SPECTACULAR FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

SPECTACULAR FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 87334. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 5-1/2″ bbl, full front sight, 3-line patent dates on frame and caliber marking on left front web of trigger guard. Mounted with extraordinary 2-pc pearl grips with carved ox head on the right side that has red ruby or garnet eyes. The area of the grip that meets the frame is lined with silver plating, pinned in place. Frame, cylinder, bbl, back strap & trigger guard are engraved by Cuno Helfricht with large sunbursts on left recoil shield & loading gate. Balance of the frame is covered with foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background and has snake & dot patterns in the lower front gullets and both sides of top strap. Each side of the bbl has a large spray of foliate patterns emanating from a blossom. The third type ejector rod housing, with its bull’s eye ejector rod head, is engraved with snake & dot pattern in the gullet and geometric patterns on the outer radius. Cylinder is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes with snake & dot patterns in the flutes and around rear edge. Incorporated in the engraved designs are the crenulated, circular punch-marks in two different sizes. These are unique to Helfricht’s work. These marks are exhibited in examples of Helfricht’s works on pp 439 of Vol I of R.L. Wilson’s book of Colt engravings, as well pp. 448 & 445. Rear face of the cyl is stamped with the last three digits of the serial number. In addition the last three digits of serial number are on bottom of the bbl, under the ejector rod housing. Accompanied by a modern blue-velvet lined oak casing, French fitted in the bottom for the revolver. Right front corner has a triangular shaped cartridge block containing 6 fired cases. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter fully identifying this revolver, as found, in .45 cal. with 5-1/2″ bbl, Nickel finish, type of stocks not listed, factory engraved, shipped to Simmons Hardware Company, St. Louis, MO, on Feb. 10, 1883 in a shipment of 10 same type guns. PROVENANCE: Ted Knee Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains what appears to be virtually all of its fine orig nickel finish, the gun appears to be in spectacular condition, edges are sharp, engraving has appropriate high points, marks are strong, however if you remove the cylinder and look at the inside of the top strap and recoil shield there are a couple of very small spots of pitting under the nickel, which leads on to believe it is re-plated. It’s possible that the inside of the frame was not completely finished down before the orig nickeling was applied, otherwise the gun has all the appearances of being an untouched, orig, plated gun? There are a few small discoloration spots, one on left side of bbl and another on the cyl, that with careful attention may polish out. There are a couple of small spots on cyl that are the beginnings of some slight bubbling in the nickel. Grips are extremely fine. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-36620 (30,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010

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
	2098	$34,500.00	SPECTACULAR FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 87334. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 5-1/2″ bbl, full front sight, 3-line patent dates on frame and caliber marking on left front web of trigger guard. Mounted with extraordinary 2-pc pearl grips with carved ox head on the right side that has red ruby or garnet eyes. The area of the grip that meets the frame is lined with silver plating, pinned in place. Frame, cylinder, bbl, back strap & trigger guard are engraved by Cuno Helfricht with large sunbursts on left recoil shield & loading gate. Balance of the frame is covered with foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background and has snake & dot patterns in the lower front gullets and both sides of top strap. Each side of the bbl has a large spray of foliate patterns emanating from a blossom. The third type ejector rod housing, with its bull’s eye ejector rod head, is engraved with snake & dot pattern in the gullet and geometric patterns on the outer radius. Cylinder is engraved with foliate arabesque patterns on the lands between the flutes with snake & dot patterns in the flutes and around rear edge. Incorporated in the engraved designs are the crenulated, circular punch-marks in two different sizes. These are unique to Helfricht’s work. These marks are exhibited in examples of Helfricht’s works on pp 439 of Vol I of R.L. Wilson’s book of Colt engravings, as well pp. 448 & 445. Rear face of the cyl is stamped with the last three digits of the serial number. In addition the last three digits of serial number are on bottom of the bbl, under the ejector rod housing. Accompanied by a modern blue-velvet lined oak casing, French fitted in the bottom for the revolver. Right front corner has a triangular shaped cartridge block containing 6 fired cases. Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter fully identifying this revolver, as found, in .45 cal. with 5-1/2″ bbl, Nickel finish, type of stocks not listed, factory engraved, shipped to Simmons Hardware Company, St. Louis, MO, on Feb. 10, 1883 in a shipment of 10 same type guns. PROVENANCE: Ted Knee Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine plus. Overall retains what appears to be virtually all of its fine orig nickel finish, the gun appears to be in spectacular condition, edges are sharp, engraving has appropriate high points, marks are strong, however if you remove the cylinder and look at the inside of the top strap and recoil shield there are a couple of very small spots of pitting under the nickel, which leads on to believe it is re-plated. It’s possible that the inside of the frame was not completely finished down before the orig nickeling was applied, otherwise the gun has all the appearances of being an untouched, orig, plated gun? There are a few small discoloration spots, one on left side of bbl and another on the cyl, that with careful attention may polish out. There are a couple of small spots on cyl that are the beginnings of some slight bubbling in the nickel. Grips are extremely fine. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-36620 (30,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2010 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.

.red{fill:#B50938;} .white{fill:#FFFFFF;} .blue{fill:#005596;}