"COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 328709. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Fabulous Cuno Helfrecht engraved single action Army revolver with 4-3/4" bbl, 2-line address on top and the rolled panel "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER 44-40" on the left side. Left side of frame has 2-line patent dates and rampant Colt in a circle. Mounted with factory orig smooth pearl grips with left & right deep rampant Colt medallions. Engraving is of the highest quality, probably by the master himself and consists of 70% coverage wonderful intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with a fine punch-dot background. This engraving is more like level "3" or "C" coverage than level "2" as indicated in the letter. Ejector rod housing has deluxe borders and snake & leaf patterns in gullet with snake & dot pattern on outer radius. Frame on each side of forcing cone has a diamond checkerboard pattern with alternating smooth & punch-dot diamonds. The gullet on lower front part of frame has a beautiful flower blossom with a zigzag border. Top strap has feather patterns down both edges and top of back strap has Mr. Helfrecht's trademark feather fan with a triangle and diamond & dot patterns in center. Back strap & butt strap have Moorish patterns with a beautiful arabesque pattern on trigger bow. Loading gate has Mr. Helfrecht's trademark sunburst pattern. Cylinder has matching foliate arabesque patterns on lands between the flutes with a sunburst at back of each flute. Rear edge of cylinder has three border patterns with the rear most being snake & dot pattern, the center a simple line and the forward pattern of fine arrowheads. Cylinder, hammer & trigger are all gold plated. Accompanied by a 5-page letter from world renowned Colt single action expert, Ron Graham authenticating this beautiful revolver. He states that "Because Albert Foster, Jr., Colts' New York area representative, was the 'Care-of' recipient" --- "it is quite possible that Mr. Gallegos held a prestigeous (sic) position of friendship or a business relationship with the Colt's Co." He also authenticates it as having been engraved from the shop of master engraver Cuno Helfricht (sic). He further states that all parts of the revolver except for the cylinder retain their orig finish and that the cylinder had been re-plated and "was not intended to deceive others". He further states that if anyone was attempting to "delude modern day collectors" they would have "also re-plated the gold hammer and trigger. Because there was no additional polishing or buffing done to this cylinder its engraving is still sharp and factory original". Also accompanied by a Colt factory letter which fully identifies this revolver as having silver finish with gold plated cylinder, hammer & trigger, pearl stocks, level 2 factory engraved and shows that it was shipped to "Mr. Juan C. Gallegos, c/o Albert Foster, Jr., Colt's New York Office, 240 Broadway, New York, NY on March 26, 1914 in a shipment of one gun. Also accompanied by a letter from renowned Colt single action authority, Dick Burdick, who fully authenticates this revolver as found and states that Mr. Helfrecht almost certainly executed the engraving personally. He states "The fact that this revolver was shipped to a Mr. Juan C. Gallegos in care of Albert Foster, manager of Colt's New York office would indicate it was destined for export." And finally a write-up from a former owner who states that the Colt archives show that this revolver was one of only thirty-nine gold & silver first generation single action Colts and that this one is one of only two in 44-40 caliber. He also states that it was shipped to Argentina in 1914, no indication of the veracity of this information. CONDITION: Very fine plus, all matching with the last four digits of the serial number on back of cylinder. Overall the frame retains strong orig silver plating with some flaking in right front gullet. The bbl & ejector rod housing, along with grip frame retains silver plating in sheltered areas being mostly a fine light silver gray patina that is not unattractive. The butt strap retains 60-70% orig silver plating. Hammer retains about 75% orig gold plating & trigger about 60%. Cylinder retains 93-95% strong gold plating that is probably an old restoration. Cylinder was not repolished, just replated and does not detract at all from the beauty of this fine work of art. Grips are sound with a large professional repair in right heel, otherwise are completely orig with a minor handling mar & retain most of their orig factory polish with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 4-32965 JR250 (100,000-150,000)"
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