*FINE WILBUR GLAHN ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED SILVER PLATED PAIR OF COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS.

Revised: 10/4/2010

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The grips have been replaced.

*FINE WILBUR GLAHN ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED SILVER PLATED PAIR OF COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS. SN 356118 & 356293. Cal. 45 Colt. Revolvers are identical in virtually all respects with silver finish, 7-1/2″ bbls, full orig front sights, 1-line block letter addresses and standard, late, pre-war markings on left sides. They have 2-line 3-patent dates on left sides of frames and rampant Colts in a circle. They are mounted with very old 1-pc ivory grips that are two slabs of ivory attached to two wood block spacers that are attached together. These grips have a left hand and a right hand deep relief raised carved horse’s head with ruby or garnet eyes. They are identically engraved by Colt master engraver, Wilbur Glahn in his deluxe C+ coverage of his distinctive flowing foliate & floral arabesque patterns with extremely fine punch dot background. Frames have about 85% coverage with several scrolls terminating in flower blossoms. Engraving extends nearly the full length on both sides of bbls, also with a small flower blossom on right sides. Ejector rod bosses are engraved with a large flower blossom with back straps & top of back straps having full coverage foliate arabesque patterns. Trigger guards are engraved to match. Front straps & ears of back straps are engraved in Mr. Glahn’s trademark “V” patterns. Cylinders have identical full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the outer circumference offset by the unengraved flutes. Back straps are engraved “Ray E. Hollinger” and butt straps “June 10, 1937 / Denison Texas”. SN’s were observed in usual place, on bottoms of frames & on right sides of trigger guards & back straps under grips. Last two digits of SN’s were observed on rear faces of cylinders and, unusually on the inside radii of ejector rod housings. In addition each revolver is stamped with a tiny “&”, on right side of number “356118” and on left side of number “356293” signifying factory restorative work. Left sides of trigger guards & back straps, inside radius of ejector rod housings & faces of cylinders around bushing holes are stamped with 3-digit assembly numbers used by factory to maintain order when reassembling revolvers after re-work. Accompanied by a 4-page letter from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson, who authenticates the engraving as having been done by Wilbur Glahn and states that this pair of revolvers appears on p. 304 of The Book of Colt Engraving and p. 400 of Colt Engraving both by Wilson. He states that the caption to these revolvers identifies them as having been shipped to Hoffman Hardware Co. in Jan. 1938 and that “By error the engraving and ivory grips were not included in the factory listing.” He credits this pair to the David S. Woloch Collection. He further states “It is highly unlikely the revolvers would have been returned to the Colt Factory for engraving and inscribing, especially in that the pair had already been silver plated. Furthermore, the butt strap inscriptions are of 1937 date [June 10, 1937/Denison Texas], and shipment was not until January 1938.” He speculates that the factory re-work ampersands on the trigger guards “could well have been simply a matter of internal parts repairs”. The letter continues that this pair of revolvers by Wilbur Glahn for Roy Hollinger is a true set and indicates they are the only known pair by Wilbur Glahn. He further states that Mr. Glahn seldom used silver plating in his embellishments and that there are only three such plated revolvers in Mr. Wilson’s books, this pair and a single. In light of the above, it is noted by this cataloger that the frame patent dates & rampant Colts are rather faint, indicative of restoration refinish while the adjacent engraving is sharp & crisp with numerous small areas of raised metal as one would find on any unrefinished engraved Colt revolver. Therefore it is this cataloger’s contention, given the assembly numbers and rework marks, that these revolvers were, in fact, returned to the factory for engraving & subsequent refinish. Close examination of the bbl markings leads this cataloger to believe that the bbls were replaced at the time of the restoration as there is still raised metal around the roll markings on the bbls. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Both revolvers are all matching as indicated above. They retain virtually all of their fine factory silver plating with only a couple of minor flakes on bbl of #356293. Both appear to be unfired since plating. Both revolvers have light abrasive marks on grip frames. Grips have numerous age lines with some light crystallization around edges and retain a smooth light ivory patina showing light wear to horse’s heads. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bores. 4-36832 JR30 (25,000-40,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 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
