GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
MAGNIFICENT FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER ETCHED BARREL FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER WITH PEARL GRIPS SHIPPED TO CHARLES HUMMEL & SON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IN 1885 ACCOMPANIED BY THE HOLSTER AND BELT THAT WERE PURCHASED NEW WITH THE REVOLVER. COLT SAA 115349 44 WCF Cal. 44 WCF. 4 3/4" bbl. Full nickel finish. Nickel hammer. Nickel trigger. Blue screws. 2-pc mother of pearl grips. Master engraved in the American Style and attributed to the hand of Cuno Helfricht. Engraving is full coverage on both frame and barrel with slightly less coverage on trigger guard, backstrap and ejector rod housing. Bbl engraving shows American Scroll on both sides with a border around bbl address and a splay in front of address. Unique to this revolver is the engraving around front sight which is seldom seen on a Colt single action army revolver. Frame engraving is full coverage with border and checker board on either side of hammer. Recoil shield displays a scallop pattern with a wonderfully executed cross-hatch and punch dot border. Loading gate reflects same design. Top strap is also full coverage except in sight groove. The gullets in front of cylinder exhibit punch dot and walking line work on both sides and bordered scroll work on both sides in front of cylinder. Backstrap exhibits a wonderfully executed scallop design behind the hammer with punch dot and walking line work down the backstrap and on butt. Presentation panel on backstrap is blank. Trigger guard shows border work and scroll on forward end above SN and interrupted scroll on outer side of trigger guard bow. Ejector rod housing has scroll work on either end with star pattern in middle with punch dot and walking line work in the gullet next to barrel. Cylinder exhibits scroll work between each flute with a scalloped border around rear edge of cylinder with punch dot and walking line accent. Bbl shows 2-line bbl address with index mark toward frame. Etched panel "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" on left side of bbl. Frame has 3-line patent on forward left side. On right rear flat of frame under trigger guard there is a "C" over a "u" stamp. Assembly no. 654 is stamped on inner surface of loading gate and on forward part of frame under the trigger guard. Matching SN is stamped on frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. A small "G" inspector mark is under the SN on trigger and backstrap. "44.CF" is stamped on left forward part of trigger guard bow. Ejector rod housing is unmarked. Pearl grips are unmarked grips and fit perfectly. Revolver is accompanied by a early Slim-Jim style Texas holster and cartridge belt which according to family legend was purchased new with this revolver. 7-1/2" bbl holster has "short barrel bend" showing that a 4-3/4" SA has been in it for years. Cartridge loops hold special mesquite cartridges used to maintain shape of loops. Revolver is cased in a walnut display case that was made by Peter Werner of Blue Hill, ME to preserve this special Colt. Case contains an orig Winchester Repeating Arms Company unopened box of 44 cal. cartridges with a green label on top and an image of a model 73 carbine on the side. Case is French fit with maroon felt lining. This revolver was shipped to Charles Hummel & Son in San Antonio, Texas in 1885 on special order, probably for a display piece in his store on Commerce St. in San Antonio. Charles Hummel & Son was the largest Colt dealer west of the Mississippi at the time. In 1885 the railroad had just reached San Antonio, the town was booming, and crawling with Texas Rangers, Law Men, Cattle Men, and other local characters. The orig owner was in Texas from New York to check on some business interests, and purchased this revolver, belt and holster as a souvenir of his visit to Texas. Ralph Hyde of New York,the grandson of the orig owner, contacted the Colt Collectors Association in the early part of the 21st century wishing to sell the revolver to someone who would appreciate its historic significance. The revolver was purchased by Rampant Colt Editor Kurt House who then sold it to the late Bill Spicer of Rosebud, Texas. When Mr. Spicer encountered some health issues, he reluctantly but confidently sold it to the present consignor. Also accompanying this revolver is a Colt factory letter confirming cal., bbl length, finish, grips, factory engraving and shipment to Charles Hummel & Son, San Antonio, Texas on October 29, 1885. Also included is a picture of Mr. Hyde as a young boy, circa 1920, sitting on a pinto pony in front of family "cottage" on Long Island, NY. Mr. Hyde stated that he was allowed to wear his grandfather''s gun on very special occasions. The billet of gun belt has been restitched in order to fit a young boy. CONDITION: Very fine. Bbl retains 80-85% orig nickel finish that has slightly dulled with age blending into a very pleasing uncleaned chocolate brown patina toward muzzle. Muzzle has slight wear on either side. Bbl address is sharp. Front sight retains 80% nickel and is full-sized. Etched panel is excellent with all letters clearly legible. Bore is bright with sharp rifling and slight staining toward muzzle. Ejector rod housing retains 40-50% orig nickel finish with balance turning a pleasing uncleaned chocolate brown patina. Ejector rod head retains nearly all orig nickel finish. Frame retains 80-90% of orig nickel finish with most of wear on loading gate which has also blended to a pleasing uncleaned chocolate brown patina. Patent mark on frame is sharp. Hammer retains 50-60% orig nickel finish blending to a chocolate brown patina on hammer spur. Trigger retains nearly all orig nickel finish. Frame screws, trigger guard screws, backstrap screws, cylinder pin retaining screw and ejector rod screw all retain most of orig fire blue finish. Screws are unmarred with the exception of a very slight mars on hammer screw and butt screw. Cylinder base pin is unmarred and retains nearly all of orig fire blue. Trigger guard retains 80% orig nickel finish with most of loss inside trigger guard bow and on forestrap. Cal. marking is sharp. Backstrap retains 10% orig nickel finish in protected areas with balance a pleasing uncleaned chocolate brown patina. Cylinder retains 80-85% orig nickel finish with 1 section on either of one flute and in flute showing a even uncleaned chocolate brown patina. Pearl grips are excellent with vivid rainbow hues throughout on both sides with only 1 tiny chip at toe of right grip and a very miniscule chip at top of left grip. Action functions perfectly. A rare opportunity to purchase a wonderful engraved Colt Single Action Army revolver shipped to Texas in 1885 with a provenance trail to the consignor who is only the fourth owner of this magnificent revolver. 50074-1 TEP (100,000-125,000)