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THE JIM FISK CLOVERLEAF: EDWARD STOKES' COLT HOUSE MODEL REVOLVER USED TO KILL JAMES FISK AT THE GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL, 1872.

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Serial no. 4545, .38 caliber 3 inch barrel. New York scroll and pattern engraving,

Serial no. 4545, .38 caliber 3 inch barrel. New York scroll and pattern engraving, inscribed below: "Colt's House Pistol, Hartford, Ct. U.S.A." Nickel plated brass frame with two-piece replacement grips. Condition: Fine. With over 30% nickel remaining. Mellow patina to grips.
Provenance: Edward Stokes (court transcripts recording the revolver at trial, by serial number, and inscription); Judge Franklin Taylor (Typed Letter Signed, on Court letterhead describing his acquisition of the gun), by descent; acquired Robert Q. Sutherland Arms Collection (printed description on his letterhead, correspondence with R.L. Wilson); sold to Jim and Theresa Earle (through Bob Berryman), March 7, 1975.
Literature: Elman, Robert. Fired in Anger, New York, 1968. Wilson, R.L. and Sutherland, R.Q. The Book of Colt Firearms, Minneapolis, 2008.

THE ORIGINAL JIM FISK CLOVERLEAF, USED BY STOKES TO KILL "DIAMOND JIM" FISK, and the reason that the Colt House Model became known as the "Fisk Cloverleaf." "Diamond Jim" Fisk, or "Jubilee Jim," was one of the most famous, and infamous, "robber barons" of the Gilded Age. Most famously, he and Jay Gould attempted to corner the gold market in 1869, leading to the first "Black Friday" in September 1869 as the financial markets collapsed after President Grant released $4 million in government gold into the markets.

However, Fisk's business exploits would soon be overshadowed by his personal life. In 1867, he began a relationship with Josie Mansfield, a voluptuous beauty who had up until then led a hard life. Fisk gave her money and bought her a four-story brownstone on West 24th St in New York. In 1869, Fisk befriended Edward Stokes, went into business with him, and on New Year's Day, 1870, introduced Mansfield to Stokes. Stokes and Mansfield soon began an affair, leading to a contentious love triangle and legal battles both personal and in their businesses. When Stokes tried to extort Fisk for $200,000, threatening to release the love letters of Fisk & Mansfield to the press, Fisk refused to pay. As the tension mounted, and Fisk threatened to expose the blackmail, Stokes snapped. On January 6, 1872, Stokes waited for Fisk at the Grand Central Hotel. As Fisk entered through the Ladies' entrance, as he always did, Stokes descended from the second floor, shooting Fisk twice with this Colt House Model.

An historic gun, commemorating one of the great scandals of the Gilded Age, as well as the origin of the classic Jim Fisk Cloverleaf.

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27 Aug 2021
USA, Los Angeles, CA
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Serial no. 4545, .38 caliber 3 inch barrel. New York scroll and pattern engraving,

Serial no. 4545, .38 caliber 3 inch barrel. New York scroll and pattern engraving, inscribed below: "Colt's House Pistol, Hartford, Ct. U.S.A." Nickel plated brass frame with two-piece replacement grips. Condition: Fine. With over 30% nickel remaining. Mellow patina to grips.
Provenance: Edward Stokes (court transcripts recording the revolver at trial, by serial number, and inscription); Judge Franklin Taylor (Typed Letter Signed, on Court letterhead describing his acquisition of the gun), by descent; acquired Robert Q. Sutherland Arms Collection (printed description on his letterhead, correspondence with R.L. Wilson); sold to Jim and Theresa Earle (through Bob Berryman), March 7, 1975.
Literature: Elman, Robert. Fired in Anger, New York, 1968. Wilson, R.L. and Sutherland, R.Q. The Book of Colt Firearms, Minneapolis, 2008.

THE ORIGINAL JIM FISK CLOVERLEAF, USED BY STOKES TO KILL "DIAMOND JIM" FISK, and the reason that the Colt House Model became known as the "Fisk Cloverleaf." "Diamond Jim" Fisk, or "Jubilee Jim," was one of the most famous, and infamous, "robber barons" of the Gilded Age. Most famously, he and Jay Gould attempted to corner the gold market in 1869, leading to the first "Black Friday" in September 1869 as the financial markets collapsed after President Grant released $4 million in government gold into the markets.

However, Fisk's business exploits would soon be overshadowed by his personal life. In 1867, he began a relationship with Josie Mansfield, a voluptuous beauty who had up until then led a hard life. Fisk gave her money and bought her a four-story brownstone on West 24th St in New York. In 1869, Fisk befriended Edward Stokes, went into business with him, and on New Year's Day, 1870, introduced Mansfield to Stokes. Stokes and Mansfield soon began an affair, leading to a contentious love triangle and legal battles both personal and in their businesses. When Stokes tried to extort Fisk for $200,000, threatening to release the love letters of Fisk & Mansfield to the press, Fisk refused to pay. As the tension mounted, and Fisk threatened to expose the blackmail, Stokes snapped. On January 6, 1872, Stokes waited for Fisk at the Grand Central Hotel. As Fisk entered through the Ladies' entrance, as he always did, Stokes descended from the second floor, shooting Fisk twice with this Colt House Model.

An historic gun, commemorating one of the great scandals of the Gilded Age, as well as the origin of the classic Jim Fisk Cloverleaf.

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Sale price
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Estimate
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Time, Location
27 Aug 2021
USA, Los Angeles, CA
Auction House
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