GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
ENGRAVED AND GOLD INLAID COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER BY MASTER ENGRAVERS FRANCOLINI AND THIRIONCOLTSAAS18980A45 COLTMODERN; IVORYCal .45 Colt. All blue finish with 4-3/4" bbl & full front sight with 1-line address and model & cal marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line, 3-patent dates and it is mounted with beautiful 1-pc ivory grip. Grip is constructed in the orig manner of two slabs of ivory attached to two wood spacer blocks. Left side of front & back straps, under the grip has the matching SN. Revolver is spectacularly engraved and gold inlaid by master engravers Leonard Francolini & Denise Thirion. Engraving consists of full coverage, exquisite, intertwined, foliate arabesque patterns that have very fine pearled background. The entire frame, top strap, back strap, buttstrap and trigger guard have extremely fine gold wire inlaid borders. Hammer is matching engraved with a dolphin or dragons head on each side of the hammer nose and is also outlined in gold wire. Left side of frame has the patent dates inlaid in gold with a tiny, very highly detailed raised gold Rampant Colt. Cyl is inlaid with one wide and one narrow gold band around the rear edge with very fine gold wire outline around the flutes and front edge. Bbl has left side markings inlaid in gold with one wide and one narrow gold band around the muzzle and breech ends. Engraving patterns extend nearly full length of the bbl, with matching patterns in ejector housing gullet and outer radius. Both sides of front sight are engraved to match. Screws, trigger, base pin and cross bolts are fire blued. Engravers'' signatures are on bottom front of frame. The three frame screws have engraved ends. A truly incredible representation of the engravers'' art. Accompanied by a signed letter from James V. Alaimo, former superintendent of the Colt Customs Shop wherein he states that he owned this revolver and another also being sold in this auction, while employed at Colt. He states that the ivory on each of these revolvers was legally imported African elephant ivory and grips are "certifiable pre-ban African ivory". PROVENANCE: James D. Aliamo, Superintendent Colt Custom Shop CONDITION: Extremely fine plus, all matching except grip which is unnumbered. Overall retains 99.9% bright, Colt custom shop blue with only the hint of a drag line. Grip is crisp showing a light ivory patina. 49409-1 JR (10,000-15,000)