Page 93 - 4093-BOOK3

LOT 3135
Documented and Extremely Rare Mexico City Shipped Factory
Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Colt Model 1877 Thunderer
Double Action Revolver with Extraordinary Relief Carved Grip
and Factory Letters - Serial no. 72148, 41 cal., 6 inch round bbl., nickel/
gold finish, relief carved antique ivory grips. The included factory letters
lists this revolver in .41 caliber with a 6 inch barrel, nickel and gold finish,
Mexican eagle motif carved on the grip, and factory engraving when
part of a shipment of eight guns of this type sent to A. Combaluzier in
Mexico City in October 1889. The Combaluzier shop was founded in
1867 and also received the shipments of other Colts sold to the Mexican government in the
late 19th century and early 20th century. By the 1920s, the “Ameria Americana” was run by Emilio A. Combaluzier. The
revolver is also accompanied by an R.L. Wilson research letter stating this revolver is one of only four engraved .41
caliber Model 1877s with mixed finished made from 1877 to 1897. He further notes that there were only 533 engraved
Model 1877s in .41 caliber, only 75 total Model 1877s with engraving and gold plating, and only Model 1877s with gold
plating and engraving in .41 caliber manufactured in 1877-1897. The revolver is featured on page 460 of Wilson’s “The
Colt Engraving Book Volume One”. The revolver features classic factory scroll, geometric, floral, and way line engraving
as well as a gold plated cylinder, raised relief design depicting the golden eagle and snake design based on the Mexican
coat of arms on the right grip, and standard markings including matching serial numbers. A period applied non-factory
“COLT D.A. 41” is stamped on the left side of the barrel ahead of the engraving.
The Colt Model 1877 “Lightning” (.38 Long Colt), “Thunderer” (.41 Colt), and “Rainmaker” (.32 Long Colt) revolvers
were Colt’s first double action revolvers. They were originally known as the “Double Action, Self-Cocking Central Fire
Revolving Pistol.” This model launched the long line of Colt double action revolvers that followed. Only approximately
918 of the 166,849 Model 1877s were factory engraved making each particularly rare and desirable. They were primarily
engraved by Cuno Helfricht who led the Colt engraving shop from the 1870s to 1921. With their bird’s head grips, the
Colt Model 1877 revolvers are among the most distinctive late 19th century revolvers and saw extensive use in the
American West in the hands of outlaws John Wesley Hardin and Billy the Kid. Some also found their way south of the
border to Mexico where Winchester and Colt found a ready market in the late 19th century. Many of their guns saw use
through the tumult of the Mexican Revolution, and some of these deluxe arms became the sidearms of officers and
political figures. This revolver was shipped to Mexico during the Porfiriato.
CONDITION: Very fine with 75% plus original nickel and period replaced gold finish remaining, some minor flaking,
distinct markings and engraving, and general mild overall wear. The grips are excellent with some minor cracks and
scratches. Mechanically fine. Wilson noted, “Considering technical features, engraving, quality, style, documentation,
condition and rarity, serial number 72148...is fully deserving of laurels as among the finest and rare examples from the
entire production run of 166,849.”
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 14,000
AS PICTURED AND
DESCRIBED IN THE
COLT ENGRAVING
BOOK, VOL II BY
WILSON
91