Collectible Antique Handguns
(pre-1899)

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**NEW ADDITION** Coming soon.... A nice honest old Colt Single Action Army made about 1894 with a Texas connection complete with its old original douple loop holster...... We are waiting for some final pieces of the puzzle to fit together, and also a Colt Factory letter. .45 caliber, 5 1/2 inch with nickel finish. DETAILS AND PRICE WILL BE POSTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

**NEW ADDITION** 15370 Starr Model 1858 Double Action .44 caliber revolver - One of about 20,000 made for use during the Civil War, in .44 caliber with a 6 inch barrel. Most were purchased by the government, and stamped with inspectors' cartouches on both side of the grip, as with this one. This is a double action design, and was fairly popular with troops, although Starr also made a different pistol that was single action only, as well as a pretty good carbine, somewhat similar to the Sharps. In recent years the double action Starr has been reproduced for the modern blackpowder shooter and reenactor market. This clever design has a thumbscrew on the right side which can be unscrewed and the barrel then hinges forward so the cylinder can be removed for cleaning. Crisp markings "STARR ARMS CO., NEW YORK and STARR'S PATENT JAN 15, 1856 on the frame. Serial number 8295 is on the cylinder, the hammer slot, and across the front of the hinge. This is a very nice example, showing some honest use, but retaining much original finish. Looks like about 40-50% original blue turning plum in places, about 10-20% dull steel gray where the finish has worn off from holster wear and the balance is plum or patina or stains. A few scattered tiny pinpoint specks of pitting, but basically nice smooth metal. Unsanded walnut grips have good inspector cartouches RHKW and BH on left and right sides respectively. Base of grip has some dings and minor abuse from pounding. Functions fine in double action mode, but cocking for single action use requires pulling the trigger a bit to start the cocking action. We don’t know if that is normal for these or if a bit of tinkering may be needed to fix a problem. (When firing from single action you actually pull the almost invisible trigger at the rear of the trigger guard- what we normally call the trigger on this mode is actually a cocking lever and when it reaches the rearward position it pushes the hidden “real” trigger.) One nipple is missing from the cylinder but threads look okay and one of the suppliers of gun parts probably has nipples, although we noted several other Starrs listed for sale with broken nipples, so it seems to be a common problem. Excellent bore. A very handsome example of a popular Civil War revolver with some interesting mechanical features. Even with the minor mechanical issues this is a well above average example. $2150.00 (View Picture)

13992 S&W "BABY RUSSIAN" .38 CALIBER REVOLVER - Serial number 92489, probably made about 1888-1889. This is a single action five shot revolver chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge, but only for those old cartridges loaded with black powder, not modern smokeless loads. About 108,000 of these were made between 1877 and 1891. They are sometimes called the “Baby Russian” model, although that technically applies only to a slightly different variation in this series. S&W Collectors call this “.38 caliber single action- second model” or sometimes the “.38 single action Model 2, second issue.” S&W introduced the “top break” design in 1870 with the large model which included the Schofield and Russian models. In 1876 they introduced the .38 caliber size and shortly after that the .32 top breaks. These were much stronger than the earlier “tip up” models, and were extremely successful. Most of the early guns were made with the spur triggers (i.e.- no trigger guard) but about 1890 the spur trigger models were replaced by those with conventional trigger guards. This particular revolver is typical of those carried by businessmen and law breakers, kept in home nightstands, or carried in pockets or purses. Good mechanics and good bore. Original nickel plate remains on about 85% of the frame and barrel, but only about 50% of the cylinder, due to the corrosive effects of black powder and early primers. Right grip is missing a circular piece at the top, but this could be built up with epoxy and black dye. A pretty nice example of a popular gun of the 1880s. Antique, no FFL needed. $295.00 (View Picture)

**HOLD** 12827 U.S. ARMY MODEL 1894 COLT .38 CALIBER DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER - Serial number103567 made in 1895. This is a true Model 1894, with none of the later updates or 1896, 1901 or 1903. The unmodified guns are pretty hard to find, as most were reworked to add the latest features, and only a few escaped. The Model 1894s were widely used in the Spanish American War by the Regulars. [During the subsequent Philippine Insurrection the puny power of the .38 [9mm] was recognized and the old .45 caliber arms recalled to duty--an experience we seem to be repeating now.] This one has about 50% of the original blue finish left, showing normal wear patterns and thinning. Some scattered light rust spots and a mix of dull steel gray or bright spots. Bore is poor to fair, not sewer pipe bad, but with enough pitting and roughness and wear that it is not very encouraging. (On the other hand, .38 Colt caliber ammunition is so scarce that you will never shoot it anyway.) The small tip on the end of the ejection rod is missing, and the grips are worn, perhaps sanded long ago, but are the original grips with the matching numbers. These double action .38 revolvers are very important milestones in U.S. military handgun evolution, but seldom get the respect they deserve. The 1892 and 1894 models are ver seldom encountered, even when modified, while the Model 1901 and Model 1903 still are found quite often. $695.00 (View Picture)

12346 CIRCA 1840-1860 SPANISH OR PORTUGUESE PERCUSSION PISTOL - A handsome piece with the traditional Spanish style miquelet lock work on the outside of the plate, but made as percussion. Hammer is a unique shape, and the decorative engraving and chisel work has turned it into a dog with its fierce had turned to one side to bite the nipple. One lock screw and the ramrod are missing. Some very old specks of paint or whitewash on the upper surfaces. Looks like there is some silver(?) inlay work on the barrel, but I am reluctant to try to clean that without destroying the mellow brown patina on the iron parts. Perhaps intended for the Mexican market as it has a primitive but cute smiling sun on the sideplate. $495.00 (View Picture)

10576 ALUMINUM DUMMY PISTOL- M1842 PERCUSSION - Full size cast aluminum replica. These were popular in the 1950s onward for decoration, filling holsters for parades or as movie props, etc. This is a .54 caliber single shot Model 1842 percussion "horse pistol" carried in holsters on the saddle of mounted troops. It has a nice (but badly chipped and scratched) paint job with the stock and brass parts painted brown and gold respectively. Would look much nicer if stripped and repainted. $95.00 (View Picture)