EXTREMELY RARE COLT FACTORY CONVERSION OF A MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE COLT FACTORY CONVERSION OF A MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER. SN 83979. Cal. 22. Nickel finish with tapered 3-1/2″ bbl, standard Lightning half moon front sight and 2-line Hartford address. Left side of bbl is hand stamped “COLT. D.A. 22”. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and rampant Colt in a broken circle. Mounted with rampant Colt bird head 2-pc hard rubber grips. Left side of trigger guard & back strap under grip are stamped with the assembly numbers “18CP”. The matching assembly number is stamped on bottom of bbl. Left rear web of trigger guard is stamped with an “&” which is also stamped on rear face of cylinder. The hammer has been converted to rimfire by having the firing pin removed and a rimfire firing pin installed with a single rivet. The frame was then altered to accept the rectangular shaped rimfire firing pin. Bbl & cyl are orig Colt manufacture as attested to by factory correspondence accompanying this revolver. This revolver was originally shipped in 1892 as a 3-1/2″ Storekeeper’s Model with nickel finish in 38 caliber. In copies of correspondence dated January, 1928 between the then owner, Mr. LeRoy Schoebel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Colt, wherein Mr. Schoebel requests the conversion of this revolver to 22 as a gift for his wife. In a copy of a follow-up letter dated July 1928, Mr. Schoebel is complaining that the conversion, which was supposed to have been completed by Feb. 15th of that year, is still not done and the cost is going to be $18.50, which he apparently considers to be too high. Also accompanied by a copy of a letter from Colt to Mr. Schoebel dated Oct. 25, 1928 over the signature of S.W. Dimick, Sales Manager, advising him that they have converted his revolver, identified by serial number, “from a .38 caliber to a .22 Rimfire.” He also lists some of the new parts required which were a new 3-1/2″ bbl in .22 Rimfire, a new cylinder .22 Rimfire and a new H mainspring. The letter does not mention the hammer & frame conversion. This is truly an exceptional & rare Model 1877 Colt revolver. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except grips which are unnumbered but which are undoubtedly orig from the conversion. Overall retains most of its factory nickel finish. Grips are sound and show moderate to heavy wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with light pitting at the forcing cone. 4-41445 JR128 (4,000-5,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	2219	$6,325.00	EXTREMELY RARE COLT FACTORY CONVERSION OF A MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING REVOLVER. SN 83979. Cal. 22. Nickel finish with tapered 3-1/2″ bbl, standard Lightning half moon front sight and 2-line Hartford address. Left side of bbl is hand stamped “COLT. D.A. 22”. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and rampant Colt in a broken circle. Mounted with rampant Colt bird head 2-pc hard rubber grips. Left side of trigger guard & back strap under grip are stamped with the assembly numbers “18CP”. The matching assembly number is stamped on bottom of bbl. Left rear web of trigger guard is stamped with an “&” which is also stamped on rear face of cylinder. The hammer has been converted to rimfire by having the firing pin removed and a rimfire firing pin installed with a single rivet. The frame was then altered to accept the rectangular shaped rimfire firing pin. Bbl & cyl are orig Colt manufacture as attested to by factory correspondence accompanying this revolver. This revolver was originally shipped in 1892 as a 3-1/2″ Storekeeper’s Model with nickel finish in 38 caliber. In copies of correspondence dated January, 1928 between the then owner, Mr. LeRoy Schoebel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Colt, wherein Mr. Schoebel requests the conversion of this revolver to 22 as a gift for his wife. In a copy of a follow-up letter dated July 1928, Mr. Schoebel is complaining that the conversion, which was supposed to have been completed by Feb. 15th of that year, is still not done and the cost is going to be $18.50, which he apparently considers to be too high. Also accompanied by a copy of a letter from Colt to Mr. Schoebel dated Oct. 25, 1928 over the signature of S.W. Dimick, Sales Manager, advising him that they have converted his revolver, identified by serial number, “from a .38 caliber to a .22 Rimfire.” He also lists some of the new parts required which were a new 3-1/2″ bbl in .22 Rimfire, a new cylinder .22 Rimfire and a new H mainspring. The letter does not mention the hammer & frame conversion. This is truly an exceptional & rare Model 1877 Colt revolver. PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except grips which are unnumbered but which are undoubtedly orig from the conversion. Overall retains most of its factory nickel finish. Grips are sound and show moderate to heavy wear. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with light pitting at the forcing cone. 4-41445 JR128 (4,000-5,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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