banshee 69 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 http://catalog.gregmartinauctions.com:8050...95928&-find Lot 51 Detail An Icon of American Arms Collecting - The Serial No. 1 Colt Single Action Army Revolver, With Extensive Background Material and Custom Gold-Embossed Display Case Serial no. 1. 6-shot fluted cylinder, 7 1/2-inch barrel with slanted barrel address, "+ Colt's Pt. FAA. Mfg. Co., Hartford, Ct. U.S.A. +" on top of barrel. Left side of frame with two-line patent marking, "-Pat. July. 25.1871-/-Pat. July. 2. 1872.-" Serial no. 1 stamped on bottom of frame, on triggerguard strap, buttstrap, bottom of breech of barrel, and in ink on grips inside cutout for backstrap. K inspector initial on back of cylinder. 8 on inside curve of loading gate. Pinched top strap forming rear sight, German silver front sight blade. Round ejector rod head, with bulbous contour to loading gate. Blued finish, with case-hardened frame and hammer. Varnished walnut grips. Condition: Fine. 30% blue, 25% case-hardening. Brown and gray patina with wear. Minor surface pitting. Traces varnish on one-piece walnut grips. Custom-made display case of brown leather, contour-lined in gold velvet, the lid gold-tooled and with gold leaf inscription noting "The First Production Model of 'The Gun That Won the West' and The Most Famous Handgun in the World." Case by Arno Werner Bookbinders, c. 1987. Note: Sold by Christie's, May 14, 1987, and pictured on the front cover of the catalogue, featuring firearms "From the Estate of Charles L. Bricker." Following the auction, the revolver served as the inspiration for a precise miniature replica by the U.S. Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia, authorized by the Colt company. Each example was stamped 1, as on the full-size original. Provenance: In hands of a retired U.S. Army officer, from 1873 to c. 1920s Brother of P.G. Barnard (Brattleboro VT) acquired from a drugstore employee, name unknown (in trade for a rifle; P.G. Barnard letter enclosed in documentation accompanying revolver) Fred P.L. Mills (purchased May 5, 1925, for $4) John S. duMont (May 4, 1948 to 1955, acquired in trade with Mills, of a Colt Double Barrel Rifle) Gerald G. Fox (April 6, 1955 to 1961) Gerald G. Fox Charles Landis Bricker (1961 to May 14, 1987) Private Collector in California via Greg Martin and U.S. Historical Society (1987 to 2008) The American Rifleman, "The First Peacemaker," F.P.L. Mills, p. 29, September 1936. The Texas Gun Collector magazine, front cover, March 1954 (article on p. 4). John E. Parsons, The Peacemaker and Its Rivals, frontispiece (1950). James E. Serven, Colt Cartridge Pistols, p. 54. James E. Serven, Colt Firearms from 1836, p. 21. Harold L. Peterson, The Treasury of the Gun, p. 214. On front cover, in color, of Christie's East auction catalogue, May 14, 1987, lot 232. R.L. Wilson, The Colt Heritage, p. 176 (color). R.L. Wilson, Colt An American Legend, p. 176 (color), including also French, German and Italian editions. R.L. Wilson, The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, p. 329 (color). R.L. Wilson, The Book of Colt Firearms, 2nd edition (1993), p. VIII (color). R.L. Wilson, The Peacemakers Arms and Adventure in the American West, p. 213, (color), including also French, German and Italian editions. Guns & Ammo, April 1989, pp. 84 -87 (color) with article by Phil Spangenberger, "Worth Their Weights in Gold" featuring no. 1 with the earliest known engraved Single Action, no. 114. American Rifleman, July 1987, front cover color illustration, with advertisement on p. 11 of "The No. 1 Colt" miniature. Pp. 15 and 17 with illustrations and article, headlined "New Handgun Price Records Set," and noting: " . . . the historic handgun became the property of San Francisco gun dealer and collector Greg Martin. Martin paid the highest price ever for a firearm at a North American auction - $242,000 - and said, 'I think it's a bargain.'" The 1987 catalogue description, in typical low-key English style, noted: "Of all Colt revolvers none has earned greater fame than the Single Action Army, the 'Peacemaker.' In design and performance, in line and form, no more handsome and practical Colt has been built. From the many makes and types of revolvers which served on the Western Frontier, the Colt Single Action Army emerged as the symbol of the era." Articles on the sale also appeared in such newspapers as the New York Times, in the antiques column by Rita Reif. Accompanied by 12 1/2- x 14 1/4-inch book of documentation, with gold-tooled brown leather cover, with collection of photographs, clippings from various books in which Serial No. 1 has been featured, Xerox copies of various letters, including from P.G. Barnard (to John S. duMont) regarding early history of revolver before purchase by Fred P.L. Mills, from F.P.L. Mills to Gerald G. Fox (detailing his purchase of revolver), from John S. duMont to Fox (who traded Colt Paterson no. 985, item #1377 from Gimble Bros. sale, New York and received Serial No. 1 plus no. 246520 Single Action Army with extension stock), and from Fox detailing the trade. Also in documenting book, Xerox copy of F.P.L. Mills' article in September 1936 American Rifleman "The First Peacemaker." Xerox copies also enclosed of illustrations of Serial No. 1 in books by John E. Parsons, James E. Serven, H.L. Peterson, and R.L. Wilson. Auction house promotional publication on the 1987 sale and its press release on the event is enclosed, as are copies of articles from the New York Post of May 15, 1987, with article and photo of Greg Martin holding prize revolver "Aw, shoot! Greg's gun cost 242G," another N.Y. Post edition with large photo and headlined text "242G duel bags peace of history," Newsday of same date "Legendary Six-Shooter Is Sold for Six Figures," and another edition of same paper with picture and article "A Six-Shooter Goes for Six Figures," and the New York Daily News same date "Colt .45 draws 242G. "The article in The New York Times, May 16, by Rita Reif, was headlined "1873 Colt Revolver Brings Record Price for a Firearm." The Hartford Courant of May 16 pictured Martin with the revolver, as did the Arizona Republic, Arizona Daily Star, and several other papers - among them trade journals like "Antiques & The Arts Weekly" and Colt Industries corporate publication, "Focus." The Associated Press sent their article out by wire, appearing in numerous papers across the United States. Also enclosed in the documenting book, the marketing brochure of the U.S. Historical Society announcing the miniature series of the No. 1 Colt .45 Peacemaker. Estimate: $500000 - $1000000 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
b-boo_duffy 0 Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 The link won't open. I'd love to see how a $1,000,000 colt 45 looks like. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banshee 69 Posted January 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 the site must be down. The email I got it from won't open it either. It was working this morning,maybe later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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