SPECTACULAR & RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SPECTACULAR & RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 172734. Cal. 45 Colt. Silver finish with 3-1/2″ bbl, full front sight with 2-line address on top and the caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates with rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with factory 2-pc pearl grips with deep relief raised carved bull’s head on right side. Revolver has Cuno Helfrecht’s deluxe coverage engraving consisting of sweeping foliate arabesque scrolls with punch dot background. Frame has full coverage with his trademark sunburst on the loading gate with unusual snake & dot patterns by the hammer slot. Both sides of the cylinder pin boss have small sunbursts. Top strap is engraved with feather patterns and the bbl has matching foliate arabesque patterns almost full length on both sides with Moorish patterns around front sight. Cylinder is engraved with small sunbursts and foliate arabesque patterns on lands between flutes. Rear edge of cylinder has a zig zag border with two very fine chip borders. Top of back strap has a beautiful sunburst pattern with zig zag and Moorish patterns at the top & heel and over the butt strap. Trigger guard has foliate arabesque patterns. Back strap is engraved “Johnie Johnson”. Front strap is engraved in a different hand “FROM” and butt strap “Mrs R L G to”. Accompanied by two Colt Factory letters, one from 1984 and the other 2007. Both supplying identical information fully identifying this revolver in caliber 45 with 3-1/2″ bbl, silver finish, carved bull head pearl stocks, factory engraved with inscription as found on back strap and shipped to H. Woodhaus & Son, address not available on Sept. 15, 1897 on a one gun shipment. This revolver is made without provision for an ejector rod housing on a standard black powder frame. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, only about 600 of these rare revolvers were made in the period 1882-1896 and of these only a few were engraved. While this revolver was shipped in 1897 which, theoretically, should have placed it in the smokeless powder frame era, Colt obviously, being their usual frugal selves, used a carryover black powder frame to build this revolver. Surviving authentic engraved sheriff-models are virtually nonexistent and this may be the only factory inscribed example. CONDITION: Fine. Overall retains 30-35% orig silver plating with balance a gray patina with orig silver strong in sheltered areas. Engraving remains sharp & clear showing only light surface wear with heavier wear around the muzzle and slight dings on the front sight. Front & back straps are gray metal patina showing moderate to heavy wear. Left grip has a tiny chip at left heel and another at the frame, otherwise grips are sound with a few minor rust stains around the edges and show great fire & color with sharp carving on bull’s head. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-35284 JR232 (90,000-110,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009

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
	2186	$0.00	SPECTACULAR & RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 172734. Cal. 45 Colt. Silver finish with 3-1/2″ bbl, full front sight with 2-line address on top and the caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates with rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with factory 2-pc pearl grips with deep relief raised carved bull’s head on right side. Revolver has Cuno Helfrecht’s deluxe coverage engraving consisting of sweeping foliate arabesque scrolls with punch dot background. Frame has full coverage with his trademark sunburst on the loading gate with unusual snake & dot patterns by the hammer slot. Both sides of the cylinder pin boss have small sunbursts. Top strap is engraved with feather patterns and the bbl has matching foliate arabesque patterns almost full length on both sides with Moorish patterns around front sight. Cylinder is engraved with small sunbursts and foliate arabesque patterns on lands between flutes. Rear edge of cylinder has a zig zag border with two very fine chip borders. Top of back strap has a beautiful sunburst pattern with zig zag and Moorish patterns at the top & heel and over the butt strap. Trigger guard has foliate arabesque patterns. Back strap is engraved “Johnie Johnson”. Front strap is engraved in a different hand “FROM” and butt strap “Mrs R L G to”. Accompanied by two Colt Factory letters, one from 1984 and the other 2007. Both supplying identical information fully identifying this revolver in caliber 45 with 3-1/2″ bbl, silver finish, carved bull head pearl stocks, factory engraved with inscription as found on back strap and shipped to H. Woodhaus & Son, address not available on Sept. 15, 1897 on a one gun shipment. This revolver is made without provision for an ejector rod housing on a standard black powder frame. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, only about 600 of these rare revolvers were made in the period 1882-1896 and of these only a few were engraved. While this revolver was shipped in 1897 which, theoretically, should have placed it in the smokeless powder frame era, Colt obviously, being their usual frugal selves, used a carryover black powder frame to build this revolver. Surviving authentic engraved sheriff-models are virtually nonexistent and this may be the only factory inscribed example. CONDITION: Fine. Overall retains 30-35% orig silver plating with balance a gray patina with orig silver strong in sheltered areas. Engraving remains sharp & clear showing only light surface wear with heavier wear around the muzzle and slight dings on the front sight. Front & back straps are gray metal patina showing moderate to heavy wear. Left grip has a tiny chip at left heel and another at the frame, otherwise grips are sound with a few minor rust stains around the edges and show great fire & color with sharp carving on bull’s head. Hammer is not solid in safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bright bore with fine pitting. 4-35284 JR232 (90,000-110,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2009 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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