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LOT 3114
Rare Well-Documented New York Engraved Early Production Antique Colt
Single Action Army Revolver in Highly Desirable .44 Henry Rimfire with
Relief Carved Mexican Eagle Ivory Grip and Factory Letter, Featured in
“Colt Engraving” by R.L. Wilson - Serial no. 1891, 44 Henry RF cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, relief carved ivory grips. Offered here is a highly sought
after Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered for the rare .44 Henry rimfire
cartridge. Adding to its rarity, it features high quality New York engraving, and
is wearing a period ivory grip with a detailed relief carved Mexican eagle on the
right side. Only approximately 1,904 of these rimfire revolvers were manufactured
in the year 1875 in a separate serial number sequence from the centerfire
Single Action Army revolvers per information on pages 381-383 of “The Official
Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1873-1895” by the Wilkersons
and Hoyt. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as shipped in a 10
gun shipment on March 20, 1880, to Hartley and Graham in New York City, in .44
rimfire caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grip not listed. Of
interesting note, the shipment date was five years after the original manufacture
of this revolver. The New York engraving consists mainly of classic scroll engraving
with beaded backgrounds as well as dotted cross-hatched designs and stars.
This exact revolver is pictured on page 277 of “Colt Engraving” by R.L. Wilson, in
which the author indicates the engraving may have been performed by either
L.D. Nimschke or Cuno Helfricht’s shop. When the .44 rimfire was introduced into
Single Action Army production, the cartridge was already considered obsolete,
with a limited amount produced, fewer engraved, and the majority sent to
Mexico and South America where the Henry and Winchester Model 1866 rifles
and carbines were still in active use. The revolver has the distinctive hammer with
rimfire firing pin secured by two pins and a rectangular hammer slot in the frame.