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LOT 1318
Documented, Exhibition Quality F.E. Hendricks Signed Master Relief Engraved, Gold Inlaid
Bonnie and Clyde Theme Pre-War Colt Ace Semi- Automatic Pistol with Documentation - Serial no. 5627, 22 LR cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, walnut grips. Manufactured in 1934 and subsequently custom embellished in the late 20th century. This is a
beautiful example of an engraved Colt Ace pistol done in part with a Bonnie & Clyde motif by Master Engraver
Frank E. Hendricks. Except for a portion of the top of the slide, the pistol is masterfully engraved with full floral scroll designs
accented with relief rosette boutiques. Coverage includes the front and rear sight sides, hammer and sides of the trigger. The upper right rear of the frame has gold inlaid relief “B&CB” (Bonnie and Clyde Barrow). The top front
of the slide has a nicely detailed scene of Bonnie & Clyde out in the street in front of a bank they just robbed with guns in hand ready to make their get away in a car. On the top rear of the slide is a round panel with the bust of Bonnie & Clyde
with a banner at the bottom which reads “BONNIE & CLYDE”. Mr. Hendricks used a photograph of Bonnie & Clyde standing in front of a stolen Model-T to do the portrait of the two on top of the slide. Along the front edge of the ejection port it is signed “F.E. HENDRICKS”. The rear of the slide and frame and the grip safety have a matte and punch dot pattern. The only part of this pistol not engraved is the inside of
the trigger guard. The left side of the slide has the standard two line address/patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt; the right side has the standard “COLT (in relief ) .22 LONG/RIFLE”, and the serial number is marked on the right side of the frame. Standard blade and adjustable rear sights and two tone “COLT/ACE (in a diamond)/22 L.R.” marked magazine. The rear sight, hammer, trigger, barrel bushing, grip screws and magazine release are blue and the remainder of the pistol is finished in a frosted nickel plating. The accompanying factory letter copy verifies the caliber, barrel length, blue finish, grips as “Not Listed” with a special feature of a 3 3/4 pound pull when it was shipped as 1 of 3 to Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis, Missouri on October 15, 1934 (order number 14053/3). The pistol is also accompanied by a copy of a letter from Frank E. Hendricks dated October 24, 1997 explaining the finish applied to this pistol and how to care for it and a letter listing Mr. Hendricks’ experience, awards and publications he has been featured in; copies of some of the articles are also included. Two Colt Single Action Army revolvers that Mr. Hendricks engraved are featured on page 358 of R.L. Wilson’s “Steel Canvas: The Art of American Arms” stating
that the revolvers are “Undoubtedly the finest and most profusely decorated Colt S.A.s ever made.”