"COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 38336. Cal. 45 Boxer or 45 Eley Short. Blue finish with 5-1/2" bbl, full front sight with "DEPOT 14. PALL MALL LONDON" address and last four digits of serial number on bottom under ejector rod housing. It has first type ejector rod housing with bull's eye ejector rod head. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left shoulder of trigger guard has caliber marking "45 CAL / B". Mounted with 1-pc walnut grip that has been very finely checkered as is found on many English Colt revolvers. Bottom of grip is inscribed in hand scratched lettering "H.C. NELSON / ALASKA. 1891". Revolver is very nicely engraved in extremely fine, delicate English style of foliate arabesque patterns with about 60% coverage. Cylinder, back strap & trigger bow are engraved to match. Cylinder serial number was re-engraved, probably at the same time as the rest of the engraving, and the engraver apparently confused the numbers applying the numbers "8836" instead of "8336". Right side of frame, between hammer & trigger screws, has an outstanding engraved rampant Colt with shaded background. Top strap has double row of acanthus leaves and the outside radius of the ejector rod housing is engraved to match. Gullet of ejector rod housing has fine leaf patterns. The most unusual aspect of this decoration is a large wolf's head inlaid in raised gold at top of back strap. This gold appears to be in nugget form, possibly something Mr. Nelson obtained in Alaska. Screw heads are also beautifully engraved. Accompanied by a Colt factory letter identifying this revolver in caliber 45 Eley short with bbl length & type of stocks not listed, blue finish and shipped to Colt's London Agency on Oct. 11, 1877 in a shipment of 56 same type firearms. CONDITION: Fine. Bbl retains 30-40% thin custom blue, mostly in sheltered areas being a silver/gray patina in the worn areas. Frame retains 60-70% thin custom blue, strong in sheltered areas. Back strap & trigger guard retain traces of blue being mostly a blue/gray patina. Cylinder retains about 50% custom blue, mostly in flutes, thin & turning gray on outer diameter. Recoil shield and interior of frame show little use with minor fine pitting. Grip is sound showing moderate wear. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. This is an opportunity to own a genuine Alaska Gold Rush Colt. 4-32967 (5,000-15,000)"
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