GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
FINE BILL MAINS ENGRAVED 2ND GENERATION COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.COLTSAA 2ND GEN18035SA38 SPCLMODERNCal. 38 Spcl. All blue finish with 5-1/2" bbl, slightly reduced front sight & 1-line block letter address with model & Cal. marking on left side. Left side of frame has 2-line 3-patent dates & Rampant Colt without circle. Mounted with aftermarket 2-pc beautiful stag grips. Revolver is very nicely engraved in about C coverage foliate arabesque patterns that has fine pearled background. Matching engraving extends over the top strap & about 3/4 of the bbl also with matching patterns on the backstrap, buttstrap & trigger guard. Cyl has last 4 digits "2329" of another SN. Cyl has full coverage matching patterns on the outer circumference with unengraved flutes & has 2 inlaid gold bands at the rear edge. Front of the frame is marked with a small buffalo which was the logo signature of Bill Mains. Mr. Mains was Colt's most prolific in-house engraver having engraved nearly double the numbers of single action revolvers as any other factory engraver in the years 1967-1972. When Mr. Mains began engraving for Colt there were only 3 levels of engraving "A", "B", or "C". Mr. Mains frequently applied extra engraving to the point that the factory complained that he was doing too much. Apparently the factory liked it however, and so the extra coverage became "D" engraving. While all of the other post war factory engravers are mentioned in most of the publications by renowned author R.L. Wilson, Mr. Mains is not. This apparently came about when Mr. Mains was visiting the Colt plant to meet with the Colt president & Al DeJohn, custom shop manager, regarding engraving coverage when Mr. Wilson was also present. Apparently when Mr. Wilson introduced himself and asked who Mr. Mains was he replied that "Oh, I'm just visiting". Apparently Mr. Wilson never pursued the matter & Mr. Mains remained reasonably anonymous. Accompanied by a modern red velvet lined, fluted lid walnut case. PROVENANCE: The Brad Shepherd Collection. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains virtually all of its fine custom blue finish. Grips are fine. Crisp mechanics. Brilliant shiny bore, may be unfired. Case is fine. 50062-37 JR130 (4,000-6,000)