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LOT 1115
Stunning Well-Documented Silver and Gold
Plated L.D. Nimschke Engraved Antique Colt
Single Action Army Revolver with “Tiffany”
Civil War Battlefield Themed Grip and Factory
Letter, Formerly of the Famed Robert Sutherland
Collection - Serial no. 24931, 45 Long Colt cal., 7
1/2 inch round bbl., gold/silver finish, metal grips.
Manufactured in 1876, this Colt Single Action Army
revolver is a true masterpiece of 19th century firearms
art. The elegance, quality, and condition combined
with the “Tiffany” Civil War battlefield themed grip
makes it truly exceptional. It is difficult to overstate
the beauty of this incredible Colt. It comes to no
surprise that this work of art by L.D. Nimschke has
been well-documented by noted Colt historian and
author R.L. Wilson. The revolver is featured in “The
Book of Colt Firearms” on pages 247 and 576-577 and
“The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One” on pages
296 and 297. The revolver was previously from the
famed Robert Sutherland collection. Brig Pemberton
obtained the revolver in 1999.
The accompanying factory letter states this revolver
was originally shipped on October 9, 1876, to Spies,
Kissam & Company in New York City, as part of a
shipment including 50 guns of this type, in .45 caliber,
with blue finish, and barrel length and type of grip
not listed. It would then be engraved by Louis D.
Nimschke, who was the most famous of the New
York City engravers. Nimschke’s work is found on
many high grade Colt Single Action Army revolvers
that were engraved and deluxe finished. In 1876, Colt
shipped several Single Action Army revolvers to Spies,
Kissam & Co. that ended up in the hands of Nimschke.
The engraving consists mostly of Nimschke’s floral
scrollwork on a beaded background. A series of six-
pointed stars decorate the top strap and ejector rod
housing. Panels of cross hatching are featured on the
frame and trigger guard bow. A star burst is engraved
on each side of the frame at the front as well as on the
trigger guard. A fan motif is featured on the loading
gate. The rear of the cylinder has a band of engraving.
The revolver is fitted with a spectacular gilt and
plated cast bronze “Tiffany” grip. The relief head of the
ancient Greek mythology sky and thunder god Zeus
adorns the butt cap. The back of the grip has a blank
inscription oval and a relief Union shield and standing
arms motif. The sides of the grip are decorated with
relief Civil War battle panel scenes. This type of Civil
War themed grip is seen on other Nimschke Colt steel
masterpieces. See, for instance, Model 1871-72 Open
Top revolver no. 4974, a pair of Model 1860 Armies
nos. 15657 and 156653, and a pair of conversion
Model 1861 Navies nos. 8875 and 9200 (for reference
see “The Book of Colt Firearms” pages 576-577, “Colt
Engraving” pages 188-198 and 212, and “The Colt
Engraving Book, Volume One” pages 295-297).
Samuel Colt was a client of Tiffany & Co., a relationship
that went back to at least 1861. This is evident by a
surviving November 13, 1861 Tiffany billing to Samuel
Colt for “Mounting Brooch” (see “Colt Engraving” page
198). Per Wilson, “Tiffany & Co. ranked among about
thirty jobbers and dealers of Colt arms in the Civil
War period, and were thus allowed to acquire Colt
products in case of quantity lots. Several thousands
of Colt arms are detailed in the Colt Civil War shipping
ledgers, as having been sent to Tiffany & Co.” In an
early publication Wilson noted that Tiffany grips are
encountered on “some factory engraved [Colts], but
mostly done to order by L.D. Nimschke.” These battle
scene themed grips seen on this revolver and others
certainly had all the flare to attract affluent officers
who wanted to commemorate their Civil War
military service.