C434A & C434B PAIR OF COLT SECOND GENERATION SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS PRESENTED TO MARLIN EXHIBITION SHOOTER COLONEL LEON LARSON [M];

Description

C434A & C434B PAIR OF COLT SECOND GENERATION SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS PRESENTED TO MARLIN EXHIBITION SHOOTER COLONEL LEON LARSON; Manufactured in 1966, this is an outstanding pair of Second Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers that are documented as having been presented to Marlin factory exhibition shooter and quick draw world record holder Colonel Larson. An included document signed by Gary Larson, Colonel Larson’s son, lists these two Colts, two Marlin lever action, and an additional Marlin lever action, all as being owned by Larson. On that document, it is stated that these two revolvers were presented to Larson by Colt for setting world records in fast draw. Another document includes information about Larson, noting that he was a very successful athlete in both high school and college, before being diagnosed with polio when he was 27 years old. It was during his recovery from the disease that he took up shooting, as well as rope and whip tricks, and once he recovered he began doing small exhibitions are rodeos and schools. From 1956 to 1960 he began shooting seriously, stating that he was firing 1,000 rounds per day. In 1960, he set six world records for marksmanship and also started competing in fast draw competitions, and it is noted that he could shoot out five balloons at 15 feet in one second. In 1961, Marlin Firearms Co. offered Larson sponsorship and he became their factory exhibition shooter, calling himself “the last of the hired guns”, while Marlin called him their “world rifle champion”. These two revolvers have standard markings and features along with the factory hard rubber grips wrapped with snake skin, likely as part of the presentation. Condition is excellent, near as new, likely unused with 99% plus original blue and casehardened finishes having only the slightest handling marks. The grips are fine as snake skin wrapped with some very light flaking of the wrap material. Mechanically excellent.

MODERN   $ 10,575. /pair