Lot 1126

Inscribed Colt New Army Model of 1894 Double Action Revolver

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Inscribed Colt New Army Model of 1894 Double Action Revolver

Estimate: $2,500 - $4,000

Starting Bid: $2,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Historic Spanish-American War Lieutenant R.P. Reese Presentation Inscribed Colt New Army Model of 1894 Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter and Research Manufactured in early 1898, this is a very fine example of an antique Colt's New Army Model of 1894 revolver with a historic inscription for Lieutenant R.P. Reese of the 3rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which was mustered into service on 14 May 1898 for war with Spain. The regiment was headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and was stationed at various bases around the United States before being mustered out of service on 7 November 1898. The period applied inscription on this revolver reads "PRESENTED TO LIEUT./R.P. REESE/BY EMPLOYEES OF THE/C.K.C.S. & R. Co./MAY 7' 98". The company in the inscription is the Consolidated Kansas City Smelting & Refining Co., which was located in the Argentine district of Kansas City, Kansas, and is noted as being one of the largest, if not the largest, smelting and refining companies in the country at the time. A copy of a newspaper article from 7 May 1898 notes that employees of the company presented Reese with a "handsome new revolver" that was "of the very latest model, being a 38 caliber army Colt." The included factory letter lists the revolver in .38 caliber with a 6 inch barrel, blue finish, and rubber grips when shipped to Simmons Hardware Co. in St. Louis on 11 May 1898 in a shipment containing 20 guns of this type (day of shipment is believed to be a factory error given the date of the presentation). The top of the barrel has the standard two-line address and patent dated, the caliber marking on the left, and the circled Rampant Colt is on the left rear of the frame. The matching assembly number is on the frame, crane, and hand-scratched inside the right grip panel. It has standard features. Included with the revolver is a stock certificate and a postcard of the Consolidated Kansas City Smelting & Refining Co., as well as some printed information about the Argentine district of Kansas City.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: New Army & Navy

BBL: 6 inch round

Gauge: 38 Long Colt

Finish: blue

Grips: hard rubber

Serial Number96783

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: Lieutenant R.P. Reese; The Richard C. Marohn M.D. Collection; A Private Collection
  • Condition: Very fine, retains 85% plus of the original blue finish and 95% plus of the original nitre blue on the trigger and hammer with some light handling/holster wear showing a grey patina, some very light pitting at the muzzle, and a cylinder turn line. The grips are also very fine with a few light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000