Page 293 - 4093-BOOK1

291
AS PICTURED AND
DESCRIBED IN THE COLT
ENGRAVING BOOK, VOL II
BY WILSON
LOT 294
Exceptional Documented Rare Factory Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt
New Service Double Action Target Revolver with Scarce Dual Caliber .44
Russian/S&W Markings and Factory Letter - Serial no. 325984, 44 Russian
S&W special cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/gold inlaid finish, smooth grips.
Offered here is a rare work of Colt artistry. As famed Colt historian and author
R.L. Wilson noted in “The Book of Colt Firearms,” less than 75 New Service
revolvers were factory engraved and fewer than a combined total of 100 New
Services and Shooting Masters were factory inscribed or monogrammed
with fewer than 15 revolvers having gold inlay, usually as inscriptions. This
wonderful New Service not only features a factory engraving but a gold
monogram as well. Manufactured in 1926, it is an exceptional and extremely
scarce work of Colt artistry worthy of the finest collection. The revolver is
pictured and identified on page 585 of Wilson’s “The Colt Engraving Book,
Volume Two.” The revolver is decorated with a floral scroll engraving on finely
stippled background attributed to Colt factory Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn.
Glahn was very active from 1920-1950 and was a well-known and favored
engraver of Colt pistols. The engraving covers both rear sides of the barrel, the
frame sides, the rear of the frame, the flat top strap, the butt, and the trigger
guard. Both side of the frame feature a factory gold inlaid “DCA” monogram
amongst the scrollwork. The grip straps are checkered. The barrel is fitted
with a factory gold bead front sight and an adjustable “U” notch rear sight
accented with a small star burst to its rear. The left side of the frame has the
standard Rampant Colt. The barrel is stamped with the two-line Colt Hartford
address/patent dates marking on top and is stamped “NEW SERVICE” followed
by the desirable dual caliber designation “RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL 44.”
The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to D.C. Avery
(address unavailable) and shipped to Elmira Arms Co. of Elmira, New York, on
September 19, 1928, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44 S&W, blue finish, type of
stocks not listed, gold bead front sight, factory engraving, and factory inlaid
with the initials “D.C.A.” This was a single gun shipment.