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LOT 1270
Outstanding Documented Factory Engraved Colt Official Police Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial
no. 820721, 38 Special cal., 5 inch round bbl., duotone nickel finish, pearl grips. This is an outstanding example of a rare, factory engraved Colt Official Police double action revolver. According to Sutherland and Wilson on p.
349 of “The Book of Colt Firearms”, only approximately 350 out of the total production of 400,000 of this model were factory engraved, making a documented example like this incredibly scarce. The included factory letter confirms the current configuration including the pearl grips and class “A” engraving, as well as shipment to National Sporting Goods in Cleveland, Ohio on August 29, 1952. The revolver shows masterfully executed floral scroll engraving with a stippled background and intertwining geometric motifs on 75% of the surfaces, including the barrel, frame, and cylinder. Although R.L. Wilson lists Alvin F. Herbert beginning work for Colt circa 1954, writer believes this engraving to have been executed by him in August of 1952, making this quite possibly his first work. The revolver also displays Colt’s “Duotone” finish consisting of polished fame flats and barrel with a satin edge. This style of finish was only seen on Colt double actions from 1947 to 1954 before the company decided to return to fully polished frames.