EXTREMELY RARE CANE PRESENTED TO PREEMINENT COLT ENGRAVER GUSTAVE YOUNG.

EXTREMELY RARE CANE PRESENTED TO PREEMINENT COLT ENGRAVER GUSTAVE YOUNG. Wonderful ebony cane about 36-1/2″ long with German silver & steel tip and black body with fabulous L-shaped gold-filled handle. Handle & collar are very beautifully engraved in sweeping foliate & floral arabesque patterns in very deep relief with fine stippled background. The area where the handle meets the collar is deep engraved in a swirl pattern. Right side of handle has a 1-1/2″ x 1″ oval curved presentation panel engraved “PRESENTED / TO Gustave Young / AT HIS 50TH / ART JUBILEE”. Butt of the handle is engraved “SPRINGFIELD / MASS. / MAY 6. 1891”. Gustave Young (1827-1895) was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States at age 19, arriving in New York in 1846. While it is unknown, it is believed that Mr. Young worked in New York until about 1852 when he moved to Hartford and joined Colt’s engraving staff. By 1854 he was Colt’s engraving contractor who handled most of Colt’s work well into the late 1860s. In addition to being an engraver, Mr. Young was also a die cutter, ie. he made the roll dies and stamp dies for marking bbls & frames, etc. In addition to Colt, in the 1860s, Mr. Young also did work for Sharps, Smith & Wesson, Parker, Connecticut Arms, Wesson Arms and Meriden Arms along with a few jobs for Winchester. In 1869 Mr. Young moved his family & shop to Springfield, Mass. on Broad Street where he continued engraving for various manufacturers but his primarily clients were Colt and Smith & Wesson. By all accounts Mr. Young was irascible and temperamental and once told Mr. D.B. Wesson, partner of the Smith & Wesson Company to “Get out of my shop you talk so much I can’t work.” In addition to his engraving he also continued die cutting for a variety of companies other than firearms. According to Colt Engraving, Wilson, p. 53, “May 6, 1891 marked the 50th anniversary of Gustave Young’s career as an engraver and die cutter. On this occasion he was presented with a gold mounted cane, suitably inscribed, and was feted at a special dinner celebration. Mr. Young remained active and engraved special guns for Smith & Wesson for the Chicago World’s Fair of 1892-93, one of which is the only known Gustave Young signed item of engraving. By 1894 Mr. Young had aged dramatically and likely did no more work until his death on Jan. 2, 1895. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. The handle has a couple of very minor nicks and one tiny dent on the presentation panel, otherwise the engraving is crisp & sharp with wonderful detail. The shaft has a few light nicks & scratches but retains most of its orig finish. Tip has a few small dings, shows very little wear. A very rare Gustave Young item. 4-41960 JR290 (15,000-25,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 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
	2337B	$18,400.00	EXTREMELY RARE CANE PRESENTED TO PREEMINENT COLT ENGRAVER GUSTAVE YOUNG. Wonderful ebony cane about 36-1/2″ long with German silver & steel tip and black body with fabulous L-shaped gold-filled handle. Handle & collar are very beautifully engraved in sweeping foliate & floral arabesque patterns in very deep relief with fine stippled background. The area where the handle meets the collar is deep engraved in a swirl pattern. Right side of handle has a 1-1/2″ x 1″ oval curved presentation panel engraved “PRESENTED / TO Gustave Young / AT HIS 50TH / ART JUBILEE”. Butt of the handle is engraved “SPRINGFIELD / MASS. / MAY 6. 1891”. Gustave Young (1827-1895) was born in Germany and emigrated to the United States at age 19, arriving in New York in 1846. While it is unknown, it is believed that Mr. Young worked in New York until about 1852 when he moved to Hartford and joined Colt’s engraving staff. By 1854 he was Colt’s engraving contractor who handled most of Colt’s work well into the late 1860s. In addition to being an engraver, Mr. Young was also a die cutter, ie. he made the roll dies and stamp dies for marking bbls & frames, etc. In addition to Colt, in the 1860s, Mr. Young also did work for Sharps, Smith & Wesson, Parker, Connecticut Arms, Wesson Arms and Meriden Arms along with a few jobs for Winchester. In 1869 Mr. Young moved his family & shop to Springfield, Mass. on Broad Street where he continued engraving for various manufacturers but his primarily clients were Colt and Smith & Wesson. By all accounts Mr. Young was irascible and temperamental and once told Mr. D.B. Wesson, partner of the Smith & Wesson Company to “Get out of my shop you talk so much I can’t work.” In addition to his engraving he also continued die cutting for a variety of companies other than firearms. According to Colt Engraving, Wilson, p. 53, “May 6, 1891 marked the 50th anniversary of Gustave Young’s career as an engraver and die cutter. On this occasion he was presented with a gold mounted cane, suitably inscribed, and was feted at a special dinner celebration. Mr. Young remained active and engraved special guns for Smith & Wesson for the Chicago World’s Fair of 1892-93, one of which is the only known Gustave Young signed item of engraving. By 1894 Mr. Young had aged dramatically and likely did no more work until his death on Jan. 2, 1895. CONDITION: Very fine to extremely fine. The handle has a couple of very minor nicks and one tiny dent on the presentation panel, otherwise the engraving is crisp & sharp with wonderful detail. The shaft has a few light nicks & scratches but retains most of its orig finish. Tip has a few small dings, shows very little wear. A very rare Gustave Young item. 4-41960 JR290 (15,000-25,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 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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