ULTRA RARE COLT’S VERY FIRST CALIBER 44 CENTERFIRE SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER PRODUCED.

ULTRA RARE COLT’S VERY FIRST CALIBER 44 CENTERFIRE SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER PRODUCED. Cal. 44 RF Henry/44 WCF (44-40). SN 36026. This revolver has a somewhat long history beginning on April 26, 1877 when it was shipped to Colt’s London Agency for delivery to the Turkish Government for test trials. It seems that Baron Von Oppen, Colt’s brother-in-law and European representative, had learned that Winchester was attempting to sell the Turkish Government some 30,000 of their, then available, 44 caliber revolvers. He hurriedly contacted Gen. Franklin, Colt’s Vice President regarding the situation. Gen. Franklin, under the impression that Turkey was using the Winchester Model 1873, had three revolvers, including this one, made up and shipped to the London agency for delivery to Constantinople. This was apparently done in very short order as this revolver has no British proofs indicating it did not stay in England for any length of time. Gen. Franklin’s mistaken belief regarding the model of the Turkish rifles being .44RF Henry for the 1866 Winchester rather than the cal 44-40 of the Model 1873, led to the modification of this revolver, apparently by a Turkish armorer. He cleverly replaced the orig firing pin with a hook-billed, pointed; flat firing pin retained with a sgl rivet and modified the frame firing pin recess to accommodate this rimfire adaptation. It is readily apparent in looking into the chambers that this revolver was fired innumerable times using the much shorter 44 rimfire case as there is a ring in each chamber at precisely the correct distance to where the mouth of the rimfire case would have been. The areas forward of the ring & face of cylinder have heavy pitting, a further indication of heavy use by these corrosive cartridges. The orig first type ejector rod housing was apparently lost or damaged and replaced during the period of use with a later second type stud mounted into the orig screw hole in bbl. Unfortunately the person doing this work was not an accomplished gunsmith as the stud extends into the bore. Had it been fired after installation it would have blown the stud back out of the hole. It still retains its orig bullseye ejector rod head. This revolver is described as having a standard 7-1/2” bbl with 1-line “script” address with serifs at each end. The bore has the standard rifling of six wide lands & grooves and was probably intended for one of the early rimfire revolvers. It has the broken die in the “O” of “CO” and on the “A” in “HARTFORD” of the bbl address. It is thought that this address was completely discontinued in the early 20,000 serial range, therefore further supporting the theory that this was a recycled 44 rimfire bbl that Colt was simply disposing of. As it stands, this is on record as probably being the highest serial numbered revolver with a script bbl address. This revolver also has the caliber marking “44 CF” on left shoulder of trigger guard and has the 1-pc walnut grip. There is a spurious “U.S.” stamp on left side of frame, apparently by some nefarious individual thinking to make this a more valuable piece by making it a martial Colt. A previous consignor states that he had owned this revolver well over 40 years, having purchased it from an antique dealer at that time. Accompanied by a 3-page Kopec letter detailing most of the above information. Also accompanied by a copy of the Summer 2002 The Rampant Colt magazine in which Mr. Kopec has also written a 3-page article with photographs of this same revolver. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped to Colt’s London Agency April 26, 1877 in a shipment of three same type guns. The other two serial numbers are 36327 & 36264. CONDITION: Good, all matching including bbl & cylinder. Traces of orig finish remain in very sheltered areas being mostly a smooth gray/brown patina. Grip is sound showing heavy wear with traces of orig varnish. Buttstrap screw is battered as are the frame screws and the base pin screw. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-35884 (20,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008

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
	2326A	$0.00	ULTRA RARE COLT’S VERY FIRST CALIBER 44 CENTERFIRE SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER PRODUCED. Cal. 44 RF Henry/44 WCF (44-40). SN 36026. This revolver has a somewhat long history beginning on April 26, 1877 when it was shipped to Colt’s London Agency for delivery to the Turkish Government for test trials. It seems that Baron Von Oppen, Colt’s brother-in-law and European representative, had learned that Winchester was attempting to sell the Turkish Government some 30,000 of their, then available, 44 caliber revolvers. He hurriedly contacted Gen. Franklin, Colt’s Vice President regarding the situation. Gen. Franklin, under the impression that Turkey was using the Winchester Model 1873, had three revolvers, including this one, made up and shipped to the London agency for delivery to Constantinople. This was apparently done in very short order as this revolver has no British proofs indicating it did not stay in England for any length of time. Gen. Franklin’s mistaken belief regarding the model of the Turkish rifles being .44RF Henry for the 1866 Winchester rather than the cal 44-40 of the Model 1873, led to the modification of this revolver, apparently by a Turkish armorer. He cleverly replaced the orig firing pin with a hook-billed, pointed; flat firing pin retained with a sgl rivet and modified the frame firing pin recess to accommodate this rimfire adaptation. It is readily apparent in looking into the chambers that this revolver was fired innumerable times using the much shorter 44 rimfire case as there is a ring in each chamber at precisely the correct distance to where the mouth of the rimfire case would have been. The areas forward of the ring & face of cylinder have heavy pitting, a further indication of heavy use by these corrosive cartridges. The orig first type ejector rod housing was apparently lost or damaged and replaced during the period of use with a later second type stud mounted into the orig screw hole in bbl. Unfortunately the person doing this work was not an accomplished gunsmith as the stud extends into the bore. Had it been fired after installation it would have blown the stud back out of the hole. It still retains its orig bullseye ejector rod head. This revolver is described as having a standard 7-1/2” bbl with 1-line “script” address with serifs at each end. The bore has the standard rifling of six wide lands & grooves and was probably intended for one of the early rimfire revolvers. It has the broken die in the “O” of “CO” and on the “A” in “HARTFORD” of the bbl address. It is thought that this address was completely discontinued in the early 20,000 serial range, therefore further supporting the theory that this was a recycled 44 rimfire bbl that Colt was simply disposing of. As it stands, this is on record as probably being the highest serial numbered revolver with a script bbl address. This revolver also has the caliber marking “44 CF” on left shoulder of trigger guard and has the 1-pc walnut grip. There is a spurious “U.S.” stamp on left side of frame, apparently by some nefarious individual thinking to make this a more valuable piece by making it a martial Colt. A previous consignor states that he had owned this revolver well over 40 years, having purchased it from an antique dealer at that time. Accompanied by a 3-page Kopec letter detailing most of the above information. Also accompanied by a copy of the Summer 2002 The Rampant Colt magazine in which Mr. Kopec has also written a 3-page article with photographs of this same revolver. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver as having been shipped to Colt’s London Agency April 26, 1877 in a shipment of three same type guns. The other two serial numbers are 36327 & 36264. CONDITION: Good, all matching including bbl & cylinder. Traces of orig finish remain in very sheltered areas being mostly a smooth gray/brown patina. Grip is sound showing heavy wear with traces of orig varnish. Buttstrap screw is battered as are the frame screws and the base pin screw. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-35884 (20,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2008 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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