December 6-8, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/6/2023
Per the included factory letter, this revolver shipped to George W. Shreve as a .45 Colt with a 4 - 3/4" barrel, nickel finish, unlisted stocks, and factory engraving on August 3rd, 1891, in a shipment of 1. Engraving is after Helfricht and certainly originated from him or his shop with acanthus scrollwork with parallel hatch shading on a punchdot background, with light linework and rocker engraving used to dress edges. Vignettes of Helfricht's geometrics and floral devices throughout, including shell motif on recoil shield and top of gripstrap. Colt address on top of barrel enclosed in wrigglework rocker engraving with accenting dotwork, with a spearpoint finial with shell motif pointing towards front sight. Cylinder has extremely unusual engraving at the gullets, alternating between a spray of acanthus and a starburst. Standard blade front sight and notch rear sight in top strap, decorated with rocker engraving and dotwork. Kidney-shaped ejector rod head, 2-line Colt information on top of barrel, caliber designation on left side of barrel, 2-line patent information on left side of frame, with encircled Rampant Colt behind. 1-piece pearl grips with a carved steerhead on right scale. This revolver is photographed on pg. 421 on "The Colt Engraving Book Volume I" by Wilson, detailing how Shreve was a grandson of a Revolutionary War veteran, participated in the Civil War in the C.S.A Army and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox, and worked for several firearms companies before opening a store in San Francisco, which was destroyed in 1906; at the time, it was attributed to the Brad Witherell collection. Included paperwork includes 2 Colt Factory letters addressed to Stan Shapiro, a Colt factory letter to Arnold "Arnie" Chernoff, internet printouts of Shreve, copies of the pages where this gun is featured in Colt Engraving, and a postcard from Witherell's featuring this revolver. PROVENANCE: Richard "Dick" Burdick collection. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining virtually all of the factory nickel finish with some extremely minor marks and losses scattered throughout. Typical superficial scratches throughout from age and handling. Engraving is crisp throughout and well executed. Grips are excellent with some very minor losses at extremities, most noticeable on right side near frame, and a small crack on right side. Small parts with much nitre bluing, some heads rubbed to gunmetal grey. Mechanically fine, bore is excellent with strong rifling. An outstanding example with a notable list of previous owners.
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Information