GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
FINE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. COLT SAA 88179 44/40 Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Nickle finish with 7-1/2" bbl. Full front sight & 1-line block letter address with "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" etched panel on left side. Bottom of bbl has a tiny 44 just forward of the base pin. Ejector housing is third type with half-moon ejector rod head. Left side of frame is marked 3-line patent dates & left front web of trigger guard "44 CF". Mounted with smooth 2-pc pearl grips. Revolver is very nicely engraved by L.D. Nimschke with about 60-70% coverage foliate arabesque patterns that have fine pearled background on the frame. Top strap is engraved with chip & dot patterns with foliate arabesque patterns extending up sides of the bbl & each side of the muzzle. top of the bbl is engraved with snake & dot patterns around the address, terminating in geometric patterns toward the front sight. Top gullet of ejector housing is also engraved in a snake & dot pattern. Cyl has matching foliate arabesque patterns on lands between flutes with a large zigzag & double dot pattern around rear edge. Top of backstrap is engraved in a fan pattern with light foliate patterns at the top & heel. Trigger guard & left side of base pin boss along with ejector housing boss are engraved with hunters starts. Accompanied by 2 Colt Factory letters dated 1996 & 2015 which report the identical information identifying this revolver & Cal. 44-40. Bbl length & type of stock not listed, finish "soft" & shipped to Harley (Hartley) & Graham, NY, NY on Feb 17, 1883 in a 25-gun shipment. Under remarks "The word soft which appears with the finish indicates subject revolved was shipped without final finishing for engraving outside our factory". It is well established that Harley & Graham was one of Colt''s major customers who had direct contact with various engraving houses, especially that of L.D. Nimschke. Mr. Nimschke and his engraving house were very prolific & produced many fine works of art on such Colt revolvers. Undoubtedly this revolver was nickle finished after engraving & either Mr.Nimschke or Hartley & Graham supplied the pearl grips. CONDITION: Very fine. Overall retains about 99% fine, quality re-nickled finish. Grips are exceptional showing no wear with great fire & color. Mechanics are fine. Bright shiny bore with scattered fine pitting. 50153-3 JR127 (17,000-27,000)