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LOT 205
Magnificent Documented In The White Shipped George Spring Exhibition Master Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt Third Generation Black Powder Frame Single Action Army Serial Number SPRING1 with Factory Letter - Serial no. SPRING1, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue finish, pearl grips. Offered here is a revolver that personifies the idea that not all art is framed. The included factory letter lists it as leaving the factory in .45 Colt with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, in the white with stocks not listed when shipped to Master Engraver George Spring in Colt’s Manufacturing Co., West Hartford, Connecticut, on October 21, 1999. This revolver was painstakingly transformed by Spring with a wide and narrow gold band inlaid at both the muzzle and breech ends of the barrel, the latter of which extends
onto the ejector rod housing with a fine wavy line between each pair. The top of the barrel and side of the ejector housing have been inlaid with an art deco scroll design with engraved line border. The black powder frame features 80% coverage
floral scroll on a matted background with gold inlaid scroll amongst the engraving and tulip scroll gold inlaid on the top strap. The lower portion of the frame has
a gold inlaid border and the recoil shield and loading gate have a raised relief band which has been lightly engraved. The cylinder has been engraved and inlaid in a matching motif to the barrel. The sides of the trigger guard and hammer as well as the sides and back of the trigger guard and back strap have gold inlaid borders surrounding floral panels with gold inlaid scrolls on the hammer, top of the back strap, butt, trigger guard bow, and in front of the bow. The special serial number “SPRING 1” is hand cut on the bottom of the frame. Included with the revolver is a George Spring letter authenticating his work on the revolver as well as correspondence between Spring and famed collector and author of “Fine Colts” Dr. Joseph A. Murphy about Spring creating the piece for display at the 1999 Colt Collectors Association show in San Francisco and Murphy subsequently purchasing the revolver.