2038

FINE AND IMPORTANT CUNO A. HELFRICHT ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, SILVER- AND GOLD-PLATED W

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:30,000.00 USD Estimated At:60,000.00 - 70,000.00 USD
FINE AND IMPORTANT CUNO A. HELFRICHT ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION REVOLVER, SILVER- AND GOLD-PLATED W
SN 56286. .45 cal, 7-1/2" bbl with one-line maker and Hartford address marking on top; "45 CAL" on left side of front bow of triggerguard; three-line three patent date marking on left side of frame; silver-plated with gold-plated cyl, hammer and ejector rod housing; blued screws, cyl pin, ejector rod head and trigger; one-piece ivory grips. Profusely and finely scroll and border engraved on barrel, ejector rod housing, cyl, frame and gripstraps; ejector rod housing also with zig-zag lines and punched dot motifs; sunburst motif on top flat of backstrap. Note last four digits of serial number, 6286, on cyl within riband, in line with one of the flutes. Included is a Colt factory letter stating revolver left factory with silver finish and gold-finished cyl, ejector and hammer. Ivory grips. It was shipped on July 5, 1880 in a shipment of one gun to C.E. Gildea. CONDITION: Fine. 85% silver-plating, with tarnish, blemish near muzzle; light wear and spots patina; 75% gold,light wear and patina;50% blue; engraving sharp; grips very good to fine, rich, mellow patina; minor chipping and wear at butt and cracks visible on butt of grips. See R.L. Wilson, The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, chapter 10, page 416, where this revolver is pictured in color, with detailed description, identifying the work as by Cuno A. Helfricht himself. Wilson's The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, page 416, notes: "Considered one of the finest prewar Single Action Army revolvers known." 4-48349