Colt Model 1878 Double Action “Frontier” Revolver with Belt, Holster & Bowie Knife

Description

This firearm has not been worked on, or restored by Turnbull Restoration & Manufacturing Co.

Included with revolver, holster, cartridge belt and sheath knife, is written description of lot by Doug Carlson of Antique American Firearms, Xerox copies of E.A. Patterson’s obituary, and articles about his death,ads from man at arms, and The Rampant Colt magazine showing lot as it was offered by Mr. Carlson in 2002.

A Standard Model 1878 made with the side rod ejector, Flayderman #5B-187, one of 51,210 of these very popular early large caliber double actions made by Colt from 18781 to 1905, this one in the very desirable 44-40 W.C.F. Black Powder Caliber with 7 1/2 long barrel. The barrel with the later style roll die, side barrel panel reading COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER which is in perfect 100% condition, mechanically and markings are very fine, tight and crisp gun, very fine edges, sight and screws, the barrel retains about 98% fine bright original nickle plated finish with some missing at the muzzle, the ejector housing retains about 90 % nice nickle, the cylinder retains about 65% bright nickle, the frame retains about 75% fine bright nickle, the trigger guard retains about 98% bright nickle, remember that the nickle on this gun is very fine and bright with nice light gray metal where missing. very minor age clouding, never polished on or messed with. retains 85% bright blue on the back of the hammer, also 85% on the trigger, fading blue on the lanyard loop and stud in the butt, faded to light blue on the cylinder pin head, excellent bore and chambers.

As you can see form pictures, gun is about an 80% or better overall finish gun with some very light thinning and clouding, looks better in person. Original black checkered hard rubber grips still show nice luster. No cracks, chips or signs of anything but light wear, a perfect original fit to the gun. Serial number 34675 cylinder numbered 675 on the rear to match, overall an extremely fine and sharp early Colt 1878 Frontier Revolver in a desirable caliber and barrel length, the Colt Factory Research Letter shows that it was shipped on December 4, 1895 to Lee Clarke, Anderson Hardware Company in Omaha Nebraska, it was shipped as a .44-40 caliber with 7 1/2″ barrel in nickle finish with grips not listed in the one gun shipment, overall a very nice large frame Western revolver in fine untouched original condition.

Don Wilkerson’s great book titled “Colt’s Double Action Revolver Model of 1878″ on page 261 lists the total production of these in .44-40 W.C.F. caliber at 18,819 with only 3007 being plain nickle guns with 7 1/2″ barrels.

Included with the gun are it’s original light brown leather Flap Holster, Cartridge Belt, Bowie Knife Sheath, and nice Bowie Knife marked Joseph Allen & Sons , Sheffield England. 7 1/4” blade, horn handle side scales made to look like stag. the knife sheath only is marked in old ink on front E.A. Patterson Clyde, Kans 1910, Dec. 16. No makers name on on the leather, but professionally made rig with all three pieces of leather matching in color, weight and condition. also in excellent condition showing light normal wear just like the revolver does. probably a mail order rig as I have seen this “thistle” pattern on other holsters, some light tooling on the holster, 35 cartridge loops on the belt, the cartridge belt is about 44″ long to the end of the billet and about 2″ wide, all three pieces are single thickness leather. (Written by Douglas R. Carlson, Antique American Firearms)