The included factory letter accompanying this revolver as well as the included family history has answered long held questions about a very small group of Colt New Army Model 1903 Revolvers featuring factory engraving and special order checkered grips. The letter states this revolver was part of a shipment of five Colt New Army Model 1903 Revolvers in .38 caliber with 6 inch barrels, blue finish, checkered grips, factory engraving, and a "Special" notation. They were sold to the U.S. government and sent to the commanding officer at Springfield Armory on October 19, 1903. Notably, Theodore Roosevelt was president at the time. These revolvers fall shortly after the accepted serial number range (200000-212500) of the 12,500 Model 1903s delivered to Springfield Armory for the U.S. The other known factory engraved New Army Model 1903 revolvers, numbers 219750, 219751, and 219752, were clearly part of this order, but, when the first of these was sold by Rock Island Auction in May 2023, no factory record was available to shed light on their shared origins. Given the sequential revolvers, serial number 219754 is likely the remaining revolver from the special government order. All of these revolvers have very similar engraving and the same grips. Given the lack of factory records, we previously theorized that these may have been left over revolvers embellished as "factory display or shooting prizes," but the letter with this revolver changes our perspective and clearly indicates this was a special government order. They may still have been initially ordered as awards given the Brett Revolver Matches took place between U.S. military officers and enlisted men in late October 1903 primarily using .38 caliber Colt's Army & Navy revolvers, but this revolver's recipient is further identified in the included provenance documentation as none other than John Pershing, then recently returned from leading American troops against the Moros in the Philippines. The included notarized statement from Sandra Giovannetti Murray which states that this revolver and the accompanying sword/machete were personally given to her grandfather Edmond Giovannetti by General John Pershing in the first half of the 20th century. She further indicates that her grandfather was a master carpenter in Washington, D.C., and constructed a custom cabinet for Pershing after which he was given these artifacts. Murray indicates the revolver and sword were passed down to her father, Vincent Edmund Giovannetti, who in turn passed them on to her. Mrs. Murray that Pershing may have acquired the sword as a souvenir during the Spanish-American War or subsequently during his service in Mexico, Cuba, or the Philippines and added that the sword was unidentified but that "Further research should easily identify its origin." Indeed, the sword is a Spanish-American War era "officer's machete or "pioneer machete" made by Ferd. Esser & Co. of Elberfeld, Germany. The blade measures 27 1/2 inches in length and has a tanto style point, "FERD. ESSER/ELBERFELD" on the right, and a rampant horse over "MACHETE LAMENTAR" and "No 877/C" on the left. The alloy hilt has an eagle head pommel and contrasting checkered grip scales. The scabbard is brown leather with nickel-silver mounts. This was very likely acquired by Pershing during his service in the Spanish-American War in Cuba or in the Philippines. The engraving on the revolver covers 70% of the surface and consists mostly of fine floral scrollwork on a punch dot background along with stylized motifs using a variety of patterns such as dots, zig-zag lines and scallops which decorate the top strap, left side of the frame under the cylinder, crane, and front of the right side of the frame. The engraving is consistent with the work of the famed Cuno Helfricht Shop, possibly by Helfricht himself as the quality of engraving is extremely high. The revolver also features a rounded blade front sight, the two-line address and patent marking ending in "MAR. 5. 95." on top of the barrel, "COLT. D.A. 38" in an engraved panel on the left side of the barrel, "J.T.T." on the left side of the trigger guard, "K" and "9753" on the cylinder latch, "9753" on the frame and crane, "U.S./ARMY/MODEL/1903/No/219/753" on the butt, and checkered grips. General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing (1860-1948) is among the most famous military leaders in American history. In 1903, when the revolver was shipped, he had already become well-known after his victories and had just returned home after successfully leading U.S. troops against the Moros in the Philippines. Theodore Roosevelt had by then known Pershing for several years and nominated him that year for a field grade promotion in recognition of his service and talents. He was in Chicago prior to being assigned to the General Staff and heading to Washington at the end of the month. The newspapers in October 1903 ran headlines such as "Capt. Pershing May Be Brigadier General" and also highlighted his career up to that point and had little idea of how much more he was to do in the service of our country. Pershing graduated from West Point in 1886 and initially served in the 6th U.S. Cavalry and by 1892 as first lieutenant in the 10th Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers). In 1897, he returned to West Point as an instructor West Point and was given the nickname "Black Jack" in response to his prior leadership of African-American troopers. He soon was pulled to active service during the Spanish-American War and served returned to the 10th Cavalry as their quartermaster. Together Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, Pershing and the 10th Cavalry, and the 3rd U.S. Cavalry captured Kettle Hill during the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. Sergeant George Berry of the 10th Cavalry is credited with being the first to reach the summit. Pershing indicated, "the entire command moved forward as coolly as though the buzzing of bullets was the humming of bees. White regiments, black regiments, regulars and Rough Riders, representing the young manhood of