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LOT 3184
Well-Documented Factory Soft Shipped New York Engraved Nickel and Gold Plated Antique Colt Bisley Model Single
Action Army Revolver with Attractive Relief Carved Steer Head Pearl Grip and Factory Letters - Serial no. 182411, 45
Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel/gold finish, relief carved pearl grips. The two accompanying factory letters both list
this Bisley Model revolver as shipped on December 24, 1898, to Hartley & Graham in New York City, in .45 caliber, with a 5 1/2
inch barrel, “soft” finish, and hard rubber grips. This was a one gun shipment. The remarks note that the “soft” listing for finish
indicates the gun was left unfinished for engraving outside of the factory. This exact Bisley Model revolver is photographed
and described on page 231 of “Colt Pistols: 1836-1976” by Wilson and Hable, in which the authors indicate the engraving on
this revolver appears to have been performed by an engraving student of Helfricht. Master Engraver Cuno Helfricht spent his
nearly 50 year career exclusively with the Colt firm (1871-1921). 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.
The revolver is embellished with wonderful factory engraving that displays the characteristics of deluxe patterns associated with
either L.D. Nimschke or Helfricht and his shop, consisting of floral scrollwork on beaded backgrounds, with a fan motif on the
loading gate, wavy zigzag line and dot designs, and “Nimschke stars” on both forward sides of the frame. The standard one-line
Colt Hartford address is stamped on top of the barrel, with the caliber marking “45 COLT” on the left in a border. The two-line
patent dates and circled Rampant Colt are on the left of the frame. Matching visible full serial numbers on the bottom of the
frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with partial matching number “2411” on the rear face of the cylinder, and assembly number
“940” on the loading gate. The revolver is finished in nickel with gold plating on the ejector rod head, trigger guard and front
grip strap, trigger, loading gate, and hammer. It is fitted with blade and groove sights, and highly attractive period retailer two-
piece pearl grips with a relief carved steer head on the right grip panel.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 85% plus nickel finish and 30% of the gold plated finish strongest on the hammer, with areas of
smooth brown patina on the trigger guard, and sharp engraving. Grips are also very fine, with highly attractive fiery colors, a
small chip at the bottom left rear corner, some minor handling marks, and a distinct carved steer head. Mechanically excellent.
Overall a very attractive and desirable documented New York engraved Colt Bisley Model Single Action Army revolver with a
relief carved steer head pearl grip!
Provennce: R.E. Hable Collection; Private Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
As pictured & described in
Colt Pistols: 1836-1976 by Wilson
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