January 23rd 2016 Firearms Sale
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/22/2016
2" barrel in .38 Special caliber. Manufactured in 1930. Offered is a beautiful Cole Agee engraved pre-war Detective double action revolver. Features nickel finish with 75% coverage engraving and pearl grips. Right grip panel has the carved steer head with ruby eyes. This pre-war Colt was manufactured in 1930 and features the square butt with the checkered trigger. Gun is in near mint condition, retaining approximately 98% of the nickel finish. Grips are near mint. Cole worked with W. T. McTeer Engraving Company in Ft. Worth which was one of the best known engraving companies in the country. He and McTeer helped each other and the firm drew work engraving guns for leading sportsmen, dealers, and collectors near and far. After three years with McTeer, he decided to resign and establish his own shop at his home on Christine Street in Ft. Worth. Soon Mr. Agee was engraving pistols for his former law enforcement friends. He used time consuming detailed work and much of his engraving was embellished with gold inlays and gold washing. His scroll style was of the bold, tip-up interlock technique. Cole Agee turned out beautiful pistols for Col. Homer Garrison, Jr., of theTexas Department of Public Safety, and for Texas Ranger Capt. M. T. “Lone Wolf” Gonzaullas, and Ranger Capt. Clint Peoples. At the time of his death in June, 1955, Cole Agee was reported by his widow, Maria, to have engraved 15 to 20 “cattle brands.” The number of “scrolls” that he cut is unknown. Agee did not keep records and was not known for signing his work. It is very nicely engraved through the nickel in typical Cole Agee style with about 70% coverage intertwined foliate arabesque patterns with punch dot background and it has matching engraved panels between the flutes on the cylinder.