FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS OLYMPIAN PISTOL SHOOTER WALTER WINANS.

FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS OLYMPIAN PISTOL SHOOTER WALTER WINANS. SN 140859. Cal. 455 Eley. Blue & color case hardened, 7-1/2″ bbl with Walter Winans patented front sight, 1-line block letter Hartford & Pall Mall London address and the caliber marking on left side. Bore is most unusual in that it is Metford-style rifled with a right hand twist vs. the deep rifling with left hand twist as usually found in Colt revolvers undoubtedly something special ordered by Mr. Winans. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a broken circle. Top strap has the usual sighting groove which has been altered by widening the V-slot at the rear end. Bottom of bbl has a tiny “45” underneath base pin. Bottom of bbl & cyl have tiny British proofs and it is mounted with a 1-pc varnished walnut grip that has the matching last four digits of SN in backstrap channel. Buttstrap is fitted with a lanyard stud & ring with the inside of grip relieved to accommodate the screw. Accompanied by a copy of the July 1982 Guns Review magazine which carries a 2-page article by Wilfrid Ward titled “Walter Winans Part II”. Also accompanied by a small hardbound book Hints on Revolver Shooting, Walter Winans with copyright 1906. The book is small, 7″ x 4-3/4″, 130 pages with gold embossed title and author’s name on cover with a gold-embossed arm holding a large frame Smith & Wesson revolver. Also accompanied by a Vanity Fair color litho caricature of Walter Winans in early 20th century sporting attire holding a Smith & Wesson large frame revolver. And finally, accompanied by a green velvet lined leather motor case for this single action revolver with the initials “WW” on the front. Inside the lid has a small label “COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING CO., / 26 GLASSHOUSE STREET PICADILLY CIRCUS LONDON, W”. Bottom right end of the case has a small snap secured flap which exposes a cleaning equipment compartment. It is unclear if this is a Colt company casing or one that Mr. Winans had created. Walter Winans was born April 5, 1852 in St. Petersburg, Russia to American parents while his father was working on the Russian railroad system. He died Aug. 12, 1920 in London, England while participating in a trotting horse race. Mr. Winans was descended from the Wynants family who changed their Dutch name to Winans when they immigrated to America. Mr. Winans was educated in St. Petersburg and later moved to London where his multi-talented personna was developed. He was immensely talented in a number of fields including art, sculpting, equestrian and pistol & rifle shooting. In the 1908 Summer Olympics he won an Olympic Gold Medal for rifle shooting and in the 1912 Olympics he won a silver medal in a similar event. And most unusually he also won a gold medal in the 1912 Olympics for mixed sculpting. He participated in a number of Olympic events in 1908 and in 1912. Mr. Winans died while participating in a trotting horse race. Mr. Winans always considered himself to be an American and competed for America in the Olympics although he never set foot on American soil. Over his career Mr. Winans won numerous shooting matches in both rifle & pistol and was a prolific designer & inventor, inventing several different styles of sights for handguns, particularly Smith & Wessons. His inventions were so successful that Smith & Wesson presented him with an extraordinary revolver, art nuveau decorated by Tiffany. That his expertise was appreciated by Smith & Wesson is most significant and is evident by this presentation from Smith & Wesson as they, unlike Colt, made few presentations. Another Walter Winans firearm, a fine Alexander Henry hammer dbl rifle presented to him by the Prince of Wales, is being offered elsewhere in this auction and includes two 1st editions of his books. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 75-80% strong orig blue with balance a blue/gray patina. Frame retains about all of its orig case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas with balance lightly to moderately faded. Trigger guard & backstrap retain about 75-80% strong orig blue with front strap a blue/gray patina and backstrap thin blue. Cylinder retains about 50% orig blue, strong & bright in flutes, thin on outer diameter. Grip is sound with minor handling & use marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Case has worn and fuzzed edges with some loose stitching, otherwise is fine. Interior is lightly to moderately faded. Litho is fine. Book has a water-stained cover with pages yellowed on edges, otherwise is sound. 