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The factory records for no. 314626 are a bit confusing as the shipping record is incomplete
and to obtain the full story the collector must view the Colt factory work order ledger. The incompleteness of the factory records is pointed out by R.L. Wilson in “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume 1” where this Bisley is pictured and identified on pages 480-481. Wilson noted, “[N]
umber 314626 Bisley is listed as .45, 4 3⁄4-inch barrel, blue (and therefore case-hardened), with F.G.F. carved pearl grips; shipped to Hibbard, Spencer Bartlett & Co., c/o J.L. Kleiman, Chicago, in September 1910. Although the factory shipping ledger did [not] note engraving, the company Work Order Ledger records from the period c. 1890 to 1914 note: Order #4978, 314626, Bisley Model Revolver, ordered August 19, 1910, 4 3⁄4” barrel, .45 Colt caliber, blue finish, engraved,
pearl grips carved monogram FGF, complete 9/19, 1910. The fact that occasionally clerks failed
to put in all the required date in shipping ledgers is distinctly proven with Bisley 314626.” This is certainly not the first time we have discovered incomplete Colt factory records. A photograph
of the aforementioned Colt work order ledger related to this Bisley is included. Without a doubt no. 314626 is factory engraved and wearing factory relief carved pearl grips. The revolver is also featured in Wilson’s “Colt Engraving” on page 299.
Wilson reiterated his conclusion in his accompanying letter to Albert Brichaux, operator of the firearms business Arsmear II who specialized in acquiring engraved Colts for collectors. Wilson also linked the gun to another Bisley in the same configuration, no. 314626. “May I say that the lack
of reference to engraving in the factory ledgers, specific to this revolver, is one of those clerical oversights which occasionally happened. Number 314626 is obviously totally factory original, in every respect (and in remarkable condition), is related to number 313622 Bisley (made as a mate earlier the same year as 314626), and indeed was embellished by Cuno A. Helfricht himself.” The shipping record for no. 313622 is included in the 1978 dated factory letter addressed to Brichaux that also includes no. 314626. As noted by Wilson, each revolver has a 4 3⁄4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, blue finish, and pearl “FGF” carved pearl stocks with no. 313622 listed in the shipping records
as engraved. Both revolvers were shipped to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., c/o J.L. Kleiman, Chicago, Illinois. No. 313622 shipped on March 30, 1910. No. 314626 shipped on September 26, 1910. Nos. 314626 and 313622 would have made for a spectacular pair of Bisleys! (Consignor included several period paper items related to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.)