	2142	$31,625.00	Revised: 10/4/2010 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The grips have been replaced. FINE WILBUR GLAHN ENGRAVED & INSCRIBED SILVER PLATED PAIR OF COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVERS. SN 356118 & 356293. Cal. 45 Colt. Revolvers are identical in virtually all respects with silver finish, 7-1/2″ bbls, full orig front sights, 1-line block letter addresses and standard, late, pre-war markings on left sides. They have 2-line 3-patent dates on left sides of frames and rampant Colts in a circle. They are mounted with very old 1-pc ivory grips that are two slabs of ivory attached to two wood block spacers that are attached together. These grips have a left hand and a right hand deep relief raised carved horse’s head with ruby or garnet eyes. They are identically engraved by Colt master engraver, Wilbur Glahn in his deluxe C+ coverage of his distinctive flowing foliate & floral arabesque patterns with extremely fine punch dot background. Frames have about 85% coverage with several scrolls terminating in flower blossoms. Engraving extends nearly the full length on both sides of bbls, also with a small flower blossom on right sides. Ejector rod bosses are engraved with a large flower blossom with back straps & top of back straps having full coverage foliate arabesque patterns. Trigger guards are engraved to match. Front straps & ears of back straps are engraved in Mr. Glahn’s trademark “V” patterns. Cylinders have identical full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on the outer circumference offset by the unengraved flutes. Back straps are engraved “Ray E. Hollinger” and butt straps “June 10, 1937 / Denison Texas”. SN’s were observed in usual place, on bottoms of frames & on right sides of trigger guards & back straps under grips. Last two digits of SN’s were observed on rear faces of cylinders and, unusually on the inside radii of ejector rod housings. In addition each revolver is stamped with a tiny “&”, on right side of number “356118” and on left side of number “356293” signifying factory restorative work. Left sides of trigger guards & back straps, inside radius of ejector rod housings & faces of cylinders around bushing holes are stamped with 3-digit assembly numbers used by factory to maintain order when reassembling revolvers after re-work. Accompanied by a 4-page letter from noted Colt historian & author, R.L. Wilson, who authenticates the engraving as having been done by Wilbur Glahn and states that this pair of revolvers appears on p. 304 of The Book of Colt Engraving* and p. 400 of Colt Engraving both by Wilson. He states that the caption to these revolvers identifies them as having been shipped to Hoffman Hardware Co. in Jan. 1938 and that “By error the engraving and ivory grips were not included in the factory listing.” He credits this pair to the David S. Woloch Collection. He further states “It is highly unlikely the revolvers would have been returned to the Colt Factory for engraving and inscribing, especially in that the pair had already been silver plated. Furthermore, the butt strap inscriptions are of 1937 date [June 10, 1937/Denison Texas], and shipment was not until January 1938.” He speculates that the factory re-work ampersands on the trigger guards “could well have been simply a matter of internal parts repairs”. The letter continues that this pair of revolvers by Wilbur Glahn for Roy Hollinger is a true set and indicates they are the only known pair by Wilbur Glahn. He further states that Mr. Glahn seldom used silver plating in his embellishments and that there are only three such plated revolvers in Mr. Wilson’s books, this pair and a single. In light of the above, it is noted by this cataloger that the frame patent dates & rampant Colts are rather faint, indicative of restoration refinish while the adjacent engraving is sharp & crisp with numerous small areas of raised metal as one would find on any unrefinished engraved Colt revolver. Therefore it is this cataloger’s contention, given the assembly numbers and rework marks, that these revolvers were, in fact, returned to the factory for engraving & subsequent refinish. Close examination of the bbl markings leads this cataloger to believe that the bbls were replaced at the time of the restoration as there is still raised metal around the roll markings on the bbls. PROVENANCE: David Crocker Estate Collection. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. Both revolvers are all matching as indicated above. They retain virtually all of their fine factory silver plating with only a couple of minor flakes on bbl of #356293. Both appear to be unfired since plating. Both revolvers have light abrasive marks on grip frames. Grips have numerous age lines with some light crystallization around edges and retain a smooth light ivory patina showing light wear to horse’s heads. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bores. 4-36832 JR30 (25,000-40,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 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.

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