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LOT 120
L. D. Nimschke Master Engraved Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver
with Outstanding Mexican Coat of Arms Relief Carved Ivory Grip and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 22249, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, relief
carved antique ivory grips. The included factory letter lists this revolver in .45 caliber
with blue finish and indicates it was one of 67 guns of this type in a shipment to
Schuyler, Hartley & Graham on December 31, 1875. The barrel length and grips were
not listed which the remarks note typically indicates the then standard 7 1/2 inch
round barrel and walnut stocks. The revolver was engraved by the shop of New York
based Master Engraver Louis D. Nimschke, one of the most renowned arms engravers
of the era. The engraving features his distinctive scrollwork with beaded backgrounds,
panels of crosshatching with dots, “Nimschke stars,” gadrooning, fan patterns, and
other details consistent with his known works. For example, in “The Colt Engraving
Book Volume 1” by R. L. Wilson, serial number 114, serial number 23451 on page 334,
and the three examples on page 340 all feature very similar engraving with
some variation in the finer details. As is consistent across Nimschke’s body of work,
the engraving is beautifully executed and flows with the Single Action’s contours
and lines. The right side of the grip features a golden eagle with a rattlesnake in its
beak and claws perched on a cactus based on the coat of arms of Mexico. This was
a popular motif on Colt grips in the period suggesting many of these revolvers were
destined for Mexico or the American Southwest. With the turmoil in Mexico in the
second half of the 19th century and into the 20th century, the country was thirsty for
American arms, and men of wealth and power often preferred a well-adorned Colt
as their sidearm. In addition to the fine embellishments, the revolver features a blade
front sight, “bull’s-eye” ejector rod button, the one-line barrel address, the two-line
patent marking on the left, assembly number “864” on the loading gate, and matching
serial numbers visible on the cylinder, frame, trigger guard, and back strap.