EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING SHERIFF’S MODEL REVOLVERS.

EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING SHERIFF’S MODEL REVOLVERS. SN 48967 and 48989. Cal. 38 Colt. Both revolvers are identical with nickel finish, 3-1/2″ bbls, full half-moon front sights, 2-line bbl addresses & etched panels “COLT D.A. 38” on the left sides. Left sides of the frames have 3-line patent dates with caliber markings on the left rear webs of the trigger guards. Both have rampant Colt hard rubber grips, matching numbered in pencil on the insides. The back straps are beautifully inscribed in block letters with Gothic capitals on ribbons “Joseph O. Goodwin FROM ALEX THUER 1884”. Joseph O. Goodwin was born in 1843 in East Hartford, Connecticut, where he resided until his death in 1923 on land that his family had settled in 1697. He was educated in East Hartford schools and later in a private school. He worked at his family’s general store business & post office which he left in 1862 to learn the printing business in Hartford until 1871. At that time he left the printing business to work with his brother and devoted his spare time to writing. In 1874 he was elected town clerk which position he held until his death, a period of more than 48 years. He was involved in politics and for a while in 1878 was state representative to the Connecticut General Assembly. He was deeply involved in local politics and was directly responsible for the founding of the East Hartford High School and for later school consolidation. From 1879-1921 he was secretary of the school board and for many of those years was chairman of the high school committee. In 1879 he published a 250-page history of East Hartford entitled East Hartford, Its History and Traditions. He was also one of the publishers of East Hartford’s first newspaper The Elm Leaf. He also contributed articles to Harper’s Magazine and other periodicals. In addition, he was requested to and wrote Memorial History of Hartford County. ¶ Accompanied by 2 Colt factory letters for these 2 revolvers fully identifying them with nickel finish and type of stocks not listed, with shipment to A. Thuer, address “COLT PATENT FIREARMS CO.”, on March 22, 1884, in a shipment of 2 same-type arms. Under the remarks section it is noted that “Alexander Thuer was the designer of the first metallic cartridge system available commercially on Colt revolvers.” Also accompanied by numerous excerpts of publications regarding the Goodwin family, and other publications wherein Joseph Goodwin is mentioned, along with a memoriam of Joseph O. Goodwin. Additionally accompanied by 2 boxes of 38 Colt ammunition: 1) Union Metallic Cartridge Company, 38 long, 2-pc sealed box with a picture of a Lightning revolver on top, green label with black lettering & black line drawing with green band on a plaid body. Band has the usual lettering on one side & end with the other side printed in script “Colt Patent Fire Arms Manuf Co” and a line drawing of the rampant Colt; 2) Full open box of Winchester 38 short, 2-pc box with buff-colored label, probably faded from yellow, with black lettering & an orange band with kraft-colored 2-pc box. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Both revolvers are exceptionally fine, with both retaining about all of their orig finish, with some slight flaking on the right front side of the frame on No. 48967 and a line of pitting on the cylinder & loading gate of No. 48989. The etched panels on both are crisp & clear, and the grips are all exceptionally fine, showing little or no wear. The screws, triggers & hammers retain about all of their orig factory fire-blue. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bores. A truly exceptional & rare pair of Lightning revolvers, never to be encountered again. Ammunition: 1) Very fine plus, label & band are completely intact with minor chips & light soil; 2) Fine, top label moderately faded with some minor water staining, completely intact, band around the sides is open but intact, ammunition is fine. 4-36423 JR75 (30,000-50,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009

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
	2037	$31,050.00	EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF PRESENTATION COLT MODEL 1877 DA LIGHTNING SHERIFF’S MODEL REVOLVERS. SN 48967 and 48989. Cal. 38 Colt. Both revolvers are identical with nickel finish, 3-1/2″ bbls, full half-moon front sights, 2-line bbl addresses & etched panels “COLT D.A. 38” on the left sides. Left sides of the frames have 3-line patent dates with caliber markings on the left rear webs of the trigger guards. Both have rampant Colt hard rubber grips, matching numbered in pencil on the insides. The back straps are beautifully inscribed in block letters with Gothic capitals on ribbons “Joseph O. Goodwin FROM ALEX THUER 1884”. Joseph O. Goodwin was born in 1843 in East Hartford, Connecticut, where he resided until his death in 1923 on land that his family had settled in 1697. He was educated in East Hartford schools and later in a private school. He worked at his family’s general store business & post office which he left in 1862 to learn the printing business in Hartford until 1871. At that time he left the printing business to work with his brother and devoted his spare time to writing. In 1874 he was elected town clerk which position he held until his death, a period of more than 48 years. He was involved in politics and for a while in 1878 was state representative to the Connecticut General Assembly. He was deeply involved in local politics and was directly responsible for the founding of the East Hartford High School and for later school consolidation. From 1879-1921 he was secretary of the school board and for many of those years was chairman of the high school committee. In 1879 he published a 250-page history of East Hartford entitled East Hartford, Its History and Traditions. He was also one of the publishers of East Hartford’s first newspaper The Elm Leaf. He also contributed articles to Harper’s Magazine and other periodicals. In addition, he was requested to and wrote Memorial History of Hartford County. ¶ Accompanied by 2 Colt factory letters for these 2 revolvers fully identifying them with nickel finish and type of stocks not listed, with shipment to A. Thuer, address “COLT PATENT FIREARMS CO.”, on March 22, 1884, in a shipment of 2 same-type arms. Under the remarks section it is noted that “Alexander Thuer was the designer of the first metallic cartridge system available commercially on Colt revolvers.” Also accompanied by numerous excerpts of publications regarding the Goodwin family, and other publications wherein Joseph Goodwin is mentioned, along with a memoriam of Joseph O. Goodwin. Additionally accompanied by 2 boxes of 38 Colt ammunition: 1) Union Metallic Cartridge Company, 38 long, 2-pc sealed box with a picture of a Lightning revolver on top, green label with black lettering & black line drawing with green band on a plaid body. Band has the usual lettering on one side & end with the other side printed in script “Colt Patent Fire Arms Manuf Co” and a line drawing of the rampant Colt; 2) Full open box of Winchester 38 short, 2-pc box with buff-colored label, probably faded from yellow, with black lettering & an orange band with kraft-colored 2-pc box. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Both revolvers are exceptionally fine, with both retaining about all of their orig finish, with some slight flaking on the right front side of the frame on No. 48967 and a line of pitting on the cylinder & loading gate of No. 48989. The etched panels on both are crisp & clear, and the grips are all exceptionally fine, showing little or no wear. The screws, triggers & hammers retain about all of their orig factory fire-blue. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bores. A truly exceptional & rare pair of Lightning revolvers, never to be encountered again. Ammunition: 1) Very fine plus, label & band are completely intact with minor chips & light soil; 2) Fine, top label moderately faded with some minor water staining, completely intact, band around the sides is open but intact, ammunition is fine. 4-36423 JR75 (30,000-50,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2009 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}