THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE SEARS & ROEBUCK “COW BOY” SPECIAL.

THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE SEARS & ROEBUCK “COW BOY” SPECIAL. SN 172485. Cal. 45 Colt. The Sears & Roebuck Colt Single Action Army Revolver, like few other firearms known, has reached near-mythical legend since it was discovered in recent years. It has the belonged to several notable collectors and is almost completely documented from its production in 1897 and shipment to Sears & Roebuck in Chicago where it was used as a promotional item in their advertising & catalogues. Apparently when Sears was no longer using this wonderful piece in their advertising it was relegated to a storeroom or one of the company officials’ office displays, it was sold to an unidentified private individual and remained in the Chicago area until 1954 when the famous singer & actor, Mel Torme, learned of its existence through Mr. Ted Busse, a salesman for Klein’s Sporting Goods Store in North Chicago. He purchased it after much agonizing for the grand sum of $750.00, a truly substantial amount of money in that day & age when an ordinary Colt Single Action could be purchased for $50.00 or less. This fabulous Colt remained in Mr. Torme’s collection until 1975 when he was tempted to sell it to Mr. John Solley for the astronomical sum of $100,000. From Mr. Solley it was sold to David S. Woloch, then to a private collector in Texas and from there to Stanley Shapiro. There are probably other owners between Mr. Shapiro and Dr. Murphy who are unknown at this time. Of the total Pre-WWII production of 357,859 Single Action Army revolver only about a single handful are known with factory engraving and gold inlay. In addition to the Sears & Roebuck colt simply being a superior price, it is also one of the most rare. This fantastic Single Action Army revolver is described as having a 5-1/2” bbl with orig full front sight, 1-line block letter address and the caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and it is fitted with exceptional 2-pc pearl grips that are unusually Bas relief carved with the figure of seated Columbia holding a staff & cap at her right side. It has D+ coverage spectacular engraving by master engraved Cuno Helfrecht with beautiful intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on frame, recoil shield & loading gate. Top strap has braided rope patterns down each side. The bbl has extensive coverage with foliate arabesque patterns, some of which terminate in flower blossoms with beautiful shell patterns on each side surrounding a diamond & dot checkerboard pattern. Bbl address is very nicely framed with multiple borders of chip & dot, straight lines and feather patterns which terminate toward the muzzle in a figure-8 pattern around front sight. Ejector rod housing has foliate & arabesque patterns at each end with a vine & leaf pattern on outside radius with a snake pattern in top gullet and fine side patterns. Bbl has wide & narrow gold bands at the frame end with a narrow gold band at muzzle. Engraving on the frame itself is outlined with a fine gold wire border and the rampant Colt on left side is within a gold circle. Cylinder is spectacularly engraved with four different patterns of engraving on the lands between the flutes, consisting of three panels of foliate arabesque scrolls, another of flower blossoms & stones, still another of different flowers and the last one of multiple flower, foliate & leaf patterns. The bands between cylinder stop notches & approaches are lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns and two fine borders. Rear of cylinder has a feather pattern border between two fine gold bands. Top of back strap is engraved with a beautiful foliate fan pattern outlined in gold wire with foliate arabesque patterns down back strap, at the heel and across buttstrap. Trigger guard is engraved to match with another fan around the frame serial number. All engraving has an extremely fine punch dot background with delicate & fine shadings. Accompanied by its orig gray suede covered, French fitted casing that has a purple satin lining in the lid with gold edged ribbon over center and a purple velvet lined bottom that is recessed for the revolver and a pillow shaped covered cartridge recess in right front. This casing is similar to earlier Colt factory casings. This revolver is pictured in full color on p. 421 of The Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I, Wilson, on pp. 157-159 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. Accompanied by three issues of Man at Arms magazine: March/April 1983 which contains a 5-page article on this revolver by R.L. Wilson along with full color center photographs; November/December 1985 which includes the aforementioned advertisement by Clark Cail on p. 11; and September/October 1988 which includes a 2-page guest editorial by Mel Torme wherein he mentions selling this revolver and being presented with a facsimile serial number 