Guns International #: 101693130
Seller's Inventory #: 210864

Category - Colt Revolvers - Single Action Army - 1st Gen - Colt Revolvers - Antique

Category
Colt Revolvers - Single Action Army - 1st Gen
Colt Revolvers - Antique

1891 MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD Antique COLT SAA Revolver Single Action Army LETTERED Black Powder Frame Single Action Army!

Description:
1891 MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILROAD Antique COLT SAA Revolver Single Action Army

LETTERED Black Powder Frame Single Action Army!

Here we present an antique Colt Black Powder Frame Single Action Army Revolver, manufactured in 1891 in Hartford, Connecticut. The Colt “Peacemaker” was introduced in 1873 and has become one of the most iconic firearms in all of history, thanks to its widespread use by the U.S. military, civilians and, more recently, in Western films. This example was shipped to E.C. Meacham Arms Co. of Saint Louis, Missouri in 1891 and subsequently sold to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company whose headquarters were located in downtown Saint Louis.

This particular Single Action Army has quite the history to go along with it. “Railroad Bulls”, a term for railroad police, was popularized by hobos and ne’er do wells riding the rails from the time of their inception. The Bulls threw off freeloaders but also protected against robberies and other such attacks. The original railroad bulls were private detectives hired typically from the agency of Allan Pinkerton. In the years before the turn of the 20th Century, most railroads took the logical step and formed their own private police agencies rather than hiring the Pinkertons for their heavy lifting. In 1878, the Santa Fe Railroad formed its own police force with 100 hired guns headed by a local town marshal who became the railroad’s first chief of police. That lawman was Bat Masterson!

By the 1940s, the railway police across the country numbered more than 7,000 officers protecting over 240,000 miles of tracks. During both World Wars, railway police guarded bridges and tunnels from saboteurs. The “Bulls” were also pressed into service helping the Army look after the transport of more than 425,000 German and Italian prisoners of war that were transported to 511 camps around the country by rail during WWII.

Railroad & express company owned weapons were usually marked either on the stock or the frame. This one is marked “MO. PAC RY.” on the bottom of the grip frame. The Colt Industries archive letter from 1974 confirms the configuration as you see it: .45 Colt, 4 ¾ inch barrel, blued. It was sent to E.C. Meacham Arms Co. in St. Louis, Missouri on July 10, 1891, in a shipment of 20 total revolvers. There is also a polite letter from the Union Pacific Railroad stating that they do not have any further information on this piece or the company where it was acquired. However, E.C. Meacham (c1871-1900) was a very well-known dealer, importer, and wholesaler of firearms located in St. Louis, Missouri: the “Gateway to the West”. They are also remembered for their centerfire conversions of surplus Sharps carbines into serviceable modern rifles for the West. Their shop address (306 & 308 North 4th Street) was only a few blocks from the Missouri Pacific Railway’s office address (210 North 13th Street).

The overall condition is very good. Original blue finish and patina. Excellent, strong, crisp action with four definitive hammer clicks. Good, firm rampant colt trademarked grips of hard rubber. Numbers match. Bright bore with very nice rifling. This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of Missouri Pacific Railroad & Colt history!

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 4-3/4 inches.

Caliber: .45 Long Colt

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE. Delivered directly to your door by express mail!
Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

ancestryguns

$7325

#210864
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes