April 24-25, 2019 Extraordinary, Sporting, & Collector Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/25/2019
Nickel finish with 5" barrel, full front sight, and two line address with caliber marking on left side. Left side of frame has the 3-line patent dates. Mounted with smooth two piece pearl grips with last three digits of matching serial number to this revolver on the inside. Rear face of cylinder also has last three digits of matching serial number. Revolver is beautifully engraved by Cuno Helfricht in his typical patterns of flowing foliate arabesque scrolls that have fine pearled background. Left recoil shield & loading gate are engraved with this traditional sunburst or flower blossom patterns. Top strap is engraved in snake & dot patterns. Matching foliate arabesque patterns extend 3/4 up each side of the barrel with geometric patterns around the address. Top gullet of the ejector housing is engraved in snake & dot patterns with a simple vine pattern on the outer radius. Sides of the trigger guard are engraved with snake & dot patterns. Cylinder is engraved with Mr. Helfricht’s trademark alternating patterns on lands between flutes with a snake & dot pattern around the rear edge. Top of the backstrap is engraved in a simple X-pattern with geometric patterns on the backstrap & trigger guard. Altogether a fine factory engraved Colt Thunderer. Accompanied by a Colt Factory letter which identifies this revolver in caliber .41 Colt with 5" barrel, nickel finish, pearl stocks & factory engraved. Shipped to Ketlesen & Degatau, El Paso, TX on December 30, 1889 in a 15 gun shipment. Also accompanied by a tan leather single loop mail-order holster with pressed decorations. Very few of these revolvers survive today and of those extremely few are engraved. Texas shipped engraved Colts of this period are extremely rare and when encountered are typically in poor condition as these treasured guns were a tool not jewelry as they commonly were considered in the more stabilized eastern regions. CONDITION: Very fine, all matching including cylinder and grips. Barrel retains 88-90% strong factory nickel with losses around the muzzle and some fine pitting on left side of muzzle. Frame retains about 98% crisp factory nickel and the cylinder about 90%. Backstrap has some loose nickel and n area of dark corrosion at the rear arch as well as a dark area on the front strap with a few small flakes on the trigger bow. Hammer is bright polished on the sides and retains most of its fire blue on the edges. Trigger retains most of its orig fire blue, thin on the front face. Screws retain most of their orig fire blue. Grips are crisp showing great fire & color. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore with a few scattered spots of pin-prick pitting. Holster shows moderate wear with solid stitching. A wonderful documented Texas shipped Colt.
Paperwork
Copy of Factory Letter