EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 117011. Cal. 45 Colt. Rare fluted frame Sheriff’s Model with 4″ (actually 3-7/8″) bbl with slightly thinned front sight and 2-line address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and the left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL”. Revolver is engraved by Cuno Helfrecht in foliate arabesque patterns with fine punch dot background. Frame has nearly full coverage with a zig zag border around rear edges and recoil shields. Left recoil shield and loading gate are engraved in Mr. Helfrecht’s sunburst pattern and the front gullets are engraved in snake patterns with very unusual tiny Maltese cross stampings. Each side also has a small half sunburst. Bbl is engraved on both sides with matching foliate arabesque patterns and there is a dbl line geometric pattern around the address. Top of back strap is engraved in a fan pattern with geometric patterns down the back strap, on the butt strap & trigger bow. Cylinder is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes with a snake & large dot pattern at rear edge. Revolver is mounted with a beautiful custom 1-pc pearl grip made in the orig style with two slabs of fine pearl attached to a wood spacer. Back strap channel has the number “6212” on the wood spacer. Accompanied by three different dated factory letters to three different parties with all three letters furnishing exactly the same information, identifying this revolver in caliber 45 Colt with 4″ bbl, blue finish, type of stocks not listed, factory engraved and shipped to Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, NY on Jan. 12, 1886 in a 1-gun shipment. The earliest dated letter (1974) is to a gentleman whose address was Tallulah, Louisiana. If, in fact, Louisiana is where this fine single action was discovered it would explain the lack of orig finish. Also accompanied by a 3-page letter from renowned Colt authority, author & collector, Ron Graham, who completely authenticates this revolver as an original factory Sheriff’s Model with fluted frame. Mr. Graham states that research of the factory records has disclosed that there are only nine known factory engraved blue finished Sheriff’s Models, seven of which had 4″ bbls. He also states that it is not unusual to find a Colt Single Action whose bbl does not measure to the exact inch or half inch. He refers to this revolver as “The Four Aces” Sheriff’s Model. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, there were probably fewer than 1,000 Sheriff’s/Storekeeper Model ejectorless single action revolvers produced in the pre-WWII period. Of those very few pieces he estimates that approx. 350 or about 35% were of the fluted frame variety as found here. Page 370 of this publication states that about 40 of the production of Sheriff’s Models were factory engraved and as of the writing of the book only 18 were known and lists this revolver by serial number. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains being an overall dark attic patina with fine surface pitting and some nicks & dings to the bottom of the bbl. Grip is sound with good edges and lots of fire & color. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-40351 JR3 (25,000-35,000)

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
	2072	$0.00	EXTREMELY RARE ENGRAVED COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 117011. Cal. 45 Colt. Rare fluted frame Sheriff’s Model with 4″ (actually 3-7/8″) bbl with slightly thinned front sight and 2-line address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and the left front web of trigger guard is marked “45 CAL”. Revolver is engraved by Cuno Helfrecht in foliate arabesque patterns with fine punch dot background. Frame has nearly full coverage with a zig zag border around rear edges and recoil shields. Left recoil shield and loading gate are engraved in Mr. Helfrecht’s sunburst pattern and the front gullets are engraved in snake patterns with very unusual tiny Maltese cross stampings. Each side also has a small half sunburst. Bbl is engraved on both sides with matching foliate arabesque patterns and there is a dbl line geometric pattern around the address. Top of back strap is engraved in a fan pattern with geometric patterns down the back strap, on the butt strap & trigger bow. Cylinder is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes with a snake & large dot pattern at rear edge. Revolver is mounted with a beautiful custom 1-pc pearl grip made in the orig style with two slabs of fine pearl attached to a wood spacer. Back strap channel has the number “6212” on the wood spacer. Accompanied by three different dated factory letters to three different parties with all three letters furnishing exactly the same information, identifying this revolver in caliber 45 Colt with 4″ bbl, blue finish, type of stocks not listed, factory engraved and shipped to Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, NY on Jan. 12, 1886 in a 1-gun shipment. The earliest dated letter (1974) is to a gentleman whose address was Tallulah, Louisiana. If, in fact, Louisiana is where this fine single action was discovered it would explain the lack of orig finish. Also accompanied by a 3-page letter from renowned Colt authority, author & collector, Ron Graham, who completely authenticates this revolver as an original factory Sheriff’s Model with fluted frame. Mr. Graham states that research of the factory records has disclosed that there are only nine known factory engraved blue finished Sheriff’s Models, seven of which had 4″ bbls. He also states that it is not unusual to find a Colt Single Action whose bbl does not measure to the exact inch or half inch. He refers to this revolver as “The Four Aces” Sheriff’s Model. According to Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Cochran, there were probably fewer than 1,000 Sheriff’s/Storekeeper Model ejectorless single action revolvers produced in the pre-WWII period. Of those very few pieces he estimates that approx. 350 or about 35% were of the fluted frame variety as found here. Page 370 of this publication states that about 40 of the production of Sheriff’s Models were factory engraved and as of the writing of the book only 18 were known and lists this revolver by serial number. CONDITION: Good. No orig finish remains being an overall dark attic patina with fine surface pitting and some nicks & dings to the bottom of the bbl. Grip is sound with good edges and lots of fire & color. Hammer is not solid in safety notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong bore with fine pitting. 4-40351 JR3 (25,000-35,000) 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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