3273 THE ONE. THE ONLY. FACTORY DOCUMENTED COLT 12"

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Nov 01 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 50,000.00 USD
Estimated at 100,000.00 - 200,000.00 USD
BUNTLINE SPECIAL SAA REVOLVER. Cal. 45 Colt. S# 28822. Bbl 12" with factory globe front sight. This revolver is pictured on page 27 of "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER" by Graham, Kopec & Moore. Page 27 also states this SAA as the only 12" Buntline Special known to exist. Only 19 of these exceedingly rare revolvers were manufactured from 1876-1884. 12 are recorded as having 16" bbls, 4 are documented as 10", only this one is listed as 12" with the remainder being listed as "unknown". Unique to this specific model is the flat top milled frame housing ladder type flip up long range rear sight. The moniker "Buntline Special" was a term coined in the 1930's by dime novelist Edward Zane Carrol, whose pen name was Ned Buntline. The term caught on so well that in the 1950s, Colt began manufacturing long barreled SAA revolvers with longer barrels as "Buntline" Models. This model is commonly associated with frontier legends Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. Fortunately for collectors, this gun was rescued from extinction by revered Colt collector Mel Torme as detailed in his February 1978 signed letter. Unfortunately, as stated in aforementioned letter, upon discovering this revolver, Torme indicates that the original bbl & ejector tube were covered in rust so that the bbl markings were barely legible. Under advisement from William Locke in 1968, Torme sent the gun to Tom Haas Sr. for refinishing of all blued parts. The extent of wear to the bbl made a refinish impossible as it appears Mr. Haas recreated a copy of the original bbl. THANKFULLY, THE FACTORY, ORIGINAL BBL, DOES ACCOMPANY THE GUN. Of note, in the Torme letter, it is stated that Torme recently learned that S.C. Wingard, the man who ordered this and separately another 10" Buntline Special revolver from Colt, was the founder of the American Rifle Magazine, other than that, little is known of Wingard at this time. Matching numbers on frame, trigger guard frame, butt, cylinder and bbl. Original case hardened frame and hammer, 6-shot fluted cylinder, blued grip frame, & original 1-piece walnut grip. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: Period correct brass skeletonized shoulder stock. Original matching numbered 12" bbl. Two copies of Colt factory letters confirming the following: "Serial Number: 28822 / Caliber: .45/c / Barrel Length: 12" / Finish: Blue / Type of stocks: Not Listed / Special Features: Furnished with Peep & Globe sights / Shipped To: S.C. WIngard ' Address: Unavailable / Date of Shipment: October 4, 1878 / Number of Same Type Guns in Shipment: 1". Photocopy of signed Mel Torme letter detailing his account with this revolver. CONDITION: Bbl, grip frame & ejector housing near excellent as refinished by Tom Haas Sr. Cylinder retains 75-80% bright refinished blue with scattered areas of thinning finish & moderate cylinder drag line. Original frame finish retains approximately 75% vivid case colors with scattered areas of light oxidation. Very good grips display scattered, minor impressions & marks. Mirror bright bore with crisp rifling, mechanically excellent with all four clicks present. Very few people could consider themselves lucky enough to have both the means and opportunity to own an original Colt Buntline Special. However, only 1 of you will be able to say "I own the ONLY documented 12" Buntline Special that is known to exist!". PROVENANCE: The Esteemed Collection of Norm Greenberg. Ex. Mel Torme Collection; Ex Bill Simon Collection. (01-27617/BH). ANTIQUE. $100,000-200,000