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revolver. Original .44 Henry rimfire Colt Single Action Army revolvers are very scarce, and engraved examples are very, very hard to find. Estimate: 35,000 - 55,000
187
LOT 214
Extremely Rare New York Engraved, Nickel Plated, and Gold Trimmed .44
Henry Rimfire Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory
Letter - Serial no. 1766, 44 Henry RF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel/gold finish,
pearl grips. The .44 rimfire series was introduced in 1875, and, per “The Official Records of
the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, 1873-1895,” they were serial numbered in their own range
from 1 to 1897. The total production number amounted to 1,904 revolvers due to some of these revolvers being numbered within the regular centerfire serial number range, likely accidentally. Factory records for 224 of these revolvers are missing, and they may have been scrapped or not completed. Some were also converted to .22 rimfire. Schuyler, Hartley & Graham (Hartley &
Graham) purchased 621 of these revolvers, the largest number of any dealer by far. Surviving .44 Henry Single Action Army revolvers are very scarce, and examples with both retailer engraving
and considerable finish remaining are nearly unheard of. These revolvers would have made
excellent sidearms for men armed with the popular Henry and Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifles much like the “Frontier Six Shooter” Colt Single Action Army revolvers in .44-40 were often paired with the Winchester Model 1873s.
The factory letter lists this revolver in .44 rimfire with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and wood grips when it was part of a shipment
of five guns of this type on January 21, 1880, to legendary dealers Hartley & Graham of New York City. Famous 19th century firearms engraver L.D. Nimschke engraved many revolvers for the firm. The revolver has extensive scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds, wavy line designs and borders, “Nimschke stars” on the sides of the frame by the arbor pin and on the trigger guard, checker board and dot designs on the trigger guard shoulders, and floral/fan designs on the sides of the back strap at the top. The engraving has definite similarities with the Nimschke engraved Colt from c. 1876 shown on page xxxix of “L.D. Nimschke: Firearms Engraver” by Wilson. The top of the barrel has the one-line “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” address. Small “44” caliber marking on the bottom of the barrel. The left side of the frame has the three-line pattern marking in an oval panel. The left side of the trigger guard has the “44 CAL” marking. Matching serial numbers are visible on the frame, trigger guard, and butt. The loading gate has assembly number “127.” The hammer has the distinctive rimfire firing pin, and the frame has the corresponding firing pin slit rather than the round hole seen on
the centerfire revolvers. It is fitted with a pair of pearl grips with the matching serial number marked on the insides.
CONDITION: Very fine as New York engraved and nickel and gold plated with crisp engraving and markings, 95% of the period
nickel plating remaining on the barrel, nearly all of the period gold plating remaining in the upper and lower grooves of the ejector housing, a copper tone on the exposed backing material along the side of the ejector housing, strong period gold in the flutes and engraving on the cylinder and mostly dark plum color aged patina on the backing material on the cylinder, 75% plus period nickel plating remaining on the frame and grip straps, strong niter blue finish remaining on the screws, and some minor oxidation and pitting. The grips are chipped but are otherwise fine and have attractive natural iridescent colors. Mechanically excellent. This is a very scarce