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LOT 1168
Serial no. 308877, 45 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., silver finish, pearl grips. Rock Island Auction Company
is extremely honored to present this factory engraved, inscribed, full silver plated, and eagle carved pearl grip
Colt Bisley Model revolver. The Colt Single Action Army is arguably the most iconic handgun of Americana. In the
hands of ranchers, cavalrymen, Native Americans, lawmen and outlaws, the Peacemaker’s legacy was forged out
in the hostile American West. Its association with the Wild West has made it one of the most collectible American
handguns. The limited factory engraved guns and other rare variations are especially sought after.
This Bisley Model no. 308877 checks all the boxes a collector of fine Colts is looking for. The factory engraving
alone makes this Bisley a rarity in Colt collecting. As explicitly noted by R.L. Wilson in “The Book of Colt Firearms,”
“Engraved Bisley revolvers are very rare, and Colt factory records indicate that less than 60 were made. Styles of
decoration confirmed to those found on the decorated SAA pistols made contemporaneously” (265 and 67). With
less than 60 officially recorded as factory engraved, there are not enough to satisfy collector demand, leaving
examples out of even the most advanced collections. Here is a real opportunity to fill that void in your collection.
As to the factory full silver plating, Wilson again confirmed the rarity: “Silver and gold plating were supplied on
special order; these are extremely rare, and almost exclusively restricted to engraved arms” (265). The factory
carved grip and factory back strap inscription are more rare special order features found on this Bisley. Few left
the factory with carved grips, and compared to steer or ox head motifs, an eagle is even rarer. Less than 40 of
this model received factory inscriptions or monogram. The inscription “Nabor Pacheco” firmly places this revolver
with American frontier justice as this revolver was gifted to an Arizona lawman. Its Western history only adds
to its desirability. All together these features make for a one-of-a-kind Bisley that will be a crown jewel to any
collection.
Until 2004, this Bisley had remained with the descendants of Nabor Pacheco. Per the family, “the gun was a
presentation pistol given to Nabor by the City of Tucson in 1909. At that time Nabor was chief of police of the
City of Tucson. Prior to that he had been Pima County sheriff, of which Tucson is the county seat.” In the early
1950s the gun was displayed at the Arizona Historical Society. (See the included Pacheco family notarized
letter.) The Pacheco family had emigrated from Portugal in the 1790s. Nabor was born in 1859 in Tucson to
prosperous farmers. Early in his life he worked as a cattle rancher and went on to hold several positions within
the community. He was a city policeman, county sheriff, city marshal, and supervisor of 100 men employed at
the Tucson Farms project that encompassed around 1,000 acres of land near the Santa Cruz River. While sheriff
he oversaw two hangings in less than a month. This included the last hanging in Tucson, which was performed
publicly in the court yard of the county jail. Nabor Pacheco died in 1920.
Rare, Historic, Documented Deluxe Factory Engraved
and Silver Plated Colt Bisley Model Single Action Army
Revolver Factory Inscribed to Arizona Lawman
with Magnificent Factory Relief Eagle Carved Pearl Grip, F. Ronstadt of Arizona Holster,
Factory Letter, and Ron Graham Letter
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