the North and the South, fought shoulder to shoulder, unmindful of race or color, unmindful of whether commanded by ex-Confederate or not, and mindful of only their common duty as American." Together, the Americans then held the hill against the Spanish counterattack, and Pershing left a lasting impression on Roosevelt who later wrote, "I have been in many fights, but Captain Pershing is the coolest man under fire I ever saw in my life." After fighting in Cuba, he was stationed in the Philippines. In the first half of 1903, he led U.S. troops against the defiant Moros, winning several notable victories on the island of Mindanao. He applied to return home after four years of service in harsh tropical climates and returned to the U.S. in June of 1903. At the time this revolver was shipped, President Theodore Roosevelt had petitioned to get then Captain Pershing promoted unsuccessfully as appointments below the rank of brigadier general required approval. Roosevelt promoting him a brigadier general, but considered such a jump in rank unprecedented and insulting to other officers Roosevelt counted among his friends. In 1905, Roosevelt personally wrote to Pershing congratulating him on his impending engagement and invited Pershing and his fiancée to join the Roosevelt's for lunch. His fiancée, Helene Frances Warren, was notably the daughter of Senator Francis E. Warren of Wyoming, the Chair of the Senate's Military Appropriations Committee. Roosevelt sent Pershing to Japan as a military attache during the Russo-Japanese War, and Roosevelt himself notable was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the end of the conflict. In 1906, Roosevelt made a bold move and promoted Pershing to brigadier general. In doing so, Pershing skipped multiple ranks and jumped ahead of over 862 more-senior officers. Roosevelt is known to have valued merit over seniority and to have rewarded men he was impressed by regardless of their position in society. Having seen Pershing in action in 1898 and reports of his success in the Philippines, Roosevelt had plenty reasons to consider Pershing well-suited to his promotion. He wrote to Senator Warren, "I am sure that Pershing will make good; and that is all I have to ask of him." Given Roosevelt's love of guns and history of presenting fine guns to his friends and allies as well as his clear fondness for Pershing, it is easy to imagine Roosevelt ordering special revolvers for Pershing and a few other officers on the War Department General Staff that had earned his admiration. After his promotion, Brigadier General Pershing bounced between several commands, including returning to the Philippines as the governor of Moro Province and commander of the Department of Mindanao. After returning to the U.S., he was stationed in in San Francisco and then was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas. While there, a fire broke out back at the Presidio in San Francisco killing his wife and three young daughters. His six year old son Warren was the only survivor from the family and returned with his father to Fort Bliss and later fought in World War II, and General Pershing focused on his work, soon leading the U.S. effort to capture Pancho Villa during the Mexican Punitive Expedition and was promoted to major general. Roosevelt, now a private citizen, wrote to Pershing to express his pride: "My dear General, permit me to say how proud and pleased I am with your brilliant handling of the situation and of the admirable record of the officers and men under you. It has not been easy for an American to be proud of much during the past two years..." Pershing's big rise to fame and glory came during the First World War when he was appointed as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, leading the U.S. to victory and providing much needed support to the war worn Allies. During the war, he wrote to former President Roosevelt about the loss of his son Quentin who as shot down and killed. He famously called for all of Germany to be occupied and for an unconditional surrender. Had he been listened to, the tragedies of World War II perhaps could have been avoided. For leading the U.S. troops to victory, in 1919, he was promoted to General of the Armies of the United States. He remain the only officer granted the rank during their own lifetime. George Washington, for whom the title was originally created, and Ulysses S. Grant were posthumously awarded the rank decades after Pershing. He served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army before retiring in 1924 at the age of 64, the mandatory military retirement age, and died in Washington, D.C., in 1948. Newspapers across the country noted that Pershing's death was mourned by many, especially the veterans of the Great War he successfully led. Provenance: General of the Armies John J. Pershing; Edmond Giovannetti; Vincent Edmund Giovannetti; Sandra Giovannetti Murray

Very fine with crisp factory engraving and markings, 80% plus original blue finish, smooth brown patina on the balance, scattered specks of rust oxidation, and generally fairly mild age and handling related wear. The lanyard loop is absent with the stud broke off in butt. The grips are excellent with crisp checkering, attractively aged patina, natural grain visible, and small age lines. Mechanically excellent. The sword/machete is very fine with a bright blade, minor spotting, attractively aged patina on the hilt and scabbard fittings, rub wear on the leather, and generally minor overall wear mostly from age. This extraordinary set and its documentation has answered some questions about the origin of this small group of 5 factory engraved U.S. government contract Colt New Army Model 1903 revolvers shipped in 1903 and left us yearning for more answers. Of the five, this revolver is certainly the most desirable given its original owner: General of the Armies John J. Pershing. Even without this historic ownership, this revolver is among the rarest of all Colt firearms as a factory engraved Colt New Army Model 1903 with deluxe factory grips ordered by the U.S. government.