EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE EARLIEST KNOWN ENGRAVED SINGLE ACTION “THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION COLT”.

Revised: 3/24/2009

Title Should Read: EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE EARLIEST KNOWN FACTORY ORDERED AND ENGRAVED SINGLE ACTION “THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION COLT”.

EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE EARLIEST KNOWN ENGRAVED SINGLE ACTION “THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION COLT”. SN 8928. Cal. 45 Colt. Extraordinary single action with nickel finish, 7-1/2” bbl, script 1-line address with serifs at each end. Frame has 2-line patent dates on left side and is mounted with extraordinarily rare diamond checkered 2-pc walnut grips. Fitted with Type I ejector rod housing and bulls eye ejector rod head. Serial numbers on frame, trigger guard & butt strap are accompanied by a small “E”. The complete serial number is found on bottom of bbl under ejector rod housing and last two digits of serial number are stamped in the inside radius at rear of ejector rod housing. Cylinder has complete serial number in a shallow arc in a panel on outside radius at rear edge of one of the flutes. The entire revolver is spectacularly engraved, probably by Herman Ulrich. A Colt Lightning rifle in a museum in Canada is engraved nearly identical to this revolver and is signed Herman Ulrich, however others have attributed the engraving to Cuno Helfricht. It is embellished with astounding delicately intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with 75-80% coverage over the entire revolver. Frame has full coverage with panel scenes on each side consisting of a wolf standing over its deer kill with very fine detailed background scenery. Right side panel depicts a large grizzly bear at bay with a mountain scene in the background. Both panels are surrounded by the aforementioned fine foliate arabesque patterns. Recoil shield & loading gate have flower blossom panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns and top strap is engraved to match with smaller flower panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns terminating in triangular shaped spider web patterns at front ends. Both sides of front frame have matching flower panels with geometric designs over the base pin radius and ejector rod housing radius. Bottom gullets of front part of frame are simply very finely stippled with punch dot background leaving an untouched border and untouched round dots creating a beautiful foil to the engraving. Cylinder is equally spectacularly engraved with full coverage except for the flutes with matching delicate foliate arabesque patterns and a fine shaded diamond border at the rear edge. Bbl & ejector rod housing are also richly engraved to match with matching flower blossom panels on each side of bbl. Muzzle is engraved with three bands, two of which are shaded chip engraving and the center a very unusual dot pattern. Top of backstrap depicts a creeping panther surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns which extend completely down back strap with cross-hatched oval panels at top & bottom. Butt strap, front strap, trigger bow, trigger plate & bottom of frame are engraved to match with very detailed scallop shells around the serial numbers on trigger guard & frame. Front edge of frame is also engraved to match and there is a flower blossom around the base pin hole. All of the engraving has an extraordinarily fine punch dot matted background. Bulls eye ejector rod head has a diamond border around its circumference and the hammer has full coverage engraving on the sides, rear & top edges with extremely elaborate wolf’s heads on each side of the hammer nose and an extended hand-checkered spur. Screws are all fire blued with front trigger guard screw slightly battered. This revolver is pictured & described on pp 132-139 in Fine Colts the Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. Accompanied by a copy of two pages from the Henry Folsom & Co. of St. Louis ledger dated Oct. 15, 1877 to H.D. Folsom, New York, NY, which lists this revolver near the top, as found, with ivory grips and the cost as $36.60 which is the third most expensive single action on the inventory. There is a total of five single actions listed with three of them bearing earlier serial numbers – number 8925, 8926 & 8927 but apparently these three earlier items are not known today. On the bottom of the second page is a notation dated -?-?- 7 77 “Colt’s Pat Fire Arms Co”. “We sent these guns to you by boat this day. They attracted a great deal of attention at the Exposition and in Berlin they have been a grand advertisement. Please chg to us the frt on the next bill to us. Thanking you for the use of these goods -?-?- “ and signed H.D. Folsom. In addition there is a grouping of material from the 1876 International Exposition (World’s Fair). This material consists of an orig Centennial portfolio in book form that is 11” x 7-1/4” x about 1” thick; a 25 cent “Authorized Visitor’s Guide to the Centennial Exhibition and Philadelphia 1876” and is touted as “The only guide book sold on the exhibition grounds”; there is also a smaller burgundy, white & gold “Centennial Pocket Album” as embossed on front cover with back cover embossed “1776” / “1876”; additionally there is an International Exhibition package ticket with the dates “1776” and “1876” in top corners and overstamped “Fifty Cents”. It is also serial numbered; there is also a scarf from the exhibition that is marked “Exhibition / Fairmount Park / Philadelphia / 1776 1876” with other writing that is inside the folded scarf which was not unwrapped and in addition, this grouping contains two Philadelphia 1876 medallions; one is 2-7/8” diameter x 3/8” thick and the other 2-1/16” diameter x 1/8” thick. Also accompanying is a National Rifle Association of America Silver Medal No. 114 and a small plaque indicating a “Ten Best Arms Award 1998”. