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LOT 324
Very Rare and Important Collector’s Piece,
Outstanding, Factory Documented First Ever Howard Dove Factory Engraved Colt Single Action Army
Revolver with Case and Factory Letter - Serial no. SA07842, 45 Long Colt cal., 7-1/2 inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1982, this is an outstanding example of a factory engraved
Colt Single Action Army revolver, with the added allure of being documented as the very first Single Action Army
revolver engraved by Colt factory Master Engraver Howard Dove. The included factory letter lists the revolver in .45
Long Colt with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, rubber grips, and class “B” factory engraving by Colt Master Engraver
Howard Dove when sold to Aeromarine in Birmingham, Alabama on 4 May 1982 as a single gun shipment. The
factory letter additionally notes that this revolver was the first ever Single Action Army revolver engraved by Dove
and was processed as order number 10723. Additionally, Dove has signed this piece of art “HOWARD M DOVE
ENGR. 1st” on the left side of the back strap under left grip panel. Dove began teaching himself to engrave during
the 1970s after returning from service in the Army, and by 1978 he was engraving for Colt. In 1985 he left the Colt
factory, setting up his own shop and continuing to engrave for Colt as well as Winchester. He died in 1994 at the
age of only 52. The class “B” factory engraving is masterfully executed by Dove with flourishes of floral scroll on a
punchdot background on all the major components of the revolver, amounting to approximately 50% coverage.
The top of the barrel is marked with the standard one-line address, while the model and caliber marking are on the
left. The standard two-line patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt are on the left of the frame. The matching
serial number is on the bottom of the frame, the left sides of the grip straps, and hand-scratched inside both grip
panels. It is fitted with the standard blade front and frame-top groove sights, as well as a pair of checkered hard
rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops and American eagles at the bottoms. Includes a Colt hardwood case.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 99% plus of the original blue finish and vibrant case colors with only the
slightest handling evidence and crisp engraving throughout. The grips are also excellent plus with only the
slightest handling marks and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with some minor handling/
storage marks.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000