1209

Super Rare Documented Factory Engraved Montgomery Wards and Company Store Display Colt Army Special

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Hand Guns - Revolvers Start Price:17,000.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 55,000.00 USD
Super Rare Documented Factory Engraved Montgomery Wards and Company Store Display Colt Army Special
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Super Rare Documented Factory Engraved Montgomery Wards and Company Store Display Colt Army Special Revolver with Carved Pearl Grips Hand Tooled Leather Holster with Factory Letter and Family Documentation

This is an outstanding example of another beautiful Colt factory engraved revolver, that was manufactured in 1915, that we have to offer for sale in this auction. This specific pistol was manufactured in April 1915 and was sold to the Montgomery Wards and Company Store in Chicago where it was used as a Colt factory engraved display pistol. This pistol is also accompanied by a Colt factory letter dated 2012 verifying the configuration this exceptional revolver. Additionally there is a long letter from the current consignor, documenting that this pistol was engraved by Cuno Helfricht, who also engraved a similar pistol, same model (serial number 327186) that was shipped to their New York Sales office in 1910 to also be used as a display pistol and also featured in this sale. The documentation further states that this pistol was originally purchased from Montgomery Wards and Company, by a young "J. Burt Carr" circa 1919 along with a beautiful hand tooled Mexican single loop holster, before moving to Montana to join his family. Burt Carr and his new wife, eventually moved to Seattle WA., in the 1940s, where this pistol remained on display until 1977, when after his death, it was passed down to his nephew Doyle Carr, who retained both the pistol and the holster until it was consigned with us; having stayed in the same "Carr" family for the last 97 Years. This beautiful revolver features level "2" plus coverage (75%) of the metal surfaces except for the front grip strap, underside of the barrel and the flutes of the cylinder. The engraving was performed by Cuno Helfricht in a beautiful and well executed scroll engraving intermixed with the traditional geometric borders and designs with a light punch dot back ground. The underside of the grip strap has also been engraved (probably outside the factory) with the initials J.B.C. (J. Burt Carr). The top of the barrel is marked with the standard Colt factory, two line address/patent dates with the left side marked "COLT ARMY/SPECIAL 41". It has the standard blade front sight with the notched frame rear sight. This exceptional pistol is fitted with a two-piece set of real mother of pearl grips with a carved "Ox Head" on the right grip, also verified in the Colt letter. Both grips area also fitted with the standard Rampant Colt, gold medallion on each side. The Colt letter verifies indicates that this pistol was a one gun shipment, that was shipped to Montgomery Wards and Company in Chicago on April 1915. This beautiful pistol is also accompanied by the original and equally beautiful single loop, hand tooled unmarked Mexican leather holster. The front of the holster depicts a Cowboy on his horse in a desert scene with large bold designs around the edges of the holster and the flap. The center loop has a large flower embossing with the initials "BC" written in ink in the center, also with the initials J.B.C. written in ink on the upper part of the holster. The back side is stamped "406 X/38 61/2" the tooling on the holster is extremely well done, however there is no makers name present. Just a beautiful all original and factory documented Colt engraved revolver.

Manufucture: Colt
Model: Army Special
BBL: 6 inch round
Stock:
Guage: 41 Long Colt
Finish: nickel
Grips: mother of pearl
Serial Number: 361370

Excellent plus, with 99% of the original Colt factory nickel plated finish with just a hint of a cylinder drag line with absolutely No firing residue on the face of the cylinder, indicating that this pistol was probably never fired. The mother of pearl grips are also in the same beautiful condition with nice color on both sides, with no chips or cracks. The holster is in the same condition as the pistol; like new with a medium brown color overall with exceptional hand tooling showing no wear or use with nice tight stitching overall. Wow what a set of two beautiful items with both Colt factory and family documented history!