1884 Colt Single-action Army Revolver
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GUEST:
I acquired it from my father-in-law. He was a doctor in Wyoming for many years, quite a historical person, into the Indian arts and cowboy history, so I acquired it from him. From what I know about the pistol, it actually belonged to a Texas Ranger who had eventually moved up to Wyoming. My understanding was he was a sheriff there in Wyoming, for several years.
APPRAISER:
So he was a Texas Ranger and he retired to Wyoming to become the local sheriff?
GUEST:
He actually, when he lived in Texas, was on a couple of cattle drives that ended up in Wyoming, and then he did move up there after he was done in Texas.
APPRAISER:
Where did your father-in-law get this?
GUEST:
He got it directly from the family of the Ranger. Probably back in the early '50s, I would say.
APPRAISER:
Texas Rangers were an interesting group of guys.
GUEST:
For sure.
APPRAISER:
And this was exactly the kind of revolver that they would want to use. It's a Colt six-shot, .45-caliber, single-action Army revolver.
GUEST:
Single-action.
APPRAISER:
Also known as "The Peacemaker." It was one of Colt's most popular products, the original design of the revolver was for the 1872 government service pistol trials.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
Of which Colt eventually did secure a government contract to produce pistols, but this clearly is not one of those pistols.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
We know the revolver was made in 1884, as indicated by the serial number, which is generally located here. On the base of the revolver.
GUEST:
Okay, all right.
APPRAISER:
And there's the patent dates of the revolver, which are much earlier than the date of manufacture. And one of the main factors in collecting Colt firearms is whether or not it's originally factory engraved or not.
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
The premium is paid for the factory-grade examples.
GUEST:
Oh, nice.
APPRAISER:
Now, that said, the characteristic of this engraving is actually period. It comes from the 1880s. And if you contact the Colt archives, they'll probably indicate that the revolver was shipped to, probably, a New York retailer, like Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham. And it may have even been shipped in what they call the "blue."
GUEST:
Okay.
APPRAISER:
With a blue finish on it.
GUEST:
Oh, really.
APPRAISER:
And it probably had either wood or rubber grips at the time. And Schuyler, Hartley, and Graham sent it out to their engravers in the city, and they just had it stripped down, and had this very characteristic, New York-style engraving on it. And these beautiful mother-of-pearl grips. This was done not as a government service, but as a private purchase, where somebody wanted a very splashy firearm.
GUEST:
Sure.
APPRAISER:
Have you ever had it appraised?
GUEST:
No, I have not, never. It's basically been-- since I acquired it-- in a safety deposit box.
APPRAISER:
That's a good place for it. Any guesses of what you think the value is, or...?
GUEST:
You know I... As a rough idea, I would think maybe around $2,500, somewhere in there. Maybe $3,000.
APPRAISER:
In my opinion, at auction, I would put a presale estimate on the gun of around $15,000 to $20,000.
GUEST:
Wow. Very... very good. I didn't expect that. That's... that's quite a bit higher than I would've thought.
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