MATCHED PAIR OF ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS.

SN 95521, 111471. Cal 45 Colt. Revolvers are virtually identical with 7-1/2″ bbls and 1-line block letter addresses. Left side of frames have 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guards have caliber markings. They are mounted with 2-pc pearl grips, left and right hand, incise carved with a shaggy face-on buffalo head on one side and a naked lady on the other side. Both sets of grips have foliate arabesque patterns at tops and bottoms with a fine line borders. Right grip on #111471 is broken and repaired. Revolvers are identically engraved by L.D. Nimschke with nearly full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the frames and elaborate shell patterns on the recoil shields and loading gates. Top straps are engraved in feather patterns. Almost identical matching engraving patterns extend up both sides of the bbls, over the tops between the addresses and front sights, and each side of the muzzles. Backstraps are engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive fan patterns with foliate arabesque and geometric patterns down the backstraps. Buttstraps and trigger bows are also engraved in geometric patterns. Cyl has matching foliate arabesque patterns on lands between the flutes with fine pearled panels in between and a wide square & stars border around the back edges. Ejector housings are engraved with geometric patterns in the top gullets and snake and dot patterns on the outer radii. Accompanied by a large packet of information which includes several Colt Factory letters for both revolvers. These letter identify these revolvers in cal 45 with 7-1/2″ bbls, silver finish, pearl grips, and factory engraved, shipped to William Nelson, address unavailable, on September 30, 1884, in a 2 gun shipment. The early letters list his name as “William Nelon” and the later letters show his name as “William Nelson”. These later letters also list both serial numbers in the same shipment. Additional research accomplished by previous owners disclose that Major William Nelson came from Indiana along with Judge J.B. Shackleford to Muscogee, OK, in April 1889 to establish the first court in Oklahoma, Indian Territory. Judge Shackleford was the presiding judge and he appointed Major Nelson as Clerk of the Court. The records show that Major Nelson was from Evansville, IN, a retired officer who had served in the immediate county (around Muscogee) and “in Arizona”. There is very little additional information regarding Major Nelson in this large volume of research other than he is mentioned on pps 458 & 462 of the Chronicles of Oklahoma. A copy of an article which appeared in the April 23, 1988 Oklahoman & Times newspaper is a story about the Guthrie, OK, Old Blue Belle Saloon being back in business. The article relates that on April 23, 1889 John Sampsel opened the first Blue Belle Saloon in Guthrie on a lot that he purchased from Major William Nelson for $30. Since Major Nelson was a member of the court and in Oklahoma, Indian Territory, prior to the Great Oklahoma Land Rush it is elsewhere speculated that he might have used his position to stake claims “a little early” as did many other sooners. A search of a Civil War personnel data base disclosed several hundred Union soldiers named William Nelson, so no conclusive evidence could be found that Mr. Nelson had served in the Army. Regardless of Major Nelson’s status, it is apparent that he had fine taste in firearms. PROVENANCE: Larry Scherrin Collection; Jack Slaughter; Lang Spraggins; Tom Seymour Collection; Dr. S.H. Janes Collection. CONDITION: 1) Serial number 95521: Extremely fine. Overall retains about 97-98% strong orig silver finish with only faint losses inside the cyl opening. Cyl shows equal amount of coverage and very little use, if any. Grips are extremely fine, showing very little to no wear, with good crisp carving showing and great fire and are possibly more modern replacements, carved to match. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with scattered very fine pitting. 2) Serial number 111471: Overall retains about 60-70% orig silver finish with loss areas barely distinguishable gray metal. Both left and right edges of muzzle show extremely heavy holster wear, as does the recoil shield and outer radius of ejector housing. Cyl is a gray metal patina, showing moderate to heavy wear on the engraving. Grips show moderate wear with a chipped left toe and the aforementioned repair of right grip. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with moderate pitting. It is readily apparent that Mr. Nelson used revolver #1 and not #2. 4-51263 JR217 (60,000-80,000) – Lot 3088

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Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014

