Product Details
COLT
A .44-40 ENGRAVED, PLATED SIX SHOT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, MODEL 'FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER', serial no. 121344
for 1887, the 4 3/4in sighted barrel signed in two lines 'COLTS PT F A MFG CO HARTFORD CT USA' and etched in a panel on the l/h side 'COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER' (feint) surrounded by open scrolls on a matt ground, similar scroll-work to r/h side, the ejector rod housing engraved with wavy lines and dot punches, the cylinder with further scrolls and swags, frame en-suite with the barrel, the decoration continuing down the back-strap (worn), two-piece period mother of pearl grips, the whole retaining the majority of its original nickel plate (dulled), with only significant wear to grip-straps and high-spots, TOGETHER WITH an extensive archive of period family photographs and its original holster in distressed condition.
Provenance: This revolver is the former personal sidearm of Arthur Henry Jones-Williams who was born into a landed family in Sussex circa 1866.
He led a fascinating, albeit short life that is well illustrated by the photograph albums, journal and personal letters to his wife that accompany this lot. The date is not recorded, but he left England for Canada with his wife, Lucy Georgiana Gordon, to establish a new life in British Columbia which at the time was very much a 'frontier' region. The albums show the railway being driven forward into Indian territory and the first signs of a new settlement set up alongside the tracks that was to become the town of Vernon. Other images show him involved with timber operations, hunting trips and with various heads of the Indian tribes. Numerous newspaper cuttings also add flavour to the provenance and include the announcement of the death of Queen Victoria in The Vernon News.
Jones-Williams was clearly a noble man and had arranged to return to Great Britain in order to serve in the second Boer War. He was killed tragically by a falling tree very shortly before he was due to embark to make the crossing back to England. Amongst the varied paperwork is his death certificate that records the date of 23rd January 1901. His grave was the first in a plot of land just outside Vernon that is now a large communal graveyard.
The revolver remained with his widow before being passed down through the family to the vendor, Jones-William's grand-daughter.
Other Notes: The vendor has kindly informed us that we may effect an introduction between her and the successful buyer in order to expand on the provenance and to supply a large, framed photograph of the original owner of the lot.
Estimate £1,000-1,500
THE ABOVE LOT IS SOLD UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE 1968 FIREARMS ACT. A SECTION 5 AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED TO PURCHASE OR VIEW THESE ITEMS.
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