RARE VON OPPEN COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

RARE VON OPPEN COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 15304. Cal. 45 Boxer (45 Eley Short). Blue & case colored with 5-1/2″ bbl, full front sight with script letter address that has serifs at each end. Bottom of bbl has last four digits of serial number under ejector rod housing. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Bottom left side of bbl and cylinder have tiny British proofs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and left shoulder of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL / B”. Mounted with nicely figured walnut 1-pc grip that has last four digits of serial number in back strap channel. Right shoulder of trigger guard has the Von Oppen stamp which consists of a rampant Colt surmounted by a “C”. Baron Frederick Von Oppen was Samuel Colt’s brother-in-law and was the head of Colt’s London Agency and Sales Agent for all of Europe, the middle and near East. This mark was established by Von Oppen with the concurrence of Samuel Colt which was used as an additional mark to certify Colt originality as early as 1872 and was applied to Colt firearms that were not clearly marked with the Colt address, especially those in the 450 Boxer and 450 Eley calibers. These Von Oppen marked single actions are rarely encountered today with only a few known. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver with blue finish in caliber “45 ELEY SHORT” with bbl length and type of stocks not listed, shipped to Colt’s London Agency, 14 Pall Mall, London, England on Nov. 5, 1874 in a shipment of 100 same type guns. This SAA was manufactured in 1874 which was the first year of production for the 450 Boxer caliber and also the first year the 5-1/2″ bbl was available. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including grip. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy original blue with the flaked areas a medium patina. Frame & hammer retain virtually all of their brilliant original factory case hardened colors, slightly thinned on recoil shield and loading gate with some minor fading on top strap and top edge of hammer. Sides of frame are brilliant. Cylinder retains about 75% thinning orig blue, strong & bright in the flutes. Trigger guard and back strap retain most of their orig glossy bright blue, slightly thinned on front strap with heavier thinning on back strap toward heel. Grip is sound with minor handling & use marks, a couple of small gouges and a heavy scratch on right side and overall retains most of its brilliant orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-38593 JR7 (28,500-32,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2105	$0.00	RARE VON OPPEN COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 15304. Cal. 45 Boxer (45 Eley Short). Blue & case colored with 5-1/2″ bbl, full front sight with script letter address that has serifs at each end. Bottom of bbl has last four digits of serial number under ejector rod housing. Ejector rod housing is 1st type with bull’s eye ejector rod head. Bottom left side of bbl and cylinder have tiny British proofs. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and left shoulder of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL / B”. Mounted with nicely figured walnut 1-pc grip that has last four digits of serial number in back strap channel. Right shoulder of trigger guard has the Von Oppen stamp which consists of a rampant Colt surmounted by a “C”. Baron Frederick Von Oppen was Samuel Colt’s brother-in-law and was the head of Colt’s London Agency and Sales Agent for all of Europe, the middle and near East. This mark was established by Von Oppen with the concurrence of Samuel Colt which was used as an additional mark to certify Colt originality as early as 1872 and was applied to Colt firearms that were not clearly marked with the Colt address, especially those in the 450 Boxer and 450 Eley calibers. These Von Oppen marked single actions are rarely encountered today with only a few known. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver with blue finish in caliber “45 ELEY SHORT” with bbl length and type of stocks not listed, shipped to Colt’s London Agency, 14 Pall Mall, London, England on Nov. 5, 1874 in a shipment of 100 same type guns. This SAA was manufactured in 1874 which was the first year of production for the 450 Boxer caliber and also the first year the 5-1/2″ bbl was available. CONDITION: Extremely fine, all matching including grip. Bbl retains 75-80% glossy original blue with the flaked areas a medium patina. Frame & hammer retain virtually all of their brilliant original factory case hardened colors, slightly thinned on recoil shield and loading gate with some minor fading on top strap and top edge of hammer. Sides of frame are brilliant. Cylinder retains about 75% thinning orig blue, strong & bright in the flutes. Trigger guard and back strap retain most of their orig glossy bright blue, slightly thinned on front strap with heavier thinning on back strap toward heel. Grip is sound with minor handling & use marks, a couple of small gouges and a heavy scratch on right side and overall retains most of its brilliant orig varnish. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-38593 JR7 (28,500-32,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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