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
	3088	$66,125.00	MATCHED PAIR OF ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS. SN 95521, 111471. Cal 45 Colt. Revolvers are virtually identical with 7-1/2″ bbls and 1-line block letter addresses. Left side of frames have 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guards have caliber markings. They are mounted with 2-pc pearl grips, left and right hand, incise carved with a shaggy face-on buffalo head on one side and a naked lady on the other side. Both sets of grips have foliate arabesque patterns at tops and bottoms with a fine line borders. Right grip on #111471 is broken and repaired. Revolvers are identically engraved by L.D. Nimschke with nearly full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the frames and elaborate shell patterns on the recoil shields and loading gates. Top straps are engraved in feather patterns. Almost identical matching engraving patterns extend up both sides of the bbls, over the tops between the addresses and front sights, and each side of the muzzles. Backstraps are engraved in Mr. Nimschke’s distinctive fan patterns with foliate arabesque and geometric patterns down the backstraps. Buttstraps and trigger bows are also engraved in geometric patterns. Cyl has matching foliate arabesque patterns on lands between the flutes with fine pearled panels in between and a wide square & stars border around the back edges. Ejector housings are engraved with geometric patterns in the top gullets and snake and dot patterns on the outer radii. Accompanied by a large packet of information which includes several Colt Factory letters for both revolvers. These letter identify these revolvers in cal 45 with 7-1/2″ bbls, silver finish, pearl grips, and factory engraved, shipped to William Nelson, address unavailable, on September 30, 1884, in a 2 gun shipment. The early letters list his name as “William Nelon” and the later letters show his name as “William Nelson”. These later letters also list both serial numbers in the same shipment. Additional research accomplished by previous owners disclose that Major William Nelson came from Indiana along with Judge J.B. Shackleford to Muscogee, OK, in April 1889 to establish the first court in Oklahoma, Indian Territory. Judge Shackleford was the presiding judge and he appointed Major Nelson as Clerk of the Court. The records show that Major Nelson was from Evansville, IN, a retired officer who had served in the immediate county (around Muscogee) and “in Arizona”. There is very little additional information regarding Major Nelson in this large volume of research other than he is mentioned on pps 458 & 462 of the Chronicles of Oklahoma. A copy of an article which appeared in the April 23, 1988 Oklahoman & Times newspaper is a story about the Guthrie, OK, Old Blue Belle Saloon being back in business. The article relates that on April 23, 1889 John Sampsel opened the first Blue Belle Saloon in Guthrie on a lot that he purchased from Major William Nelson for $30. Since Major Nelson was a member of the court and in Oklahoma, Indian Territory, prior to the Great Oklahoma Land Rush it is elsewhere speculated that he might have used his position to stake claims “a little early” as did many other sooners. A search of a Civil War personnel data base disclosed several hundred Union soldiers named William Nelson, so no conclusive evidence could be found that Mr. Nelson had served in the Army. Regardless of Major Nelson’s status, it is apparent that he had fine taste in firearms. PROVENANCE: Larry Scherrin Collection; Jack Slaughter; Lang Spraggins; Tom Seymour Collection; Dr. S.H. Janes Collection. CONDITION: 1) Serial number 95521: Extremely fine. Overall retains about 97-98% strong orig silver finish with only faint losses inside the cyl opening. Cyl shows equal amount of coverage and very little use, if any. Grips are extremely fine, showing very little to no wear, with good crisp carving showing and great fire and are possibly more modern replacements, carved to match. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with scattered very fine pitting. 2) Serial number 111471: Overall retains about 60-70% orig silver finish with loss areas barely distinguishable gray metal. Both left and right edges of muzzle show extremely heavy holster wear, as does the recoil shield and outer radius of ejector housing. Cyl is a gray metal patina, showing moderate to heavy wear on the engraving. Grips show moderate wear with a chipped left toe and the aforementioned repair of right grip. Mechanics are fine. Strong bore with moderate pitting. It is readily apparent that Mr. Nelson used revolver #1 and not #2. 4-51263 JR217 (60,000-80,000) – Lot 3088 \| Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - Fall 2014 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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MATCHED PAIR OF ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS.