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LOT 228
Excellent L.D. Nimschke Engraved Colt Model 1877 Lightning Double Action
Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter - Serial no. 54381, 38 LC cal., 6 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, pearl grips. The factory letter states the revolver was shipped on August 31, 1885 to Hartley & Graham of New York City with a 6 inch barrel in .38 caliber, type
of stocks not listed, and finish listed as “blue-soft” which, as explained in the letter, indicated the frame and gate of this revolver was not casehardened when the arm left [the Colt] factory, but was in what was termed a soft” condition so that the revolver could be engraved by an outside engraver.” This was a six gun shipment. “Soft” guns are valuable because they represent revolvers destined for professional period engraving from the start. Hartley & Graham were the top dealers of the era and had top notch engravers work for them as is clearly shown on this revolver. In R.L. Wilson’s “Colt Engraving” Model 1877 revolvers (nos. 59411, 39537, and 68662) are identified as being shipped soft to Hartley & Graham and the engraving attributed to famed 19th century master engraver L.D. Nimschke (pages 227-228). The engraving pattern on this example is quintessential Nimschke. It has stunning scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds along with dot and wavy line accents, indicative of Nimschke’s work. The scrollwork on this revolver is inhabited by three dog heads which appear on the left side of the frame, left side
of the barrel at the breech, and recoil shield. The inclusion of animal heads is a departure
from Nimschke’s standard approach to the Model 1877, but is evident in many of his known masterpieces. See smoke pulls published in R.L. Wilson’s book “L.D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver” on pages 14 and 95 for dog heads and pages 24, 48, 49, 50, 51, and 57 for similar scrollwork.
The barrel has a rounded blade front sight, the two-line Hartford address on top at the breech, and “COLT. D.A. 38” in an acid etched panel on the left side. The frame has the three-line patent marking on the left and a top strap groove rear sight. The trigger guard has the letter “A” on the left side. The matching serial number is marked on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap,
and the rear face of cylinder has the matching last three digits (“381”). The loading gate has
the assembly number “177.” The revolver has a pair of pearl grips and period non-factory added
lanyard loop on the butt.