL: 7 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 44 S&W special
Finish: blue
Grips: walnut
Serial Number: 4094

Excellent. The revolver retains 95% original blue finish showing some minor holster wear and a smooth gray patina mixed with original finish on the back strap. Some scattered areas of mild pitting are present and the right side plate has a numerous minor scratches. The hammer and trigger retain 70% original case colors. The grips are excellent with some very scattered minor handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically fine.