"COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. SN 81220. Cal. 45 Colt. Nickel finish with 4-3/4" bbl, slightly altered front sight with 2-line bbl address on top. It has third type ejector rod housing with flared ejector rod head. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard has caliber marking. Fitted with 1-pc fine old ivory grip with a raised carved ox head on right side and a raised carved Mexican eagle on left side. Ivory appears to be from a walrus rather than elephant ivory. Revolver has about "C" coverage fine bold foliate arabesque pattern engraving, probably by Nimschke. Screwheads are not engraved as Nimschke was known not to have engraved screwheads. Patterns are somewhat unusual but are reminiscent of Nimschke's work extending over both shoulders of trigger guard and both ears of back strap. Top of back strap has an elaborate fan with triangle & flower center, also reminiscent of Nimschke's work. Back strap & butt strap have dash & dot borders. Top strap has alternating feather & bar patters with a hunter star on ejector rod shoulder. There is a fine zigzag band on the bbl just in front of frame and there are three small dots on each of the front & back webs of trigger guard with the same three dots appearing in gullets of frame. Ejector rod housing is engraved with a snake & dot pattern in the gullet and elaborate Moorish patterns on the outer radius. Cylinder has matching foliate arabesque patterns on lands between the flutes with three border patterns at back edge. Front edge of the recoil shield & loading gate also have three border patterns. Accompanied by a Colt Factory letter identifying this revolver with 45 cal, 4 3/4" bbl, blue finish and grips not listed. It was shipped August 2, 1882 to Schoverling, Daly & Gales, New York, NY in a shipment of 6 same type guns. Shoverling, Daly & Gales was a major Colt distributor and also one of the major patrons of L.D. Nimschke. While this revolver is not listed as factory engraved it certainly has all the attributes. CONDITION: Good to very good, cylinder is matching numbered. Overall retains 75-80% strong restored nickel showing heavy wear on recoil shield and loading gate with very rounded muzzle edges. Grip has a chipped left toe and a few minor age lines and retains a wonderful mellow ivory patina. Base pin is a replacement. Mechanics are fine, strong bore with moderate pitting and a couple of dimples where it appears the front sight may have been reattached. 4-33859 JR364 (10,000-15,000)"
Back to the index
|
