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Serial no. 298033, .44-40 caliber, 4 3/4-inch barrel. Blued finish. Case-hardened hammer and frame. Rampant Colt hard rubber grips. An accompanying Colt factory letter states gun was shipped from the factory to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., Chicago, on October 4, 1907 in a shipment of 50 firearms. Revolver sold together with associated antique western gun rig comprising an unmarked pigskin cartridge belt with 40 loops [including 20 period cartridges]. The unmarked pouch-type single action holster with security loop, was identified by Colt historian John A. Kopec as being the work of F.J. Villaescusa of Tucson, A.T. According to the voluminous binder of accompanying provenance, this Colt and gun rig was traded to Benjamin Franklin Taylor by Pancho Villa in 1913 for a .45 caliber, 7 1/2-inch barreled Colt single action revolver. Mr. Taylor states that Villa stopped at his ranch near Rincon, New Mexico in 1913 after escaping from prison in Mexico. Taylor states he was interested in Villa`s Colt because it was chambered for .44-40 caliber cartridges and Taylor owned an 1873 Winchester which could shoot the same round as Villa`s pistol. The subject revolver and gun rig were handed down to Taylor`s son, who was photographed as a young boy in 1913 wearing the same gun rig and revolver [photos included]. Other photos show him wearing the gun and rig at other times later in life and newsclippings documenting the family history of the gun and rig. Lot also includes three booklets on Villa`s career, other supplementary letters and documents pertaining to the ensemble and an associated vintage saltillo blanket. 3000 - 5000

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