RARE AND SPECTACULAR COLT DOUBLE RIFLE.

RARE AND SPECTACULAR COLT DOUBLE RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. This rifle, serial number 307, is built on the heavy 1878 shotgun frame with 28-1/4” barrels with smooth top rib, having a tiny half nickel front sight and fixed rear sight with a sighting V-notch for each barrel. The receiver, lockplates and hammer are case colored with light border engraving and “Colt’s Pt. F A Mfg. Co.” on each lockplate. The same inscription is on the top rib with the address of “Hartford Ct USA”. The wood is straight grained American walnut with coarse checkering on the horn insert, schnable-tipped, splinter forearm and round knob buttstock, which is 14-1/4” over a smooth steel buttplate. There is a small oval stamped on the bottom of the stock, just behind the round knob, which contains the initials “J.R.H. Jr.” This rifle is featured prominently on pages 486 & 487 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland & Wilson. They indicate that this rifle and serial number 293 were the first two Colt double rifles made, in early 1879, and were numbered in the shotgun series while the balance of the double rifle production (less than 40) were serial numbered in their own series beginning with number one. It is also stated that this rifle weighs 13 (thirteen) pounds versus the 9-1/2 to 10 pounds of the standard Colt double rifle. This rare rifle is listed as lot number H-192 on pages 18 & 19 of the Kimball Arms Co., Woburn, Mass., catalogue of 1938 and was priced at $250.00. This catalogue featured the Hegeman Colt Collection. Mr. Hegeman was the vice-president of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and collected from 1885 to 1925. CONDITION: Excellent plus, possibly the finest Colt double rifle in existence, appears to be unfired, retaining virtually all its original rust blue on the barrels, with the receiver retaining about 60% fading case colors with the balance turned silver. The lockplates retain about 95% strong bright case colors. The opening lever retains virtually all its original bright blue. The triggerguard retains about 75-80% strong bright original blue and the buttplate about 90% brilliant blue. The wood is sound with only minor handling and storage marks and retains virtually all its original strong factory varnish. The bores are bright and shiny. Truly one of the rarest of Colt collectibles and possibly the finest extant. 4-47508 JL (35,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2002

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
	1888	$51,750.00	RARE AND SPECTACULAR COLT DOUBLE RIFLE. Cal. 45-70. This rifle, serial number 307, is built on the heavy 1878 shotgun frame with 28-1/4” barrels with smooth top rib, having a tiny half nickel front sight and fixed rear sight with a sighting V-notch for each barrel. The receiver, lockplates and hammer are case colored with light border engraving and “Colt’s Pt. F A Mfg. Co.” on each lockplate. The same inscription is on the top rib with the address of “Hartford Ct USA”. The wood is straight grained American walnut with coarse checkering on the horn insert, schnable-tipped, splinter forearm and round knob buttstock, which is 14-1/4” over a smooth steel buttplate. There is a small oval stamped on the bottom of the stock, just behind the round knob, which contains the initials “J.R.H. Jr.” This rifle is featured prominently on pages 486 & 487 of “The Book of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland & Wilson. They indicate that this rifle and serial number 293 were the first two Colt double rifles made, in early 1879, and were numbered in the shotgun series while the balance of the double rifle production (less than 40) were serial numbered in their own series beginning with number one. It is also stated that this rifle weighs 13 (thirteen) pounds versus the 9-1/2 to 10 pounds of the standard Colt double rifle. This rare rifle is listed as lot number H-192 on pages 18 & 19 of the Kimball Arms Co., Woburn, Mass., catalogue of 1938 and was priced at $250.00. This catalogue featured the Hegeman Colt Collection. Mr. Hegeman was the vice-president of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and collected from 1885 to 1925. CONDITION: Excellent plus, possibly the finest Colt double rifle in existence, appears to be unfired, retaining virtually all its original rust blue on the barrels, with the receiver retaining about 60% fading case colors with the balance turned silver. The lockplates retain about 95% strong bright case colors. The opening lever retains virtually all its original bright blue. The triggerguard retains about 75-80% strong bright original blue and the buttplate about 90% brilliant blue. The wood is sound with only minor handling and storage marks and retains virtually all its original strong factory varnish. The bores are bright and shiny. Truly one of the rarest of Colt collectibles and possibly the finest extant. 4-47508 JL (35,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2002 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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