Lot 9

Stunning Colt Single Action Army in .41 with Rare Picture Box

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Stunning Colt Single Action Army in .41 with Rare Picture Box

Estimate: $80,000 - $140,000

Starting Bid: $70,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 21, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Stunning and Well-Documented Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .41 Long Colt with Extremely Rare Original Picture Box and Factory Letter This is a stunning high condition 1894 production Colt Single Action Army revolver in .41 Long Colt with its original factory picture box; by far one of the rarest Colt Single Action Army accessories encountered today. The revolver and its rare original box are featured on page 135 of "Fine & Historic Arms Annual" by the Texas Gun Collectors Association and Rock Island Auction Company as part of the Dr. Paul and Carla McCombs Collection. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as shipped on May 29, 1894, to Simmons Hardware Co. in St. Louis, Missouri, in .41 caliber with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grips not listed, as part of 9 guns of the same type in the shipment. Single Action Army revolvers like this one were more often than not seen as working guns and typically worn regularly as a holstered sidearm well into the 20th century, leaving very few surviving examples in incredibly high condition like this one available to collectors. Among standard Colt First Generation Single Action Army revolvers, only 16,402 left the factory chambered for .41 Long Colt compared to 150,683 in .45 Long Colt making it comparably scarce per the figures from factory ledger records on page 252 of "The Book of Colt Firearms" by R.L. Wilson. Of those surviving .41 Long Colt chambered Single Action Army revolvers, this 1894 production example is far above nearly all of them in condition. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line Colt Hartford address and "41 COLT." is on the left. The left of the frame has the two-line patent date markings and circled Rampant Colt. It has a blade front sight and frame-top groove rear sight, with a set of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt logos. Matching visible full serial numbers are marked on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and butt, matching partial "6576" is correctly hand etched on the interiors of both grips, correctly unnumbered cylinder, and assembly number "121" is on the loading gate. Included with the revolver is the extremely rare original Colt picture box with the matching serial number correctly handwritten on bottom and the period handwritten name Mrs. B.W. Foltz above a Fort Collins, Colorado, address as well as partly legible period handwriting including a Judge Hawes, retaining a nearly complete top label with an illustrated Rampant Colt and Single Action Army revolver, a complete end label confirming the configuration of the revolver, and an advertisement for Colt's Ideal reloading implements is inside the lid.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 5 1/2 inch round

Gauge: 41 Long Colt

Finish: blue/casehardened

Grips: hard rubber

Serial Number156576

Class: Antique

  • Provenance: Mrs. B.W. Foltz of Fort Collins, Colorado; Judge Hawes; The Richard Ellis Collection; The Dr. Paul & Carla McCombs Collection
  • Condition: Excellent plus and standing very tall above nearly all surviving antique Colt Single Action Army revolvers, retains 95% original bright high polish blue finish, 98% plus captivating original case colors, with smooth brown patina on the balance, extremely light cylinder drag lines, and absolutely sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. The grips are also excellent plus, flush fitting, with exceptionally crisp checkering and logos. Mechanically excellent. The box is exceptionally fine, with one small tear in the corner of the lid, and minor age related storage marks. These picture boxes are missing from even the most advanced Colt Single Action Army collections, and this one is a time capsule and has been very well preserved. Do not miss your opportunity to acquire this both iconic and magnificent antique Colt Single Action Army with its extremely rare original picture box!

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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