SPECIAL UNIQUE EXPERIMENTAL COLT 3RD MODEL 5TH VARIATION DERINGER.

SPECIAL UNIQUE EXPERIMENTAL COLT 3RD MODEL 5TH VARIATION DERINGER. SN 45416. 41 cal. short rim fire. Designed to have a stronger locking latch with a special steel insert held in place by a screw into the brass frame to give the locking bolt more strength. This piece was made towards the end of the production, circa 1915. It was sold in England & has proofs. It has a high hammer for which there is no explanation, other than when assembled at Hartford they were using what they had on hand. This piece was modified at the recoil shield. There is a metal insert milled into the recoil shield where the locking bolt touches that area. It is held in place with a screw that can be seen externally. Apparently, someone thought that the new ammo coming out might need that area to be extra strong. PROVENANCE: William Locke Collection, Malcolm Aterburn Collection, L.D. Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: The blued bbl which has English proofs has 90% of the orig bright blue remaining, with some wear on the edges & at the muzzle & some small flaking around the Colt logo. The nickel frame which has 98% of the orig nickel finish remaining does have some nicks & scratches showing use but no abuse. The left side of the frame is stamped “41 CAL.”. The gun is a 5th Variation, probably made 20-odd years after the first 3 variations of this gun (all of which had high hammers). There is no explanation for the fact that this gun has a high hammer other than the fact that Colt sometimes used whatever was at hand around the shop to complete the gun. Since this was an experimental model which never did go into production, they probably didn’t care. Then it was shipped off to London, to their 14 Pell Mell store, to be sold in England. 90% case color remains on the high hammer, 70% blue remains on the trigger. The grips which are walnut have some nicks & dings but retain 90% of their orig varnish & are still bright & not oil stained. 4-47449 DE69 (2,500-3,500)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2013

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
	2091	$3,450.00	SPECIAL UNIQUE EXPERIMENTAL COLT 3RD MODEL 5TH VARIATION DERINGER. SN 45416. 41 cal. short rim fire. Designed to have a stronger locking latch with a special steel insert held in place by a screw into the brass frame to give the locking bolt more strength. This piece was made towards the end of the production, circa 1915. It was sold in England & has proofs. It has a high hammer for which there is no explanation, other than when assembled at Hartford they were using what they had on hand. This piece was modified at the recoil shield. There is a metal insert milled into the recoil shield where the locking bolt touches that area. It is held in place with a screw that can be seen externally. Apparently, someone thought that the new ammo coming out might need that area to be extra strong. PROVENANCE: William Locke Collection, Malcolm Aterburn Collection, L.D. Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: The blued bbl which has English proofs has 90% of the orig bright blue remaining, with some wear on the edges & at the muzzle & some small flaking around the Colt logo. The nickel frame which has 98% of the orig nickel finish remaining does have some nicks & scratches showing use but no abuse. The left side of the frame is stamped “41 CAL.”. The gun is a 5th Variation, probably made 20-odd years after the first 3 variations of this gun (all of which had high hammers). There is no explanation for the fact that this gun has a high hammer other than the fact that Colt sometimes used whatever was at hand around the shop to complete the gun. Since this was an experimental model which never did go into production, they probably didn’t care. Then it was shipped off to London, to their 14 Pell Mell store, to be sold in England. 90% case color remains on the high hammer, 70% blue remains on the trigger. The grips which are walnut have some nicks & dings but retain 90% of their orig varnish & are still bright & not oil stained. 4-47449 DE69 (2,500-3,500) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2013 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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