VERY RARE COLT PRESENTATION DOUBLE RIFLE.

VERY RARE COLT PRESENTATION DOUBLE RIFLE. Cal. 50-110. SN 26. One of the most rare of all Colt firearms is the double rifle. With only approximately 40 ever having been made, most were presentations or gifts from Caldwell Colt who fostered and promoted the concept of the double rifle at Colt. Patterned after the Model 1878 double bbl shotgun, but built on a lighter frame, our rifle has 27-7/8″ bbls with a dovetailed ivory bead front sight, a slot blank in the rear seat and a Lyman loop tang sight mounted to the top of the wrist. The bbls have a straight, flat, matted rib with the company name and address. The left bbl has left-hand twist and the right bbl has right-hand twist rifling. The lockplates are each marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO.” and have light border engraving. It has beautifully scalloped fences and border engraved hammers and trigger guard with some light patterns on the bottom of the receiver and forend iron. It is mounted in nicely figured English or French walnut wood with black insert, checkered, schnable tip, splinter forearm and round knob stock with smooth steel buttplate and raised side panels around the lockplates. The left side of the butt stock has a 2-3/8″ silver plate, inscribed “Blair D. Taylor / U.S.A.” and there is an oval initial plate on the bottom. Research to date has disclosed that Blair Dabney Taylor was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), class of 1866, during the Civil War and fought at the Battle of New Market, 15 May 1864. After the war he finished his education and became a physician and spent the rest of his career as a Union military doctor. He died in 1930. Thus far, no connection between Caldwell Colt and Mr. Taylor has been established. Additional research should produce good results. Accompanied by a copy of page 22 of the March 1933 American Rifleman magazine, which contains a brief article by Raymond W. Barth, regarding this rifle and its provenance. Mr. Barth states that he purchased this rifle directly from Mr. Taylor’s daughter along with two other rifles. He does not indicate when or where he bought it, but does state that in 1931 he traveled to Hartford and took the rifle to the factory to be examined, and further, that no records exist regarding its manufacture or disposition. He states that the wood is “Italian Walnut”. Apparently in about 1948 this rifle came into the possession of Mr. Fred P.L. Mills of Old Deerfield, Mass., which generated serious interest on his part and which prompted him to conduct research on these rifles after which, in 1953, he published a 51 page booklet detailing what information he learned. In the book Mr. Mills states that this rifle was made for a military officer who ordered it to shoot buffalo while stationed out west, but was transferred to Atlanta apparently before this occurred. Coupled with the fact that Mr. Barth purchased this rifle in the Atlanta area leaves a reasonably solid trail of provenance. Also accompanies is a letter dated May 6, 1967 from Larry Wilson stating that he would like to purchase this rifle should Mr. Owens decide to sell it in the future. Of interest to the collector is the fact that Eldon received a Colt from Mills under his will and later (1962) purchased the remainder of his estate. This rifle was #1 on the inventory and the most valuable gun in the collection. Eldon kept a dozen of these guns and they are also offered in this auction. Also accompanied by two rounds of unprimed Bell 45-110 brass. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbls retain about 98% strong original blue, the lockplates retain most of their bright case colors and the receiver 30-40% faded case colors with the balance turned silver. Trigger guard retains about 95% original bright niter blue. Wood is sound with usual light handling and use marks and retains most of its original finish. Mechanics are crisp with brilliant shiny bores. 4-52406 JR742 (40,000-70,000)

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
	768	$92,000.00	VERY RARE COLT PRESENTATION DOUBLE RIFLE. Cal. 50-110. SN 26. One of the most rare of all Colt firearms is the double rifle. With only approximately 40 ever having been made, most were presentations or gifts from Caldwell Colt who fostered and promoted the concept of the double rifle at Colt. Patterned after the Model 1878 double bbl shotgun, but built on a lighter frame, our rifle has 27-7/8″ bbls with a dovetailed ivory bead front sight, a slot blank in the rear seat and a Lyman loop tang sight mounted to the top of the wrist. The bbls have a straight, flat, matted rib with the company name and address. The left bbl has left-hand twist and the right bbl has right-hand twist rifling. The lockplates are each marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO.” and have light border engraving. It has beautifully scalloped fences and border engraved hammers and trigger guard with some light patterns on the bottom of the receiver and forend iron. It is mounted in nicely figured English or French walnut wood with black insert, checkered, schnable tip, splinter forearm and round knob stock with smooth steel buttplate and raised side panels around the lockplates. The left side of the butt stock has a 2-3/8″ silver plate, inscribed “Blair D. Taylor / U.S.A.” and there is an oval initial plate on the bottom. Research to date has disclosed that Blair Dabney Taylor was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), class of 1866, during the Civil War and fought at the Battle of New Market, 15 May 1864. After the war he finished his education and became a physician and spent the rest of his career as a Union military doctor. He died in 1930. Thus far, no connection between Caldwell Colt and Mr. Taylor has been established. Additional research should produce good results. Accompanied by a copy of page 22 of the March 1933 American Rifleman magazine, which contains a brief article by Raymond W. Barth, regarding this rifle and its provenance. Mr. Barth states that he purchased this rifle directly from Mr. Taylor’s daughter along with two other rifles. He does not indicate when or where he bought it, but does state that in 1931 he traveled to Hartford and took the rifle to the factory to be examined, and further, that no records exist regarding its manufacture or disposition. He states that the wood is “Italian Walnut”. Apparently in about 1948 this rifle came into the possession of Mr. Fred P.L. Mills of Old Deerfield, Mass., which generated serious interest on his part and which prompted him to conduct research on these rifles after which, in 1953, he published a 51 page booklet detailing what information he learned. In the book Mr. Mills states that this rifle was made for a military officer who ordered it to shoot buffalo while stationed out west, but was transferred to Atlanta apparently before this occurred. Coupled with the fact that Mr. Barth purchased this rifle in the Atlanta area leaves a reasonably solid trail of provenance. Also accompanies is a letter dated May 6, 1967 from Larry Wilson stating that he would like to purchase this rifle should Mr. Owens decide to sell it in the future. Of interest to the collector is the fact that Eldon received a Colt from Mills under his will and later (1962) purchased the remainder of his estate. This rifle was #1 on the inventory and the most valuable gun in the collection. Eldon kept a dozen of these guns and they are also offered in this auction. Also accompanied by two rounds of unprimed Bell 45-110 brass. CONDITION: Extremely fine. Bbls retain about 98% strong original blue, the lockplates retain most of their bright case colors and the receiver 30-40% faded case colors with the balance turned silver. Trigger guard retains about 95% original bright niter blue. Wood is sound with usual light handling and use marks and retains most of its original finish. Mechanics are crisp with brilliant shiny bores. 4-52406 JR742 (40,000-70,000) 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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