4-38481 JR204 (20,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2441	$0.00	FINE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER THAT BELONGED TO FAMOUS OLYMPIAN PISTOL SHOOTER WALTER WINANS. SN 140859. Cal. 455 Eley. Blue & color case hardened, 7-1/2″ bbl with Walter Winans patented front sight, 1-line block letter Hartford & Pall Mall London address and the caliber marking on left side. Bore is most unusual in that it is Metford-style rifled with a right hand twist vs. the deep rifling with left hand twist as usually found in Colt revolvers undoubtedly something special ordered by Mr. Winans. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates and rampant Colt in a broken circle. Top strap has the usual sighting groove which has been altered by widening the V-slot at the rear end. Bottom of bbl has a tiny “45” underneath base pin. Bottom of bbl & cyl have tiny British proofs and it is mounted with a 1-pc varnished walnut grip that has the matching last four digits of SN in backstrap channel. Buttstrap is fitted with a lanyard stud & ring with the inside of grip relieved to accommodate the screw. Accompanied by a copy of the July 1982 Guns Review magazine which carries a 2-page article by Wilfrid Ward titled “Walter Winans Part II”. Also accompanied by a small hardbound book Hints on Revolver Shooting, Walter Winans with copyright 1906. The book is small, 7″ x 4-3/4″, 130 pages with gold embossed title and author’s name on cover with a gold-embossed arm holding a large frame Smith & Wesson revolver. Also accompanied by a Vanity Fair color litho caricature of Walter Winans in early 20th century sporting attire holding a Smith & Wesson large frame revolver. And finally, accompanied by a green velvet lined leather motor case for this single action revolver with the initials “WW” on the front. Inside the lid has a small label “COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MANUFACTURING CO., / 26 GLASSHOUSE STREET PICADILLY CIRCUS LONDON, W”. Bottom right end of the case has a small snap secured flap which exposes a cleaning equipment compartment. It is unclear if this is a Colt company casing or one that Mr. Winans had created. Walter Winans was born April 5, 1852 in St. Petersburg, Russia to American parents while his father was working on the Russian railroad system. He died Aug. 12, 1920 in London, England while participating in a trotting horse race. Mr. Winans was descended from the Wynants family who changed their Dutch name to Winans when they immigrated to America. Mr. Winans was educated in St. Petersburg and later moved to London where his multi-talented personna was developed. He was immensely talented in a number of fields including art, sculpting, equestrian and pistol & rifle shooting. In the 1908 Summer Olympics he won an Olympic Gold Medal for rifle shooting and in the 1912 Olympics he won a silver medal in a similar event. And most unusually he also won a gold medal in the 1912 Olympics for mixed sculpting. He participated in a number of Olympic events in 1908 and in 1912. Mr. Winans died while participating in a trotting horse race. Mr. Winans always considered himself to be an American and competed for America in the Olympics although he never set foot on American soil. Over his career Mr. Winans won numerous shooting matches in both rifle & pistol and was a prolific designer & inventor, inventing several different styles of sights for handguns, particularly Smith & Wessons. His inventions were so successful that Smith & Wesson presented him with an extraordinary revolver, art nuveau decorated by Tiffany. That his expertise was appreciated by Smith & Wesson is most significant and is evident by this presentation from Smith & Wesson as they, unlike Colt, made few presentations. Another Walter Winans firearm, a fine Alexander Henry hammer dbl rifle presented to him by the Prince of Wales, is being offered elsewhere in this auction and includes two 1st editions of his books. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Bbl retains 75-80% strong orig blue with balance a blue/gray patina. Frame retains about all of its orig case colors, brilliant in sheltered areas with balance lightly to moderately faded. Trigger guard & backstrap retain about 75-80% strong orig blue with front strap a blue/gray patina and backstrap thin blue. Cylinder retains about 50% orig blue, strong & bright in flutes, thin on outer diameter. Grip is sound with minor handling & use marks and retains most of its orig varnish. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. Case has worn and fuzzed edges with some loose stitching, otherwise is fine. Interior is lightly to moderately faded. Litho is fine. Book has a water-stained cover with pages yellowed on edges, otherwise is sound. 4-38481 JR204 (20,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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.

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