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LOT 132
Outstanding Well-Documented and Rare Factory “A” Coverage Engraved
Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Double Relief
Carved Pearl Grips, Featured in “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume
Two” - Serial no. 355179, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
pearl grips. Manufactured in 1934. An included Colt archive letter states that
the factory shipment record was unable to be located for this serial number,
as Single Action Army records in this range “were lost, damaged, or destroyed
many years ago.” This example features fine factory “A” coverage engraving
consisting of floral scroll patterns, which is rare to see in these Colt First
Generation Single Action Army revolvers. Factory engraved Colt Single Action
Army revolvers are among the most desirable of all American firearms. The
Single Action Army itself is arguably the most iconic handgun in history. R.
L. Wilson on page 385 of “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One” wrote, “The
grand total of engraved Single Action Army revolvers (excluding the Bisley
Model and Flattop Target Model) from 1873 through 1940 is approximately
3,000. A number of these also included hand engraved inscriptions or
monograms. For the period of Cuno Helfricht (through c. 1921) the total of
factory engraved Single Action Army revolvers was approximately 2,550...” That
leaves less than 500 for subsequent years leading up to World War II. Others
estimate as many as 4,500 engraved First Generation Single Action Army
revolvers, but that still accounts for only approximately 1.26% of production
based on a total of 357,859, per production figures on page 25 of “Blue Book
Pocket Guide for Colt Dates of Manufacture” (2008) by R.L. Wilson.
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