FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH BELT & HOLSTER RIG.

FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH BELT & HOLSTER RIG. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). SN 151062. Identified Colt with 5-1/2” bbl, blue and case colored with rampant Colt hard rubber grips and black powder frame. An old El Paso Saddlery cartridge/money belt with square nickeled brass buckle and the maker’s stamp on the tongue accompanies it. The belt is rolled fine leather with the seam at the top, 3-1/2” wide, and marked “30” on the sewn end of the tongue billet. It contains 56 large size cartridge loops. It has an early double loop holster with sewn tip and an applied thumb strap. An unmarked double-edged knife with 6-3/4” blade and a homemade-stacked leather handle in a homemade double loop tube sheath also accompany it. This lot is also accompanied by a short biography of the first known owner, a man by the name of Edmond More, Jr. He was born in 1872 in Walton, NY and at age 31 became acquainted with Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, the mother of William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper tycoon. Mrs. Hearst had a ranch in the Mexican state of Chihuahua and believing her cattle were being stolen, hired Mr. More as the ranch foreman to stop the rustlers. He apparently purchased this Colt in El Paso and after suffering illness, trials and travails, sometime in the early 1900’s, after 1904, he left the ranch and returned to New York where he and his two brothers formed a cattle auction company. He lived to age 90 when he had suffered a second stroke and was partially paralyzed. He took his own life with this very revolver. Also accompanied by copies of several handwritten letters on ranch stationery, all dated 1901. Also accompanied by a copy of an 8×10 photograph of a young man leaning against a log building, smoking a corncob pipe wearing this exact belt with the same knife sheath visible. Presumably the originals of these documents and photographs are still with the family. CONDITION: Good to very good. All matching including the grips. Bbl retains 40-50% original blue, strong in the sheltered areas. Frame retains 30-40% original blue, strong in the sheltered areas with the front and back straps a gray metal color. Frame retains 50-60% silvered case colors with some traces of color in the frame gullets. Cylinder retains thin blue in the flutes with some fine surface rust in one area. Hammer will not hold on safety notch, otherwise the mechanics are fine and it has a bright shiny bore with a few spots of scattered light pitting. Frame screws are fine with the trigger guard and back strap screws slightly battered. Grips show moderate wear on the left side, heavy on the right side with the right side turning chocolate. Knife has been sharpened and retains a fine keen edge. Belt is slightly dried with some surface finish loss but supple and sound. Holster is much worn with buckskin-laced repair at the top and at the toe. Knife sheath is also very worn but sound. 4-53020 JR680 (7,500-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004

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
	189	$16,100.00	FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER WITH BELT & HOLSTER RIG. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). SN 151062. Identified Colt with 5-1/2” bbl, blue and case colored with rampant Colt hard rubber grips and black powder frame. An old El Paso Saddlery cartridge/money belt with square nickeled brass buckle and the maker’s stamp on the tongue accompanies it. The belt is rolled fine leather with the seam at the top, 3-1/2” wide, and marked “30” on the sewn end of the tongue billet. It contains 56 large size cartridge loops. It has an early double loop holster with sewn tip and an applied thumb strap. An unmarked double-edged knife with 6-3/4” blade and a homemade-stacked leather handle in a homemade double loop tube sheath also accompany it. This lot is also accompanied by a short biography of the first known owner, a man by the name of Edmond More, Jr. He was born in 1872 in Walton, NY and at age 31 became acquainted with Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, the mother of William Randolph Hearst, the newspaper tycoon. Mrs. Hearst had a ranch in the Mexican state of Chihuahua and believing her cattle were being stolen, hired Mr. More as the ranch foreman to stop the rustlers. He apparently purchased this Colt in El Paso and after suffering illness, trials and travails, sometime in the early 1900’s, after 1904, he left the ranch and returned to New York where he and his two brothers formed a cattle auction company. He lived to age 90 when he had suffered a second stroke and was partially paralyzed. He took his own life with this very revolver. Also accompanied by copies of several handwritten letters on ranch stationery, all dated 1901. Also accompanied by a copy of an 8×10 photograph of a young man leaning against a log building, smoking a corncob pipe wearing this exact belt with the same knife sheath visible. Presumably the originals of these documents and photographs are still with the family. CONDITION: Good to very good. All matching including the grips. Bbl retains 40-50% original blue, strong in the sheltered areas. Frame retains 30-40% original blue, strong in the sheltered areas with the front and back straps a gray metal color. Frame retains 50-60% silvered case colors with some traces of color in the frame gullets. Cylinder retains thin blue in the flutes with some fine surface rust in one area. Hammer will not hold on safety notch, otherwise the mechanics are fine and it has a bright shiny bore with a few spots of scattered light pitting. Frame screws are fine with the trigger guard and back strap screws slightly battered. Grips show moderate wear on the left side, heavy on the right side with the right side turning chocolate. Knife has been sharpened and retains a fine keen edge. Belt is slightly dried with some surface finish loss but supple and sound. Holster is much worn with buckskin-laced repair at the top and at the toe. Knife sheath is also very worn but sound. 4-53020 JR680 (7,500-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2004 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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