Page 163 - 4095-BOOK2

LOT 1164
Magnificent, Well-Documented, Silver and Gold Plated Cuno Helfricht Deluxe Factory
Master Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Relief
Carved Steer Head Ivory Grip and Factory Letter, Featured in “Colt Pistols” by R.L.
Wilson - Serial no. 305457, 32 WCF cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., silver/gold finish, relief carved
ivory grips. Offered here is an absolutely stunning, magnificent, silver and gold plated Cuno
Helfricht deluxe factory master engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army revolver.
The accompanying factory letter for this Helfricht masterpiece states it was shipped to Von
Lengerke & Antoine, of Chicago, Illinois, on Halloween, October 31, 1908, and confirms the 5
1/2 inch barrel in .32-20, silver finish with gold plated cylinder, hammer, and backstrap, ivory
grips with carved steer head motif, and factory engraving, as a 1 gun shipment. 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.
This specific revolver is pictured on p. 210-211 of “Colt Pistols” by Wilson, where he describes
it as “By Cuno A. Helfricht personally and one of the finest examples of his artistry, S.A.A. No.
305457 has survived since its 1908 production date with full silver plating, and much of the
cylinder, hammer, and gripstrap plating of gold. Photographs present the distinct styling
found in Helfricht’s favored handgun scroll, all the more plainly observed due to the plated
finishes.” The revolver had a different set of grips with medallions as pictured in the book.
These Helfricht engraved arms are highly prized by today’s collectors, especially those with
additional special features such as two-tone gold and silver plated finishes and relief carved
grips, both of which are featured on this highly attractive example. The revolver showcases
high quality factory scroll, floral, and wavy line engraving from Master Engraver Cuno A.
Helfricht, the head of Colt’s engraving shop for a nearly 50 year span from 1871 to 1921.
During his tenure with Colt, Helfricht saw the transition from percussion to cartridge firearms
and a rapidly growing market for engraved firearms. At the height of the firearm engraving
fad, Helfricht oversaw a shop of six engravers. By the turn of the century, experts believe that
Helfricht did most of the work himself with the help from one to two assistants. Helfricht’s
successor’s included famed Colt engravers Wilbur Glahn and William Gough.
No one knew the lines of the Single Action Army better than Helfricht, and this Peacemaker
certainly proves it! The engraving is predominantly flowing scroll patterns with beaded
background, along with a floral blossom and cross hatching on the right side of the frame, fan
pattern on the recoil shield and top of back strap, “X” patterns on the back strap, and wavy line
motif on top of the ejector rod housing. The right ivory grip panel is carved with a wonderful
raised relief steer head. Very few Single Action Army revolvers left the factory with hand
carved grips.
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