GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
WONDERFUL ANTIQUE NIMSCHKE ENGRAVED COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER. COLT SAA 92065 45 COLT Cal 45 COLT. Nickel finish with 7-1/2" bbl, thinned front sight but still full height and 1-line block letter address. Left side of frame has 3-line patent dates and left front web of trigger guard has the caliber marking. Mounted with beautiful 2-pc pearl grips, probably supplied by the distributor, with relief carved flying American eagle on left side. Engraving by Mr. Nimschke is about D-coverage consisting of extremely well executed foliate arabesque patterns on the frame, bbl, cylinder, backstrap, buttstrap, trigger guard and ejector housing. Top strap is engraved with very fine diamond & dot patterns along with foliate patterns, most unusual for a single action but frequently seen on Mr. Nimschke's engraved Winchesters. Top of the backstrap is engraved in Mr. Nimschke's fan pattern with a triangle at the center and flower blossoms covering the junction of the backstrap shoulders to the frame. Sides of the shoulders are engraved in fan patterns. Trigger bow & ejector housing both have very detailed engraved Hunter's Stars. Accompanied by a 4-page letter from renowned Colt historian and author, the late R.L. Wilson wherein he authenticates the engraving as having been accomplished by master engraver L.D. Nimschke. Additionally accompanied by a 3 page article about this revolver which appeared in the March 1997 issue of the German arms magazine, Deutsches Waffen-Journal which featured this revolver on the cover. An illustration in the article includes a Colt factory letter which identified this revolver in caliber 45 with 7-1/2" bbl, "soft" finish, type of stocks not listed and shipped to Hartley & Graham, NY, NY on May 9, 1883 in a 25 gun shipment. Under remarks section the letter states that "soft" indicates that the revolver was shipped without final finishing for engraving outside the factory. Additionally accompanied by a fine R.T. Frazier double-loop buck stitched holster. Body of the holster has very fine border carving and the "R.T. Frazier / Pueblo-COLO." cartouche on the top loop. Given the quality and extent of the engraving along with the fine holster it seems likely that this revolver belonged to someone in the west. Although the holster shows moderate to heavy wear, the revolver does not, indicating that it saw very little use, just some light handling. CONDITION: Revolver is extremely fine retaining virtually all of its fine nickel finish that appears to be completely original. Screws retain most of their bright fire blue. Cylinder has been fired but very little, showing "burn" around all 6 chambers, otherwise cylinder retains virtually all of its orig nickel. Grip is missing a large chunk and a small chip at the right heel and another small chip from the right toe otherwise grips are sound showing extremely light wear with great fire & color. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. Holster shows moderate to heavy wear with some finish loss near the top and on the loops otherwise is sound and retains 80% fine orig brown finish. 51732-7 JRL (25,000-45,000)