^Lot 3304 CUSTOM COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY BUNTLINE SPECIAL

REVOLVER BUILT BY STEMBRIDGE FOR "WILD BILL" ELLIOTT, WITH CASE & STOCK. Cal. 44 Spl. S# 181217. Bbl. 13 1/2". Single Action Army revolver originally mfg. by Colt in 1898 and subsequently converted into the Buntline configuration by Brooks of Stembridge Gun Rentals. The left side of the bbl. is stamped "BROOKS/ 44 SP" towards the chamber. Left side of the frame is marked with Colt's 2-line patent information, followed by the encircled Rampant Colt logo. Rear grip strap is engraved " "Wild Bill" Elliott" in script. Metal components (save for the bbl.) exhibit a reapplied blue finish overall, with the sides of the hammer being polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece smooth wood grips. Standard SAA style blade front sight and frame notched rear sight. Frame features an elongated screw for the Buntline stock attachment. Matching numbers are present on the frame, trigger guard, and rear grip strap. Cyl. is a later Colt replacement. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a folder of documentation, with highlights including: a Colt factory letter indicating "Serial Number: 18127/ Caliber: .38/40/ Barrel Length: 4 3/4"/ Finish: Blue/ Type of Stocks: Rubber/ Shipped To: A. F. Shapleigh Hardware/ Address: St. Louis, Missouri/ Date of Shipment: November 18, 1898/ Number of Same Type Guns in Shipment: 5". A letter from Harold W. Clark (Arms Historian) stating: "The gun was put together by Stembridge Hollywood, CA. the supplier of guns to RKO & Republic Pictures, sole supplier of movie prop guns to the movie industry. Brooks was a gunsmith for Stembridge. Brooks made the barrel so that the gun would look like a Buntline Special that Wild Bill Elliott wanted to use in his next movie. This gun #181217 was Bill Elliotts personal gun and the gun he used in most of the movies he starred in. After the death of Bill Elliot the gun was purchased from the estate by Mr. Bill Watson". Additional paperwork includes scans articles and photos pertaining to "Wild Bill" Elliott, a January-March issue of Dell Comic with Elliot on the cover, as well as an original advert for the movie "The Return of Daniel Boone" starring Bill Elliott. Revolver is also accompanied by a custom wood display case featuring (what appears to be) a silver plaque in the shape of the state of Nevada engraved with a portrait of Elliott above " "Wild Bill"/ Elliott". Case features a green felt lined foam interior and contains a Buntline style stock. CONDITION: metal components retain the vast majority of their blue finish, exhibiting a few spots of light edge wear and some scattered superficial handling marks overall. Rear grip strap shows some mild wear and thinning fading to gray patina. Frame and trigger guard show areas of light to mild pitting beneath the bluing. Mirror bore, retaining well defined rifling throughout. Action is in time, with no notable cyl. play. Grips show some minor superficial marks and impressions, but otherwise remain sound. Stock shows some superficial handling marks and spots/patches of age related discoloration. Case shows scattered superficial handling marks, with the plaque having acquired a darkened patina. PROVENANCE: The Esteemed Norm Greenberg Collection. (01-27646/MLW). ANTIQUE. $4,000-8,000.