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As Pictured and Described in The Colt
Engraving Book, Vol. II by Wilson
LOT 122
Wilbur Glahn’s Masterpiece: Absolutely Stunning Documented
Factory Master Grade C Engraved Colt First Generation Frontier
Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 355603, 44-40
cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, antique ivory
grips. .44-40 W.C.F. chambered “Frontier Six Shooter” revolvers are
particularly iconic variations of the Colt Single Action Army as they are
widely associated with cowboys and lawmen in the West who carried
them as their sidearms alongside their Model 1873 Winchesters. This
Colt Frontier Six Shooter revolver is a true work of American art and
dates to 1937 more than sixty years after the iconic Single Action Army
revolvers began making their way to the American West. For most of
that period, Cuno Helfricht was the head of the engraving department
at Colt, and this piece reflects his lasting influence and was engraved
by his successor: Wilbur Glahn who engraved at Colt c. 1919-1950.
America’s love affair with the Single Action Army has continued to
endure decade after decade thanks to its use by tough men and
women in the American West as well as by the U.S. military and iconic
heroes on the silver screen. It is certainly one of the most famous
of all firearms, and the relatively small number of Colt Single Action
Army revolvers that were factory embellished remain among the most
romantic and desirable of all collectible firearms.
Though highly sought after today, the popularity of engraved
firearms decreased in the late 19th century and into the 20th century.
R.L. Wilson in “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One” wrote, “The
grand total of engraved Single Action Army revolvers (excluding the
Bisley Model and Flattop Target Model) from 1873 through 1940 is
approximately 3,000.” Of those, he estimated 2,550 where engraved
during Helfricht’s time at Colt. That leaves less than 500 for subsequent
years when Wilbur Glahn took over. Others estimate as many as 4,500
engraved Single Action Army revolvers prior to World War II, but that
still accounts for only approximately 1.26% of production. Some have
been lost to time, and very few remain in nearly pristine condition like
our current piece, a masterpiece of American firearms engraved by
Wilbur Glahn and blending his distinctive style with the earlier patterns
established by Helfricht.
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