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Well-Published Factory Engraved Colt Open Top Pocket Revolver with Rare Factory Box, Factory Letter, and Book - Serial no. 91825, 22 S & L cal., 2 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, antique ivory grips. This revolver was manufactured
in 1876, but the included factory letter indicates it was not shipped until October
3, 1888, when it was part of a 103 gun shipment shipped to Hartley & Graham with factory engraving and nickel finish. The revolver and its scarce factory pasteboard box are pictured and discussed on pages 276-277 of the included copy of “A Life’s Tapestry of a Collector: The Gamble Collection” by George F. Gamble and R.L. Wilson where the authors discuss Colt heavily discounting these revolvers as the market was flooded with poor quality competitors in the 1870s. It is also featured in Wilson’s earlier books “Colt Engraving” on page 271 in the chapter “Cuno A. Helfricht and
His Shop” and “The Book of Colt Engraving Volume II” on page xlii. The revolver has the standard markings, scroll engraving on the frame and cylinder, and a stamp, line, and dot motif on the barrel which is renumbered to match and appears to
have originally been numbered “79805.” The red box says “COLT’S/SEVEN SHOT PISTOL/.22 Calibre./For Long or Short Cartridges” on top and contains a combination screwdriver and cleaning rod.
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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE COLT ENGRAVING BOOK, VOL. II & COLT ENGRAVING BY WILSON AND A LIFE'S TAPESTRY OF A COLLECTION: THE GAMBLE COLLECTIONS BY GAMBLE & WILSON