The Colt SAA found itself almost immediately popular as a sidearm upon its release in the mid-late 1800s, and that popularity continued well into the 20th century among those with a desire for unwaveringly reliable firepower. This documented factory engraved example was manufactured in 1898 and certainly shows a certain frontier flair that is often associated with SAAs that spent time at the Southern border. The included factory letter states the revolver was shipped to The Salt Lake Hardware Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 14, 1898 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 WCF, blue finish, and hard rubber stocks. The period decorative work on the revolver bears well executed foliate scroll pattern on punch dot background along with fan patterns on the loading gate and behind the hammer, bordering on the ejector rod housing, and leaf pattern on the top strap. The revolver wears a set of pearl grips featuring a relief carved Mexican eagle on the right panel. The engraving and carving are certainly of the finest quality reserved for the wealthy and affluent. The barrel and frame are plated in silver, the screws and cylinder pin are nitre blue, and the remaining surfaces are plated in gold. The two-tone finish alone makes for a dramatic showing. The barrel has the standard two-line Hartford address on top and "38 W.C.F." in a banner on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap.

Very fine as period retailer embellished with the barrel and frame retaining 95% of the silver plating darkening with age, 70% of the gold plating on the ejector rod, cylinder, and hammer, and 40% of the gold plating on the trigger guard and back strap. The engraving is crisp. The grips are also very fine with slight chipping at the top (right panel), crisp carving, and attractive colors. Mechanically fine. A Western shipped Colt SAA revolver with a whole lotta frontier flair!