VERY RARE L.D. NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

VERY RARE L.D. NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 121828. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL”. Mounted with 2-pc pearl grips with right side having an extremely fine, very detailed relief carved ox head probably carved by Mr. Nimschke himself. Revolver is engraved, again probably by Mr. Nimschke himself with about 60-65% coverage extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with very finely shaded & punch dot background. The recoil shield & loading gate are engraved in sunburst patterns with spider web pattern centers. Top of back strap is engraved in a fan pattern with large sunburst circles. Top strap is engraved with a snake & dot pattern with very unusual large dots with smaller dots stamped in center. Matching dbl dot patterns are also found on the left & right recoil shields. The left side of the base pin boss and right side of the ejector rod housing boss are engraved in sunburst patterns with zig zag & dot patterns in bottom gullets. The foliate arabesque pattern engraving extends about 4″ up both sides of bbl with fine incised lines at the bbl root and snake & dot patterns surrounding the bbl address which terminate in Moorish zig zag pattern near front sight. Ejector rod housing is also engraved with zig zag Moorish & dot patterns in top gullet and outer radius is engraved in a snake pattern with very unusual tiny stamped 5-point stars. The back strap, butt strap & trigger guard are all engraved with zig zag Moorish patterns & dots. Cyl is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns having fine punch dot background on lands between flutes and a chip & dot pattern near rear edge also with a fine incised border line. This beautiful revolver also has the rather unusual feature of a color case hardened hammer. All screws, trigger & base pin are fire blued. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45 with 7-1/2″ bbl, finish “SOFT”, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY on April 15, 1887 in a 4-gun shipment. Under remarks section it is reported “The word “soft” which appears with the finish indicates the frame and gate were not case hardened and these parts were left in a soft condition for outside engraving.” Also accompanied by a letter from renowned firearms authority, author & collector, John Malloy, wherein he verifies most of the above information and states, “In my opinion, one of the finest engraved black powder Colt Single Action Army revolvers I have seen.” Additionally accompanied by a 5-page letter from noted Colt authority, historian & author, R.L. Wilson, wherein he also verifies, in great detail, most of the above information and states that this revolver will be featured in an upcoming book on engraved Colt firearms that he is to publish. This revolver certainly qualifies as one of the finest & most rare engraved Colt Single Actions to come to market in recent years. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except cyl & grips which are unnumbered. Although they are unnumbered it is readily apparent that the cyl is orig to this revolver and grips are rare authentic Nimschke engraved and one of his finest examples. Overall retains virtually all of its strong orig nickel finish with some slight dulling on ejector rod housing, undoubtedly from simply laying on its right side. The screws, trigger & base pin retain virtually all of their bright fire blue and the hammer strong, bright case colors on sides & rear edge with top edge turned dark. Grips have a chipped right toe, otherwise are sound and retain great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered tiny spots of pitting. Revolver may have been fired, but if so, very little. Certainly one of the finest examples extant. 4-42390 JR11 (125,000-175,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2062	$149,500.00	VERY RARE L.D. NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 121828. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 7-1/2″ bbl, full front sight and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL”. Mounted with 2-pc pearl grips with right side having an extremely fine, very detailed relief carved ox head probably carved by Mr. Nimschke himself. Revolver is engraved, again probably by Mr. Nimschke himself with about 60-65% coverage extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with very finely shaded & punch dot background. The recoil shield & loading gate are engraved in sunburst patterns with spider web pattern centers. Top of back strap is engraved in a fan pattern with large sunburst circles. Top strap is engraved with a snake & dot pattern with very unusual large dots with smaller dots stamped in center. Matching dbl dot patterns are also found on the left & right recoil shields. The left side of the base pin boss and right side of the ejector rod housing boss are engraved in sunburst patterns with zig zag & dot patterns in bottom gullets. The foliate arabesque pattern engraving extends about 4″ up both sides of bbl with fine incised lines at the bbl root and snake & dot patterns surrounding the bbl address which terminate in Moorish zig zag pattern near front sight. Ejector rod housing is also engraved with zig zag Moorish & dot patterns in top gullet and outer radius is engraved in a snake pattern with very unusual tiny stamped 5-point stars. The back strap, butt strap & trigger guard are all engraved with zig zag Moorish patterns & dots. Cyl is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns having fine punch dot background on lands between flutes and a chip & dot pattern near rear edge also with a fine incised border line. This beautiful revolver also has the rather unusual feature of a color case hardened hammer. All screws, trigger & base pin are fire blued. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45 with 7-1/2″ bbl, finish “SOFT”, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY on April 15, 1887 in a 4-gun shipment. Under remarks section it is reported “The word “soft” which appears with the finish indicates the frame and gate were not case hardened and these parts were left in a soft condition for outside engraving.” Also accompanied by a letter from renowned firearms authority, author & collector, John Malloy, wherein he verifies most of the above information and states, “In my opinion, one of the finest engraved black powder Colt Single Action Army revolvers I have seen.” Additionally accompanied by a 5-page letter from noted Colt authority, historian & author, R.L. Wilson, wherein he also verifies, in great detail, most of the above information and states that this revolver will be featured in an upcoming book on engraved Colt firearms that he is to publish. This revolver certainly qualifies as one of the finest & most rare engraved Colt Single Actions to come to market in recent years. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except cyl & grips which are unnumbered. Although they are unnumbered it is readily apparent that the cyl is orig to this revolver and grips are rare authentic Nimschke engraved and one of his finest examples. Overall retains virtually all of its strong orig nickel finish with some slight dulling on ejector rod housing, undoubtedly from simply laying on its right side. The screws, trigger & base pin retain virtually all of their bright fire blue and the hammer strong, bright case colors on sides & rear edge with top edge turned dark. Grips have a chipped right toe, otherwise are sound and retain great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore with a few scattered tiny spots of pitting. Revolver may have been fired, but if so, very little. Certainly one of the finest examples extant. 4-42390 JR11 (125,000-175,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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