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LOT 3074
Exceptional Documented
Early Production Helfricht
Factory Engraved Colt New
Service Revolver with Original
Ivory Grips and Factory Letter
- Serial no. 852, 45 Long Colt cal.,
5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/gold
finish, original ivory grips. This is a beautiful example of an early
low serial number pistol that was factory engraved in the Cuno
Helfricht pattern that exhibits a “C” plus (75%) coverage on all the
metal surfaces except the front and rear grip straps, the cylinder
flutes and the underside of the barrel. It is finished with the Colt high
polish blue and a gold washed cylinder, and is fitted with a two-piece set of smooth
ivory grips. This revolver is very similar to the two revolvers shown on the back cover of
the “Colt Firearms” by R.L. Wilson that were prepared for the 1914 Colt exhibit in South
America. This revolver is pictured and described in R.L. Wilson’s book “Fine Colts: The Dr.
Joseph A. Murphy Collection” on page 165. It is noted that fewer than 75 New Service
revolvers were ever engraved and certainly this has to be one of the earliest. It is also
pictured and described in “Colt’s New Service Revolver” by Mullin on page 18. This revolver
was manufactured in late 1899 or early 1900 and exhibits all the early characteristics, such
as the single line barrel address without any patent dates, the fixed firing pin, and the early
style top strap that is very similar to the SAAs without the front and rear cutouts also produced
during this time. The engraving was clearly done by Cuno Helfricht, or certainly in his shop by one of
the senior engravers as it exhibits a meticulous scroll engraving that is perfectly balanced with large scrolls
with a heavy punch dot background mixed with his trademark geometric pattern borders and highlights
on each side of the lower frame area, the top of the barrel around the barrel markings and the top strap of
frame that extends down the frame (by the sides of the hammer), the top and rear section of the back strap,
and around the lanyard loop. The engraver did not sign the gun, but it has the typical single Colt prick-punch
dot mark on the back side of the crane and the corresponding cutout area of the frame with the typical
small letter O on the left flat of the frame under the grip, both typical Colt factory inspector marks found on
engraved revolvers that were unsigned. The top of the barrel bears the early one line address of “COLT’S PT.
F. A. MFG. Co HARTFORD U.S.A.” with no patent dates. The left side of the barrel is marked “NEW SERVICE 45
COLT” in one line. The left side plate has the early Rampant Colt trademark encircled by “COLT’S NEW SERVICE”.
The serial number is stamped on the inside of the frame and crane. The revolver has the standard clipped blade
front sight and grooved receiver rear sight. The butt is fitted with a lanyard loop.
As pictured and described in the
book Fine Colts: The Dr. Joseph A.
Murphy Collection by Wilson
As pictured and
described in the
book Colt's New
Service Revolver
by Mullin
Collector’s Fact
According to Fine Colts: The Dr.
Joseph A. Murphy Collection by
Wilson, fewer than 75 Colt New
Service revolvers were factory engraved.
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