172485 for giving a concert at the Benefit Auction Preview for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Arms & Armor in New York in October 1985. That facsimile revolver is being sold immediately following the sale of this revolver, the original. Also accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver, as found, in 45 caliber with 5-1/2” bbl, blue finish, pearl stocks “with carved Goddess of Liberty motif” and engraved and inlaid in gold. It was shipped to Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 23, 1897 in a shipment of one firearm. Also accompanied by a bronze rampant Colt, Colt Collector’s Association Award. The bronze stands 14-1/2″ high by about 11″ wide on a 8-5/8″ round walnut base. Additionally accompanied by a small grouping of Sears & Roebuck items including a 2-3/4″ x 1-3/4″ oval sharpening stone that was a company handout; a 6″ x 4-3/8″ painted tin tip tray which pictures the Sears & Roebuck store in Chicago and a box of 50 stereoptic viewer cards of the Sears store and catalogue operation including a picture of Mr. R.W. Sears, President of the company. The box has a black paper cover embossed in gold on the lid “A TRIP THROUGH SEARS ROEBUCK & CO.” PROVENANCE: Klein’s Sporting Goods, Chicago; Mel Torme Collection; John Solley Collection; David S. Woloch Collection; Stanley Shapiro Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains about 98% fine orig factory blue, including the frame which is not now and never was case colored. Bbl has slight muzzle edge wear and light wear at front of ejector rod housing. Body of ejector rod housing has a few small scattered spots of chemical staining which has left fine pitting. Frame retains virtually all of its fine orig factory blue, including screw heads. Back strap & butt strap retain about all of their orig factory blue, slightly thinned on back strap. Trigger guard is slightly thinned on trigger bow with a small spot of pitting and some light rust on front strap. Grips are sound with tremendous fire & color with some visible rust staining on both sides that has been present since this revolver was rediscovered. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is lightly soiled on exterior with some slight weakness in fabric over the hinge and some minor damage in recess in bottom around revolver. Bronze and Sears items are all very fine to extremely fine. 4-36438 JR79 (450,000-800,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2030	$747,500.00	THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ENGRAVED & GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE SEARS & ROEBUCK “COW BOY” SPECIAL. SN 172485. Cal. 45 Colt. The Sears & Roebuck Colt Single Action Army Revolver, like few other firearms known, has reached near-mythical legend since it was discovered in recent years. It has the belonged to several notable collectors and is almost completely documented from its production in 1897 and shipment to Sears & Roebuck in Chicago where it was used as a promotional item in their advertising & catalogues. Apparently when Sears was no longer using this wonderful piece in their advertising it was relegated to a storeroom or one of the company officials’ office displays, it was sold to an unidentified private individual and remained in the Chicago area until 1954 when the famous singer & actor, Mel Torme, learned of its existence through Mr. Ted Busse, a salesman for Klein’s Sporting Goods Store in North Chicago. He purchased it after much agonizing for the grand sum of $750.00, a truly substantial amount of money in that day & age when an ordinary Colt Single Action could be purchased for $50.00 or less. This fabulous Colt remained in Mr. Torme’s collection until 1975 when he was tempted to sell it to Mr. John Solley for the astronomical sum of $100,000. From Mr. Solley it was sold to David S. Woloch, then to a private collector in Texas and from there to Stanley Shapiro. There are probably other owners between Mr. Shapiro and Dr. Murphy who are unknown at this time. Of the total Pre-WWII production of 357,859 Single Action Army revolver only about a single handful are known with factory engraving and gold inlay. In addition to the Sears & Roebuck colt simply being a superior price, it is also one of the most rare. This fantastic Single Action Army revolver is described as having a 5-1/2” bbl with orig full front sight, 1-line block letter address and the caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and it is fitted with exceptional 2-pc pearl grips that are unusually Bas relief carved with the figure of seated Columbia holding a staff & cap at her right side. It has D+ coverage spectacular engraving by master engraved Cuno Helfrecht with beautiful intertwined foliate arabesque patterns on frame, recoil shield & loading gate. Top strap has braided rope patterns down each side. The bbl has extensive coverage with foliate arabesque patterns, some of which terminate in flower blossoms with beautiful shell patterns on each