Page 267 - Demo

AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE COLT ENGRAVING BOOK, VOL. II BY WILSON
It is rare to find other guns by him, and even rarer to find a Colt handgun. He was a contemporary of Harry M. Pope and George Schoyen. He retired in 1919 and passed in 1925. Dutcher on page 358 and 359 of “Ballard: The Great American Single Shot Rifle” writes that Zischang was an “artist in metal and wood” and “To own a Zischang rifle is much like owning a Rembrandt painting, for his rifles are truly works of art.”That could certainly said about this revolver considering it also has the work of one of the early 20th century’s finest firearms engravers. Kornbrath was a Ferlach, Austria, trained engraver and came to the U.S. in 1910 and eventually established himself in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was active until suffering a stroke in 1937. He did contract work for Colt and others and also completed private commissions on a variety of firearms. He is noted by many later engravers as an inspiration. In the early 20th century firearms engraving was in decline after its heyday in the late 19th century, but men like Kornbrath kept the
art alive and produced amazing firearms art like this revolver. The barrel is inscribed “A.O. ZISCHANG SYRACUSE, N.Y.” The left side of the top strap is signed “---R.J. KORNBRATH ENGRAVER ---” in tiny letters, and the right side is inscribed “HARTFORD, CONN.” Wilson’s “CHW” monogram is inlaid in gold on the butt. The engraving consists of highly detailed, entwining floral scroll patterns covering a third of the barrel, nearly of the frame, and on the side of the cylinder aside from the flutes. The grip straps and trigger are finely knurled. The right grip is has a raised relief carved steer head, and both panels have Colt medallions. Inside they are marked “CHAS. H. WILSON” twice each in blue ink.
265