VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT FRONTIER SIX-SHOOTER SGL ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT FRONTIER SIX-SHOOTER SGL ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). SN 82507. Very rare blue finish, early, identified, etched-panel, sgl action with 7-1/2″ bbl and wonderful raised carved oxhead 1-pc ivory grip. Frame has about 60% coverage fine, factory engraving consisting of foliate arabesque patterns on the sides and forcing cone area with small flourishes on the sides of the trigger guard. Left recoil shield has a large sunburst with diamond & dot center. Loading gate has Cuno Helfricht typical plant spray. Cylinder has arabesque patterns on the islands between the flutes with a wavy & dot pattern at the back edge. Engraving extends about 3″ on each side of the bbl with Helfricht style border around the address with an arabesque pattern reaching toward the front sight. It has arabesque flourishes on each side of the muzzle with a dbl incised line and a wavy light pattern down both sides connecting the arabesque patterns. It also has the same wavy pattern with small starbursts in the ejector rod-housing gullet with a wave & dot pattern on the outside with a starburst in the center. Top of the back strap has Helfricht’s trademark fan surrounded by a wave & dot line with dbl incised border patterns down the back strap & butt strap with a corresponding pattern on the trigger bow. Grips are absolutely wonderful with age commensurate to the revolver with a very fine detailed oxhead on the right side. Accompanied by an early mail order style slim-Jim carmel colored leather holster with matching simple cartridge belt with nickel plated “D” shaped buckle. Also accompanying is a notarized statement from Mark E. Carmichael of Bend, Oregon detailing the provenance of this Colt. He states that his great-grandfather Enoch Tate Griffin purchased it in Missouri in 1882 prior to moving to the Dakotas where he worked as a Wells Fargo guard on the Mandan & Dixon Lines for a number of years. Mr. Griffin reportedly related to his daughter that the stage was attached one day by Indians and in the ensuing fight he shot five of them and on another occasion, he pistol whipped a drunk & disorderly passenger. It remained in the family until January 2005. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Although the gun has all matching numbers, curiously enough the gun has SN 82500 on the backstrap. Obviously this is a factory mistake as this gun has always had this backstrap. Retains traces of orig finish in the sheltered areas with the ejector rod housing gullets having strong orig blue with more strong blue around the trigger guard & on the butt strap. Etched panel is completely legible. Cylinder pin & screw are replacements. Grip is wonderful with numerous age lines having a light yellow patina on the right side and a wonderful mellow golden patina on the left side, apparently due to long term storage with the ox head side exposed. Hammer will not hold at half cock, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and fine pitting. A very rare & truly western sgl action. Holster is very fine, never having been polished & retains most of its orig finish. Belt is slightly dry with flexed surface & retains generous amounts of orig finish. 4-56961 (35,000-45,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005

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
	4169	$34,500.00	VERY RARE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT FRONTIER SIX-SHOOTER SGL ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). SN 82507. Very rare blue finish, early, identified, etched-panel, sgl action with 7-1/2″ bbl and wonderful raised carved oxhead 1-pc ivory grip. Frame has about 60% coverage fine, factory engraving consisting of foliate arabesque patterns on the sides and forcing cone area with small flourishes on the sides of the trigger guard. Left recoil shield has a large sunburst with diamond & dot center. Loading gate has Cuno Helfricht typical plant spray. Cylinder has arabesque patterns on the islands between the flutes with a wavy & dot pattern at the back edge. Engraving extends about 3″ on each side of the bbl with Helfricht style border around the address with an arabesque pattern reaching toward the front sight. It has arabesque flourishes on each side of the muzzle with a dbl incised line and a wavy light pattern down both sides connecting the arabesque patterns. It also has the same wavy pattern with small starbursts in the ejector rod-housing gullet with a wave & dot pattern on the outside with a starburst in the center. Top of the back strap has Helfricht’s trademark fan surrounded by a wave & dot line with dbl incised border patterns down the back strap & butt strap with a corresponding pattern on the trigger bow. Grips are absolutely wonderful with age commensurate to the revolver with a very fine detailed oxhead on the right side. Accompanied by an early mail order style slim-Jim carmel colored leather holster with matching simple cartridge belt with nickel plated “D” shaped buckle. Also accompanying is a notarized statement from Mark E. Carmichael of Bend, Oregon detailing the provenance of this Colt. He states that his great-grandfather Enoch Tate Griffin purchased it in Missouri in 1882 prior to moving to the Dakotas where he worked as a Wells Fargo guard on the Mandan & Dixon Lines for a number of years. Mr. Griffin reportedly related to his daughter that the stage was attached one day by Indians and in the ensuing fight he shot five of them and on another occasion, he pistol whipped a drunk & disorderly passenger. It remained in the family until January 2005. CONDITION: Fine to very fine. Although the gun has all matching numbers, curiously enough the gun has SN 82500 on the backstrap. Obviously this is a factory mistake as this gun has always had this backstrap. Retains traces of orig finish in the sheltered areas with the ejector rod housing gullets having strong orig blue with more strong blue around the trigger guard & on the butt strap. Etched panel is completely legible. Cylinder pin & screw are replacements. Grip is wonderful with numerous age lines having a light yellow patina on the right side and a wonderful mellow golden patina on the left side, apparently due to long term storage with the ox head side exposed. Hammer will not hold at half cock, otherwise mechanics are fine. Strong bore with good shine and fine pitting. A very rare & truly western sgl action. Holster is very fine, never having been polished & retains most of its orig finish. Belt is slightly dry with flexed surface & retains generous amounts of orig finish. 4-56961 (35,000-45,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2005 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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