side surrounding a diamond & dot checkerboard pattern. Bbl address is very nicely framed with multiple borders of chip & dot, straight lines and feather patterns which terminate toward the muzzle in a figure-8 pattern around front sight. Ejector rod housing has foliate & arabesque patterns at each end with a vine & leaf pattern on outside radius with a snake pattern in top gullet and fine side patterns. Bbl has wide & narrow gold bands at the frame end with a narrow gold band at muzzle. Engraving on the frame itself is outlined with a fine gold wire border and the rampant Colt on left side is within a gold circle. Cylinder is spectacularly engraved with four different patterns of engraving on the lands between the flutes, consisting of three panels of foliate arabesque scrolls, another of flower blossoms & stones, still another of different flowers and the last one of multiple flower, foliate & leaf patterns. The bands between cylinder stop notches & approaches are lightly engraved with foliate arabesque patterns and two fine borders. Rear of cylinder has a feather pattern border between two fine gold bands. Top of back strap is engraved with a beautiful foliate fan pattern outlined in gold wire with foliate arabesque patterns down back strap, at the heel and across buttstrap. Trigger guard is engraved to match with another fan around the frame serial number. All engraving has an extremely fine punch dot background with delicate & fine shadings. Accompanied by its orig gray suede covered, French fitted casing that has a purple satin lining in the lid with gold edged ribbon over center and a purple velvet lined bottom that is recessed for the revolver and a pillow shaped covered cartridge recess in right front. This casing is similar to earlier Colt factory casings. This revolver is pictured in full color on p. 421 of The Colt Engraving Book, Vol. I, Wilson, on pp. 157-159 of Fine Colts The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection, Wilson. Accompanied by three issues of Man at Arms magazine: March/April 1983 which contains a 5-page article on this revolver by R.L. Wilson along with full color center photographs; November/December 1985 which includes the aforementioned advertisement by Clark Cail on p. 11; and September/October 1988 which includes a 2-page guest editorial by Mel Torme wherein he mentions selling this revolver and being presented with a facsimile serial number 172485 for giving a concert at the Benefit Auction Preview for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Department of Arms & Armor in New York in October 1985. That facsimile revolver is being sold immediately following the sale of this revolver, the original. Also accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver, as found, in 45 caliber with 5-1/2” bbl, blue finish, pearl stocks “with carved Goddess of Liberty motif” and engraved and inlaid in gold. It was shipped to Sears Roebuck & Co., Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 23, 1897 in a shipment of one firearm. Also accompanied by a bronze rampant Colt, Colt Collector’s Association Award. The bronze stands 14-1/2″ high by about 11″ wide on a 8-5/8″ round walnut base. Additionally accompanied by a small grouping of Sears & Roebuck items including a 2-3/4″ x 1-3/4″ oval sharpening stone that was a company handout; a 6″ x 4-3/8″ painted tin tip tray which pictures the Sears & Roebuck store in Chicago and a box of 50 stereoptic viewer cards of the Sears store and catalogue operation including a picture of Mr. R.W. Sears, President of the company. The box has a black paper cover embossed in gold on the lid “A TRIP THROUGH SEARS ROEBUCK & CO.” PROVENANCE: Klein’s Sporting Goods, Chicago; Mel Torme Collection; John Solley Collection; David S. Woloch Collection; Stanley Shapiro Collection; Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains about 98% fine orig factory blue, including the frame which is not now and never was case colored. Bbl has slight muzzle edge wear and light wear at front of ejector rod housing. Body of ejector rod housing has a few small scattered spots of chemical staining which has left fine pitting. Frame retains virtually all of its fine orig factory blue, including screw heads. Back strap & butt strap retain about all of their orig factory blue, slightly thinned on back strap. Trigger guard is slightly thinned on trigger bow with a small spot of pitting and some light rust on front strap. Grips are sound with tremendous fire & color with some visible rust staining on both sides that has been present since this revolver was rediscovered. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore. Case is lightly soiled on exterior with some slight weakness in fabric over the hinge and some minor damage in recess in bottom around revolver. Bronze and Sears items are all very fine to extremely fine. 4-36438 JR79 (450,000-800,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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