1362

FINE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:12,500.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 35,000.00 USD
FINE FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
SN 155469. Cal. 38 WCF (38-40). Nickel finish with 4-3/4" bbl, full front sight with some minor damage, 2-line address and caliber marking on left side. Bottom of bbl is marked with a tiny "41" under the base pin. "41" is the actual bore diameter for the 38-40. Left side of the frame has 2-line, 3-patent dates and rampant colt in a circle. Mounted with beautiful 2-pc pearl grips with raised carved ox head on right side. Revolver is factory engraved from the shop of Cuno Helfricht with nearly full coverage foliate arabesque patterns on sides of the frame, a very large half flower blossom on left recoil shield and a smaller version on the loading gate. Sides of hammer slot & top strap are engraved in snake & dot patterns with geometric patterns in the front gullets. Matching engraving extends nearly full length of the sides of the bbl, with geometric patterns around the address. Ejector housing is engraved with snake & dot patterns in the top gullet with a large flower blossom centered on the outer radius. Cyl is engraved in Mr. Helfricht's style of alternating patterns on the lands between the flutes and multiple borders around the rear edge. Trigger guard & back strap are extensively engraved in geometric patterns with a large fan pattern at the top of the back strap. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber 38-40 with 4-3/4" bbl, nickel finish, type of stocks not listed, factory engraved and shipped to Simmons Hardware Co., St. Louis, MO "for: L.L. Neel" on Sept. 21, 1894. Most likely this revolver was ordered for or by someone in law enforcement or a wealthy rancher out west. CONDITION: Fine, all matching except grips & cyl, which are unnumbered. Bbl retains 60-70% orig nickel with the balance a gray metal patina with dark patina around the muzzle and some fine pinprick pitting; front sight dinged as noted; frame retains nickel in sheltered areas and on the top strap being mostly gray metal patina; trigger guard & butt strap retain about 80% orig nickel and the back strap about 30% with the balance gray metal patina; ejector housing retains about 90% strong orig nickel and the cyl about 75%. Left grip has a tiny chip at the top by the frame, otherwise grips are sound showing great fire. Hammer is not solid in half cock notch, otherwise mechanics are fine, strong sharp bore with moderate pitting. 4-48158 JR305