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver in 45 caliber, bbl length not listed with nickel finish, ivory stocks and factory engraved. It was shipped to the H & D Folsom Arms Company, New York, NY on Feb. 12, 1878 in a shipment of two same type guns. Under remarks section there are also two other shipments listed, one showing it with a 7-1/2” bbl and wood stocks, shipped to A.G. Spalding Brothers, New York, NY, April 30, 1897 in a one gun shipment and another entry to the same company with checkered wood stocks shipped on Sept. 12, 1897 in a one gun shipment. In addition it is accompanied by the July/August 1982 issue of Man at Arms magazine which contains a 4-page article by noted author, historian R.L. Wilson on pp. 31-34 which gives a history of some of the Colt Exhibit arms from the 1876 World Expo, including this famous revolver, wherein he states that this is the earliest known factory engraved single action. The two center pages of the magazine illustrate this revolver in great detail in full color. Mr. Wilson explains that due to “gaps in the factory ledgers, the initial shipments of 8928E for the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 and to H&D Folsom for the 1877 St. Louis showing have not been located.” He also says that it is likely that this revolver was shipped any number of other times that are not recorded. And, finally accompanied by its spectacular exhibition case that was undoubtedly created by Arno Werner with fine blue leather covering with gold embossed borders on lid, inside which is embossed in gold “COLT’S ARMY .45 SERIAL NO. 8928 / FACTORY SHOW PIECE / OF THE / PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL / AND OTHER EXHIBITIONS / THE EARLIEST KNOWN / FACTORY DOCUMENTED / ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION”. Interior is lined in blue velvet with a leather covered hinge and French fitted bottom with a leather plaque embossed with the identical inscription as on the lid. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine and original. Overall retains all of its orig factory nickel finish with only a small ding on front sight and another adjacent on muzzle. Left grip has a few minor chipped diamonds in one small spot, otherwise retains about all of its orig factory finish showing light diamond point wear with a few minor scratches on bottom edges. Hammer is not solid in the safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Case has a loose right front corner in its bottom and a loose left front corner in the lid, otherwise it is sound showing minimal wear on the exterior. Interior is exceptionally fine. 4-36439 JR81 (350,000-600,000)

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
	2032	$701,500.00	Revised: 3/24/2009 Title Should Read: EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE EARLIEST KNOWN FACTORY ORDERED AND ENGRAVED SINGLE ACTION “THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION COLT”. EXTRAORDINARILY RARE PANEL SCENE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THE EARLIEST KNOWN ENGRAVED SINGLE ACTION “THE 1876 CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION COLT”. SN 8928. Cal. 45 Colt. Extraordinary single action with nickel finish, 7-1/2” bbl, script 1-line address with serifs at each end. Frame has 2-line patent dates on left side and is mounted with extraordinarily rare diamond checkered 2-pc walnut grips. Fitted with Type I ejector rod housing and bulls eye ejector rod head. Serial numbers on frame, trigger guard & butt strap are accompanied by a small “E”. The complete serial number is found on bottom of bbl under ejector rod housing and last two digits of serial number are stamped in the inside radius at rear of ejector rod housing. Cylinder has complete serial number in a shallow arc in a panel on outside radius at rear edge of one of the flutes. The entire revolver is spectacularly engraved, probably by Herman Ulrich. A Colt Lightning rifle in a museum in Canada is engraved nearly identical to this revolver and is signed Herman Ulrich, however others have attributed the engraving to Cuno Helfricht. It is embellished with astounding delicately intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with 75-80% coverage over the entire revolver. Frame has full coverage with panel scenes on each side consisting of a wolf standing over its deer kill with very fine detailed background scenery. Right side panel depicts a large grizzly bear at bay with a mountain scene in the background. Both panels are surrounded by the aforementioned fine foliate arabesque patterns. Recoil shield & loading gate have flower blossom panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns and top strap is engraved to match with smaller flower panels surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns terminating in triangular shaped spider web patterns at front ends. Both sides of front frame have matching flower panels with geometric designs over the base pin radius and ejector rod housing radius. Bottom gullets of front part of frame are simply very finely stippled with punch dot background leaving an untouched border and untouched round dots creating a beautiful foil to the engraving. Cylinder is equally spectacularly engraved with full coverage except for the flutes with matching delicate foliate arabesque patterns and a fine shaded diamond border at the rear edge. Bbl & ejector rod housing are also richly engraved to match with matching flower blossom panels on each side of bbl. Muzzle is engraved with three bands, two of which are shaded chip engraving and the center a very unusual dot