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LOT 1123
Desirable Factory Engraved Colt Police Positive Double Action
Revolver with Original Steer Head Relief Carved Ivory Grips
and Factory Letter - Serial no. 93049, 32 Colt Police cal., 2 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, original carved ivory grips. This special
order Colt Police Positive DA revolver is accompanied by a factory
letter listing the revolver in .32 Police with a 2 1/2 inch barrel,
nickel finish, and ivory grips with “carved Ox head motif”
and indicates it was shipped to Witte Hardware Company
in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 25, 1911. Engraving is not
listed, but the revolver features attractive factory engraving.
In “The Book of Colt Firearms” Colt historian and author cited
approximately 170 Police Positives were factory engraved
(page 376). The engraving covers nearly all of the surface and
is mostly floral scrollwork on beaded background along with
cross hatching and zig-zag line motifs. Matching serial numbers
appear on the inside of the frame, crane and cylinder (“49”).
The barrel is marked with the two-line Colt legend on top and
“POLICE/POSITIVE” followed by “.32 POLICE CTG.” on the left
side. The Colt factory Rampant Colt trade mark with stylized
“C” appears on the side plate amongst the engraving. The Colt
medallion grips feature a wonderful relief carved steer head on
the right panel.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 85% plus original nickel
finish with crisp engraving. The grips are very fine with minimal
handling marks, crisp carving and highly attractive color and
grain. Mechanically excellent. This factory engraved Colt Police
Positive DA revolver is a rare piece of Colt artistry from the early
20th century.
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 9,000 - 13,000
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