This revolver was manufactured in 1883 and features beautiful L.D. Nimschke "New York" style engraving throughout consisting mainly of classic scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds as well as wavy line and dot accents. The barrel has a blade front sight, the one-line barrel address on top, part of the etched panel visible on the left, "44" on the bottom at the breech, and an ejector rod with small divot in the button. The "black powder" frame has the three line patent marking mostly visible among the engraving on the left. "T" and "P" are marked on the back of the cylinder. The loading gate has assembly number "6605." The trigger guard has "44. C.F." on the left side. Matching serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The one-piece grip has a raised relief carved steer head on the left side suggesting this revolver was the left side revolver from a pair. "F. VILLA" is inscribed on the butt of the revolver. In a December 18, 1967, letter, R.L. Wilson wrote: "...the F. Villa inscribed Colt Single Action revolver, serial #88078, is an important example of engraved pistol by master engraver L.D. Nimschke...#88078 was originally shipped from the Colt factory in the 'soft' state. Such shipments were rare, but when done meant that the pistol was to be engraved by the recipient dealer. By the distinctive style of the engraving, the work is identifiable as definitely by the master L.D. Nimschke." Wilson also notes that the grips are believed to be original and notes that it is unusual that Nimschke partially engraved over the etched panel on the barrel rather than have his scrollwork accommodate the etching. He points to the wear at the muzzle indicating the revolver was carried in an open toe holster and that given the overall wear, "One can say without hesitation or reservation that this fine old pistol saw Frontier use on a day-in day-out basis and is a bona fide relic of the Wild West." The revolver is also featured on page 83 of "Der Peacemaker: Colt's 1873er Single Action" by Gunter Schmitt, and the details of the Wilson letter are also discussed as well as a Bundeswehr pilot who had been training in Mexico and informed the author that he had seen a mate to the this revolver in the Villa Museum. This revolver's early provenance is not documented, but the inscription is consistent with other revolvers attributed to Mexican general and revolutionary Francisco "Pancho" Villa. The inscription appears to be cut by the same hand as the factory engraved and gold plated Colt Single Action Army Revolver, sn. 335515, inscribed "FRANCISCO VILLA" in the same location on the butt as well as "Al General Francisco Villa/de/su Division del Norte" in a different style down the rear of the back strap. This revolver turning up in a German collection is interesting given the known involvement of German agents in supplying and funding Villa and his men. Villa was born Jose Dorotea Arango Arambula (1878-1923), but is much better known as Pancho Villa and remains one of the most famous Mexican generals of the Mexican Revolution and retains a "Robin Hood" type persona thanks to his work to redistribute wealth from some of the wealthier landowners to the poor in Northern Mexico. He is also known to have been a ruthless bandit and general employing brutal tactics against his real and perceived enemies. He is known to have used a variety of firearms throughout his life, including Colt Single Action Army revolvers, as he fought with and against a series of Mexican leaders during in the early 20th century. As a teenager, he claimed to have killed Agustin Lopez Negrete who had raped his sister, stole a horse, and fled and joined up with an outlaw gang and lived as a bandit. He was forced into the Federal Army in 1902 after being arrested for theft and assault but soon deserted. The next year, he killed an army officer and stole his horse. He continued his banditry until 1910 when it took on a more revolutionary bend under the advice of Abraham Gonzalez. With the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution that year, Villa supported Francisco Madero and won multiple victories earning him growing fame and power and a promotion to colonel from Madero. During Madero's presidency, Villa struck General Victoriano Huerta after the general called him a horse thief and bandit. Spared execution by firing squad thanks to his connections with Madero, Villa was imprisoned but escaped on Christmas in 1912 and fled to the United States. After Huerta came into power, Villa's ally Gonzalez was assassinated by Huerta's men, and Villa joined with Venustiano Carranza and other revolutionaries to throw Huerta out of power and then turned against Carranza when he came into power. As a revolutionary general, he continued his bandit ways, robbing trains and extorting funds from his enemies, but he also saw additional major victories on the battlefield in 1913 and 1914 before his famous Division del Norte suffered significant defeats at the Battle of Agua Prieta and Battle of Celeya in 1915, and he became more of a resistance leader than a general commanding an army. His attack on Columbus, New Mexico, in 1916 led to the U.S. Army crossing the border into Mexico to hunt him down and almost brought the two countries to war. Neither Carranza's men nor the Americans could capture "La Cucaracha" (The Cockroach), and he continued to resist and launched another campaign in 1919 including attacking Juarez. With the assassination of Carranza, Villa made a deal and retired, but he was himself assassinated in a hail of gunfire in Parral on July 20, 1923. Provenance: The Gunter Schmitt Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Very fine with crisp engraving, 80% plus of the original retailer applied nickel plated finish with loss mainly on the muzzle and cylinder, mild pitting concentrated at the muzzle on the left, and generally minor overall wear. The grip is fine and has some chipping at the upper left, numerous age stress lines, and a distinct, well-executed raised relief carved steer head on the left. Mechanically excellent. This is certainly a stunning and fascinating revolver documented as soft shipped from the factory and featuring stunning New York engraving, a left handed steer head carved grip, and desirable "F. VILLA" inscription.