pattern. Top of backstrap depicts a creeping panther surrounded by foliate arabesque patterns which extend completely down back strap with cross-hatched oval panels at top & bottom. Butt strap, front strap, trigger bow, trigger plate & bottom of frame are engraved to match with very detailed scallop shells around the serial numbers on trigger guard & frame. Front edge of frame is also engraved to match and there is a flower blossom around the base pin hole. All of the engraving has an extraordinarily fine punch dot matted background. Bulls eye ejector rod head has a diamond border around its circumference and the hammer has full coverage engraving on the sides, rear & top edges with extremely elaborate wolf’s heads on each side of the hammer nose and an extended hand-checkered spur. Screws are all fire blued with front trigger guard screw slightly battered. This revolver is pictured & described on pp 132-139 in Fine Colts the Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. Accompanied by a copy of two pages from the Henry Folsom & Co. of St. Louis ledger dated Oct. 15, 1877 to H.D. Folsom, New York, NY, which lists this revolver near the top, as found, with ivory grips and the cost as $36.60 which is the third most expensive single action on the inventory. There is a total of five single actions listed with three of them bearing earlier serial numbers – number 8925, 8926 & 8927 but apparently these three earlier items are not known today. On the bottom of the second page is a notation dated -?-?- 7 77 “Colt’s Pat Fire Arms Co”. “We sent these guns to you by boat this day. They attracted a great deal of attention at the Exposition and in Berlin they have been a grand advertisement. Please chg to us the frt on the next bill to us. Thanking you for the use of these goods -?-?- “ and signed H.D. Folsom. In addition there is a grouping of material from the 1876 International Exposition (World’s Fair). This material consists of an orig Centennial portfolio in book form that is 11” x 7-1/4” x about 1” thick; a 25 cent “Authorized Visitor’s Guide to the Centennial Exhibition and Philadelphia 1876” and is touted as “The only guide book sold on the exhibition grounds”; there is also a smaller burgundy, white & gold “Centennial Pocket Album” as embossed on front cover with back cover embossed “1776” / “1876”; additionally there is an International Exhibition package ticket with the dates “1776” and “1876” in top corners and overstamped “Fifty Cents”. It is also serial numbered; there is also a scarf from the exhibition that is marked “Exhibition / Fairmount Park / Philadelphia / 1776 1876” with other writing that is inside the folded scarf which was not unwrapped and in addition, this grouping contains two Philadelphia 1876 medallions; one is 2-7/8” diameter x 3/8” thick and the other 2-1/16” diameter x 1/8” thick. Also accompanying is a National Rifle Association of America Silver Medal No. 114 and a small plaque indicating a “Ten Best Arms Award 1998”. Additionally accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver in 45 caliber, bbl length not listed with nickel finish, ivory stocks and factory engraved. It was shipped to the H & D Folsom Arms Company, New York, NY on Feb. 12, 1878 in a shipment of two same type guns. Under remarks section there are also two other shipments listed, one showing it with a 7-1/2” bbl and wood stocks, shipped to A.G. Spalding Brothers, New York, NY, April 30, 1897 in a one gun shipment and another entry to the same company with checkered wood stocks shipped on Sept. 12, 1897 in a one gun shipment. In addition it is accompanied by the July/August 1982 issue of Man at Arms magazine which contains a 4-page article by noted author, historian R.L. Wilson on pp. 31-34 which gives a history of some of the Colt Exhibit arms from the 1876 World Expo, including this famous revolver, wherein he states that this is the earliest known factory engraved single action. The two center pages of the magazine illustrate this revolver in great detail in full color. Mr. Wilson explains that due to “gaps in the factory ledgers, the initial shipments of 8928E for the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 and to H&D Folsom for the 1877 St. Louis showing have not been located.” He also says that it is likely that this revolver was shipped any number of other times that are not recorded. And, finally accompanied by its spectacular exhibition case that was undoubtedly created by Arno Werner with fine blue leather covering with gold embossed borders on lid, inside which is embossed in gold “COLT’S ARMY .45 SERIAL NO. 8928 / FACTORY SHOW PIECE / OF THE / PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL / AND OTHER EXHIBITIONS / THE EARLIEST KNOWN / FACTORY DOCUMENTED / ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION”. Interior is lined in blue velvet with a leather covered hinge and French fitted bottom with a leather plaque embossed with the identical inscription as on the lid. PROVENANCE: Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine and original. Overall retains all of its orig factory nickel finish with only a small ding on front sight and another adjacent on muzzle. Left grip has a few minor chipped diamonds in one small spot, otherwise retains about all of its orig factory finish showing light diamond point wear with a few minor scratches on bottom edges. Hammer is not solid in the safety or half cock notches, otherwise mechanics are fine, brilliant shiny bore. Case has a loose right front corner in its bottom and a loose left front corner in the lid, otherwise it is sound showing minimal wear on the exterior. Interior is exceptionally fine. 4-36439 JR81 (350,000-600,000) 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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