Beautiful circa 1880 Colt Frontier Six-Shooter .44-40 caliber handgun revolver from the personal collection of prolific Western movie star Bob Steele, which was presented to him by RKO Studios, ostensibly in the 1930s. A variation of the 1873 Colt Single Action Army ‘Model P’ revolver, the Colt Frontier Six-Shooter revolver was one of the most common seen in ‘the Old West,’ and an ideal gift for cowboy hero Bob Steele, whose name is neatly engraved on the back strap in capital letters. The revolver, serial #59009, which has been custom nickel-plated with ornate scrollwork, features stunning mother-of-pearl grips, with the underside of the back strap marked “RKO.” The barrel is marked “Colt Frontier Six Shooter” and “Colt’s Pt. F. A. Mfg. Co. Hartford, CT. USA,” the frame is etched “Colt 44,” and the trigger guard is stamped “44. CF.” The gun is in good operating and functional condition, features aftermarket nickel plating and engraving, and the left mother-of-pearl grip has been repaired.
American actor Bob Steele, born Robert North Bradbury, Jr. (1907–1988), and his twin brother, Bill, were the sons of film director Robert N. Bradbury. At the age of 13, the twins began their acting career in the silent film The Adventures of Bill and Bob, directed by their father, and continued in a series of Bradbury Sr.'s film shorts. Bill played football in college and pursued a career in medicine, while Bob stayed in the movie industry. He continued to act under his real name until he signed with FBO and starred in the 1927 film The Mojave Kid, when he was billed as Bob Steele. During his career of more than 100 films and television shows between 1920 and 1974, Steele was known primarily for his work in Westerns, and appeared in films opposite big stars like Humphrey Bogart, Clint Eastwood, and John Wayne. He later became familiar to America's television audiences for his recurring role as Trooper Duffy in the comedy series F Troop. A highly collectible ‘Old West’ Colt Frontier Six-Shooter that’s made all the more desirable by the distinction of its former owner.
