June 25-28, 2018 Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/25/2018
Cole Agee, the famed Texas engraver, is known worldwide for his cattle brand engraved Colts. In 1953, the cost to engrave a cattle brand Colt was $253 and you provided the gun. Mr. Agee operated his business from Fort Worth, Texas. He was born in 1901 in Runge, Texas and was quite established by 1934 as a master engraver. In the 1950's Cole Agee became famous for his engraved cattle brand guns for TV and motion picture Western stars such as Bill Elliot and John Wayne. His work load was so heavy that he required the assistance of Weldon Bledsoe. David Harris, a master engraver from Granbury, Texas, was good friends with Bledsoe and Bledsoe taught Harris to do the cattle brand engraving as well. Harris became so good that without identification, it is difficult to identify an engraving from Harris or Agee. Agee died in 1955. You can find numerous cattle brand engraved Colt revolvers of Agee Bledsoe and Harris in the book "Cole Agee Texas Engraver" by Jenk Howard. This fine example is signed on the butt "D.W. Harris", the third in a line of master engravers that specialize in the cattle brand style of engraving. This 1884 black powder Colt exhibits nearly complete coverage of that famous engraving style, wears full nickel plating, has all matching numbers and has been fitted with a lovely pair of steer head ivory grips. Revolver does not appear to have been fired since the engraving work was performed. Gun indexes with all four Colt clicks and has a strong, rifled bore albeit some cloudiness. This beautiful revolver is housed in a blue velvet lined book style display case. From the G. Thomas Puett Collection. CORRECTION: Factory Letter states serial No. 112381 was shipped with factory nickel finish, wood grips, 4-3/4" barrel in caliber .45 and sent to Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis on September 4th, 1885 in a shipment of 20 guns. Also comes with a letter from David Harris listing the cattle brand full coverage antique nickel work order for this revolver.