Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
Rare & Pristine Factory Engraved Colt Officer’s Model Flat Top Target Revolver.
22-5672
S# 20240
Cal. 22 LR
Target configuration with blue finish and 6″ tapered bbl. Adjustable blade Patridge target front sight and windage adjustable rear sight in dovetail on frame. Bbl. has period 2 line address on top surface and marked “COLT /OFFICERS MODEL/ .22 LONG RIFLE” on the left side. Left side plate has the Colt trademark Rampant Colt framed in a punch dot diamond. Blued trigger has checkered face, hammer is polished bright on sides with blued top & rear edges. Top flat of the frame and rear of the frame are matte finish with tasteful engraving flourishes. Backstrap is checkered. Factory engraved most likely by William Gough and ordered with class “B” coverage consisting of flowing acanthus scrolls in punch dot background on frame, barrel and appended surfaces. Revolver mounted with factory 2 piece pearl grips with Rampant Colt silver medallions and a raised carved eagle on the right panel.
Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which specifies Caliber 22 with 6″ bbl, Blue Finish, Pearl Stocks, Class “B” Engraving and shipped to Loan Account; Spaulding W. Arms, Salt Lake City, Utah on May 31, 1938 in a one gun shipment. Remarks section indicates that the revolver was returned to the factory on Feb 1, 1939 and reshipped 6 additional times on loan for display to important Colt dealers around the country. The revolver’s final shipment was on April 5, 1940 to the Bacharach Raisin Company in Baltimore, MD. Also accompanied by the original Colt burgundy hinged lid cardboard box with black & white end label identifying this revolver. Additionally there are 3 black & white over labels, 2 on the end of the lid “TARGET” and “PATRIDGE SIGHTS”. The 3rd label is diagonally over the top “ENGRAVED” from which “EN” is missing. This exact revolver is pictured on page 330 of The Book of Colt Engraving (Wilson) and on page 306 of Colt Pistols (Wilson & Hable) wherein it’s stated that it is “one of the most traveled of sample guns”. Wilson also observes that this box was shipped 6 or 7 times and shows the travel wear but protected the gun during its travels.
PROVENANCE: R.E. Hable Collection; Vicente Sepulveda Collection.
CURIO
