COLT MODEL 1878 “OMNIPOTENT” DOUBLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SN 4795. 45 Cal. Among the true rarities of Colt Frontier era guns are the double action Colt 45 revolvers sold only by Kittredge & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio with etched bbl markings “OMNIPOTENT”. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl. Full front sight & 1-line block letter address with crisp etched panel “OMNIPOTENT” on the left side. SN is found on the butt and on rear face of cylinder with last 3 digits of serial number. Rampant Colt hard rubber grips each have SN scratched inside. Left side front trigger bow web is stamped 45CAL. Base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Gun conforms to other model 1878s with lanyard stud and loop in butt. Factory letter states gun finished in nickel, 7-1/2″ bbl 45 Cal., rubber grips and bbl marked “Omnipotent”; shipped to Kittredge January 2, 1881. There is a good article from the Colt Collectors Association newsletter written in the summer of 1997 by Don Wilkerson that details this model also noting all known shipments of “Omnipotent” guns to Kittredge. He further states the “OMNIPOTENT” bbl marking was created by Benjamin Kittredge who ordered the markings applied to 45 caliber model 1878 revolvers only sold by his firm and is the only non-caliber marking ever etched on any Colt model other than “Colt Frontier Six Shooter” on Single Actions. This marking was applied for The Kittredge Co. from Aug. 1878 to May 1882 with an estimated 154 revolvers so marked. According to correspondence in file of provenance from Lewis Yearout only 9 of these guns were known by SN and 2 had cut bbls. This information from article written in 1995 (submitted to Gun Report for publication) by Lewis Yearout which we don’t believe was published. John Parsons in his book The Peacemaker and its Rivals pictures on pg 72 a copy of an August 31, 1878 ad in the Army and Navy Journal for Kittredge listing this 45 Cal. Omnipotent priced at a hefty $25.00, almost $10.00 more than a Colt SAA. This is a fine example of an “Omnipotent” revolver that appears orig, complete and authentic in every regard. PROVENANCE: Don Nichols. Lewis Yearout 1991. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Overall retains 60-70% orig nickel with etched panel being quite crisp and clear. Gun is gray where nickel is not present with numerous small scratches, dents and blemishes especially on left side of frame as can be seen in photographs. Last 3 digits on back of cylinder has inverted “5”. Matching assembly letter “S” is found on back of cylinder and bottom of bbl. Mechanically gun functions well with crisp, well defined rifling in bore. 4-53876 JS56 (6,000-8,000) – Lot 3150

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	3150	$0.00	COLT MODEL 1878 “OMNIPOTENT” DOUBLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 4795. 45 Cal. Among the true rarities of Colt Frontier era guns are the double action Colt 45 revolvers sold only by Kittredge & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio with etched bbl markings “OMNIPOTENT”. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl. Full front sight & 1-line block letter address with crisp etched panel “OMNIPOTENT” on the left side. SN is found on the butt and on rear face of cylinder with last 3 digits of serial number. Rampant Colt hard rubber grips each have SN scratched inside. Left side front trigger bow web is stamped 45CAL. Base pin is orig type with dimpled ends. Gun conforms to other model 1878s with lanyard stud and loop in butt. Factory letter states gun finished in nickel, 7-1/2″ bbl 45 Cal., rubber grips and bbl marked “Omnipotent”; shipped to Kittredge January 2, 1881. There is a good article from the Colt Collectors Association newsletter written in the summer of 1997 by Don Wilkerson that details this model also noting all known shipments of “Omnipotent” guns to Kittredge. He further states the “OMNIPOTENT” bbl marking was created by Benjamin Kittredge who ordered the markings applied to 45 caliber model 1878 revolvers only sold by his firm and is the only non-caliber marking ever etched on any Colt model other than “Colt Frontier Six Shooter” on Single Actions. This marking was applied for The Kittredge Co. from Aug. 1878 to May 1882 with an estimated 154 revolvers so marked. According to correspondence in file of provenance from Lewis Yearout only 9 of these guns were known by SN and 2 had cut bbls. This information from article written in 1995 (submitted to Gun Report for publication) by Lewis Yearout which we don’t believe was published. John Parsons in his book The Peacemaker and its Rivals pictures on pg 72 a copy of an August 31, 1878 ad in the Army and Navy Journal for Kittredge listing this 45 Cal. Omnipotent priced at a hefty $25.00, almost $10.00 more than a Colt SAA. This is a fine example of an “Omnipotent” revolver that appears orig, complete and authentic in every regard. PROVENANCE: Don Nichols. Lewis Yearout 1991. Estate Collection of Lewis & Leyton Yearout. CONDITION: Overall retains 60-70% orig nickel with etched panel being quite crisp and clear. Gun is gray where nickel is not present with numerous small scratches, dents and blemishes especially on left side of frame as can be seen in photographs. Last 3 digits on back of cylinder has inverted “5”. Matching assembly letter “S” is found on back of cylinder and bottom of bbl. Mechanically gun functions well with crisp, well defined rifling in bore. 4-53876 JS56 (6,000-8,000) – Lot 3150 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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COLT MODEL 1878 “OMNIPOTENT” DOUBLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.