May 7, 2024 The Paul Friedrich Collection of Firearms & Gold Rush
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Extremely rare and desirable factory engraved 1889 Navy with a 3" barrel. The Colt Factory Archive letter states that this gun left the factory as a .38 Colt with a 3" barrel, nickel plating, pearl grips, factory engraving, and shipped to Collins Gun Co. in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 5th, 1891, in a shipment of 2 guns. In all actuality the gun is a .41 Colt; it is our opinion that the letter is wrong and the .41 Colt is factory correct. This gun is featured in four books: "Colt Engraving" by R.L. Wilson on page 234; "The Colt Engraving Book Volume II" by R.L. Wilson; "Colt Pistols 1826 - 1976" by R.L. Wilson and R.E. Hable on page 278; "The Book of Colt Firearms" by R.L. Wilson on page 336. This model was Colt's first swing out cylinder model. Only about 80 of these 1889 Navy revolvers were factory engraved and very few of them had 3" barrels. This gun has a scroll and floral engraving with a punch dot background. Fire blue screws, hammer and trigger. Two piece pearl grip panels that show a lot of color. CONDITION: Gun retains virtually all of the original factory-applied nickel finish. The fire blue parts show very little wear. The hammer has a little bit of discoloration. Grips fit extremely well. The right grip has a couple of minute chips at the heel. Bright and shiny bore with sharp lands and grooves. The action works in both single and double action.
Paperwork
Factory Letter, Documentation