Incredibly Rare Well-Documented Factory 12 Inch "Buntline" Barrel Nickel Plated Colt Model 1878 Double Action Revolver with Factory Letter, Formerly of The William Locke Collection and Featured in Don Wilkerson's Book "Colt's Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878"

An extraordinary Colt Model 1878 “Buntline” revolver with exceptional factory provenance, published documentation, and a reportedly unique factory configuration—an elite-level rarity for advanced Colt collectors.

• Accompanied by a factory letter confirming:
  • Shipped as a single-gun shipment on August 30, 1886
  • Sent to Schoverling, Daly & Gales in New York City
  • Current configuration with:
    • Extremely rare 12-inch barrel
    • .45 caliber / .45 Long Colt chambering
    • Nickel finish
    • Hard rubber stocks, meaning original-style hard rubber grips
• True Colt collecting rarity:
  • This 12-inch “Buntline” barreled Colt Model 1878 revolver is reportedly the only known example factory made in this exact configuration
  • Shipped in .45 Long Colt with a 12-inch barrel and nickel finish
  • Rarity supported by figures on page 213 of Don Wilkerson’s book “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878” published in 1998
• Published and documented example:
  • This exact revolver is featured on page 47 of Wilkerson’s “Colt’s Double-Action Revolver, Model of 1878”
  • The caption in Wilkerson’s book notes that only one other 12-inch barreled example is known to have been made
  • That other known 12-inch example differs from this revolver by being chambered in .38-40 and having a blue finish
  • This exact revolver is also featured on page 209 of “The William M. Locke Collection” book
• Special factory features noted in both publications:
  • Rare 12-inch barrel
  • Special provisions in the grip straps for a shoulder stock
  • Special rear sight
• Historic Colt Model 1878 significance:
  • Designed by William Mason, Colt’s factory manager
  • Also designed by Charles Brinckerhoff Richards, Colt’s Superintendent of Engineering
  • Created as Colt’s double-action alternative to the legendary Colt Single Action Army revolver
  • Although the Model 1878 was less popular than its single-action counterpart, it was favored by some in the American West for its increased firepower
  • Notable users included Captain Jack Crawford, who replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as “Chief of Scouts” shortly after the Battle of Little Bighorn
• Markings and identification:
  • Top of barrel marked with the one-line Hartford address
  • Left side of trigger guard marked “45 CAL”
  • Full serial number “17475” marked on the butt
  • Assembly number “176” marked on the loading gate
  • Rear face of cylinder marked with a “1” and an “L”
• Sights and hardware:
  • Fitted with a blade front sight
  • Equipped with the noted special rear sight
  • Lanyard swivel mounted on the butt
• Collector appeal:
  • Factory-lettered, single-gun shipment provenance
  • Reportedly unique .45 Long Colt, 12-inch barrel, nickel-finished configuration
  • Published in two major Colt/reference collection books
  • Documented special-order-style features including shoulder stock provisions and special rear sight
  • A standout opportunity for collectors focused on rare Colt double-action revolvers, documented factory rarities, and historically significant 19th-century Colt arms