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Without a doubt No. 164 is a true rarity in Colt collecting and is a crown
jewel in 19th century American firearms artistry. The revolver a wonderful
profuse period L.D. Nimschke style New York engraving consisting of mostly
floral scrollwork on a punch dot background along with a star burst pattern
behind the front sight, fan motifs on the recoil shield, loading gate and top
of the back strap, entwining line and dot pattern on the butt and trigger
guard, and checkerboard pattern on the ejector rod housing. This highly
finished arm is made even more spectacular by having a two-tone finish of
nickel and gold and checkered one-piece grip. The barrel, frame, and grip
straps are plated in nickel. The ejector rod housing, hammer, and cylinder
are plated in gold. The revolver is featured in the 2nd edition of “Fine &
Historic Arms Annual” where it is cited as “the finest known early production
1871/72 Open Top revolver” (page 181). This is a stunning showpiece that
has no equal available to collectors. The writer only knows of one other
example featuring a Nimschke style engraving and two tone finish (silver
and gold) and that is no. 4974, which is part of the Autry Museum of the
American West collection (see “The Book of Colt Firearms,” page 237 and the
Autry’s collections online).
The top of the barrel has the one-line New York address, “COLTS/PATENT,”
which appeared on the first 1,000 revolvers produced, is stamped on the left
side of the frame, and the cylinder has the roll engraved naval engagement
scene along with engraved scallop bands. The loading gate has the
assembly number “125.” Matching serial numbers are on the frame, barrel,
trigger guard, back strap, and cylinder.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine overall. The barrel, frame and grip straps
retain 95% plus of the retailer applied nickel plating with some very
scattered edge wear and general loss on the barrel lug. The engraving is
crisp. The remaining surfaces retain traces of gold in the protected areas,
otherwise showing an untouched smooth brown patina. The cylinder has
some bruising on the front edge and retains virtually all of the crisp naval
scene. The grip is very fine with slight age shrinkage, couple surface chips
along the high edge, few typical age hairline cracks mostly on the bottom
and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. A fantastic showpiece of one
of the handful of known New York retailer engraved Model 1871-72 Open
Top Revolvers that will make a grand statement in any Colt collection no
matter how advanced.
Provenance: The C.D. Terry Collection; The Nick Shannon Collection.
Estimate: 75,000 - 110,000