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LOT 3198
Well-Documented One-of-A-Kind Alvin A. White Master Deluxe
Engraved and Gold Inlaid Colt Single Action Army Revolver Inscribed “N. Brigham
Pemberton” and Featuring the Special Gold Inlaid Serial Number” NBP No 1” Featured in “The Colt
Engraving Book Volume 2” - Serial no. NBPNo1, 45 Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/gold
finish, walnut grips. This beautiful revolver was completed in cooperation between A.A. White Engravers Inc. and
the Colt factory in 1970 for legendary Colt Single Action Army collector Brig Pemberton. The included billing
documentation from A.A. White Engravers Inc. in February 1970 describes the custom work for this revolver in
detail: “Covering completed Single Action Army Colt revolver #NBP No. 1. Completing of oil-finished and initialed-
dated select walnut grips (to simulate those on US marked Single Action; Completion of eagle and shield motif on
the backstrap; script inscription: N. Brigham Pemberton on the backstrap, with crossed swords motif; sargeant’s
[sic] stripes engraved on left shoulder of triggerguard; US gold inlaid on left side of frame; Cavalry motif from
Charles Schreyvogel’s ‘My Bunkie’ painting in Metropolitan Museum of Art; plus oval cartouche of Indian on
horseback on recoil shield, and finishing up of all scrollwork. Revolver finished in blue and case-hardening by
the Colt factory.” On another of the documents R.L. Wilson notes that “It is a first class job in every respect. The
color hardening on the frame (which is risky) came out just right, which is always a risk with the gold inlays. The
Schreyvogel motif on the right side of the frame is the smallest and most perfect detail I have ever seen cut by Al.
The grips are a beautiful piece of wood, finished as on an original US Single Action.” The revolver is also featured
on page 639 of “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume 2” by R.L. Wilson where the details from the original billing
document are also repeated. The engraving throughout is top quality,
and the scenes on the recoil shield and right side of the frame are
particularly fine as are the Great Seal of the U.S. and “SIXTH US CAVALRY”
banner engraved at the top of the back strap. Per the MET, Charles
Schreyvogel’s “’My Bunkie’ portrays an event described to Schreyvogel
by a veteran frontier trooper he met in Colorado. In the heat of a violent
conflict on the plains, a soldier heroically rescues a bunkmate who has
lost his mount in a skirmish with unseen Native Americans. Two other
cavalrymen continue their fire, protecting and covering for their fellow
soldiers.” The right side of the grip has “1969” over a “NBP” cartouche. The
left side of the frame has “US” in gold inlay ahead of the patent marking
and Rampant Colt trademark. The frame has “NBP No1” in gold inlay on
the bottom.
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