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LOT 1482
Fantastic Pair of Documented Howard Dove Exhibition Quality Master Engraved and Signed Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877 Lightning Double Action Revolvers with Scrimshaw Grips -A) Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877 Lightning Revolver - Serial no. 165499, 38 LC cal., 3 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, smooth grips. Howard Dove’s work is some of the most sought after in Colt collecting. He is also one of only two people in the modern era to work as a Master Engraver for both Colt and Winchester at the same time. His immense capacity to turn firearms into wonderful pieces of art was highly sought after by everyone from music and film stars to Prince Kalad of India. During his short but fruitful career, he was seen as the official engraver of the Colt Collectors Association creating one of a kind pieces for their shows. This pair of ejectorless Colt Sheriff’s Model 1877 Lightning revolvers is a superb example of Howard Dove’s skill and talent in all facets of gun engraving and embellishment. This set consists of two original Colt Model 1877s featuring full coverage Dove engraving and scrimshaw bird’s head grips as well as gold inlay on the “B” revolver. The “A” gun was manufactured in 1909 and has a nickel plated finish with niter blue screws, hammer, cylinder pin, and trigger. The “B” gun was manufactured in 1901 and has a rich blue finish with casehardened frame and niter blue screws, hammer, cylinder pin, and trigger. Dove embellished each revolver with “D+” American style scroll engraving with small punch dot background and signed each back strap on the left side. The engraving covers all metal surfaces except under the front edge of the barrel and inside the trigger guard area. The pattern is a mix of several styles with exceptional scrollwork along with numerous geometric designs similar to that of Cuno Helfricht. In his signed accompanying letter (copy), Howard Dove details every engraving component done by his own hand. Full coverage on the frames. The barrels feature the caliber marking inside a banner and double clamshell patterns with checkered board center with scroll extending to the muzzle on both sides. The cylinders are decorated with a rear border bullet motif, leaf pattern filling entire flutes, and scrollwork covering entire chambers. The back straps are adorned with checkered board pattern on top of the ears and extending to rear of frame beside the hammer. The strap edges have cut scrollwork and the name “Duchess” in the center. The trigger guards have crossed ribbon motifs in the center surrounded by spreading leaf designs that extend to the sides. On the “A” gun the recoil shield has an intricate spreading leaf clamshell design.
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