The factory letter for this exquisite Colt Single Action Army masterpiece states this revolver was shipped to famed Ft. Worth, Texas, retailer Wolf & Klar on April 4, 1935, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, nickel finish, hard rubber stocks, and factory engraving. This was the sole gun of this type in the shipment. The revolver has been featured in several publications. It is pictured on page 284 of “The Book of Colt Engraving,” page 368 of “Colt Engraving,” and pages 172-173 of “Fine Colts: The Dr. Joseph A. Murphy Collection,” all by R.L. Wilson where the engraving is noted as engraved by Rudolph Kornbrath and the grips are noted as carved by Alvin A. White. The revolver is also featured in the 2nd edition of "Fine & Historic Arms Annual" on page 169. While the photographs in these books clearly show the revolver is exceptional, having it in hand truly shows the quality of the engraving and carving and the extraordinarily rare nearly new condition. Though highly sought after today, the popularity of engraved firearms decreased in the late 19th century and into the 20th century. R. L. Wilson on page 385 of "The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One" wrote, "The grand total of engraved Single Action Army revolvers (excluding the Bisley Model and Flattop Target Model) from 1873 through 1940 is approximately 3,000. A number of these also included hand engraved inscriptions or monograms. For the period of Cuno Helfricht (through c. 1921) the total of factory engraved Single Action Army revolvers was approximately 2,550..." That leaves less than 500 for subsequent years leading up to World War II. Others estimate as many as 4,500 engraved First Generation Single Action Army revolvers, but that still accounts for only approximately 1.26% of production, and very few remain in mint condition like our current piece. The best of the best firearms engravers hold a special place in the hearts of collectors of fine arms in the same way other artists captivate the fine art world. In the mid to late 19th century Gustave Young and L. D. Nimschke come to mind, and in the early 20th century, there was no one more talented than Rudolph J. Kornbrath (1877-1946). He remains among the most highly respected firearms engravers in history thanks to both his own incredible work and his influence on the following generation of engravers. He was born in the famous gunmaker town of Ferlach, Austria, and trained in Europe before settling in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1910. He quickly earned a reputation for excellence, cutting both exceptional scrollwork and detailed game scenes, monograms, and more. The scrollwork on this revolver demonstrates his talents beautifully, featuring complex foliate scrollwork with textured backgrounds. He was an independent engraver commissioned by Colt, Griffin & Howe, and other firms. Joseph Fugger worked for Kornbrath after emigrating in 1924, and his work as well as Winston Churchill's exhibit clear influences from Kornbrath, and he remains an inspiration to many of the artists working today. Unfortunately, his career was cut short when he suffered from a stroke in 1937, and very few Colt Single Action Army revolvers were engraved by Kornbrath making the few available particularly valuable. The revolver is expertly decorated in Kornbrath’s characteristic scrollwork in style “C” coverage. The scrollwork overlaps from the frame onto the grip straps. Even the screws are engraved. Noted firearms collector Jonathan Peck purchased this revolver from a friend at a TGCA show in Dallas. It was Peck’s friend who commissioned Alvin A. White to carve the pearl grips with a Texas star, a fitting tribute to a Peacemaker originally shipped to the Lone Star State. In the center of the raised relief star is a gold medallion that reads “STATE OF TEXAS” with a star in the center. These grips have remained on the gun ever since. A set of non-matching period hard rubber grips, the type of stocks called out in the factory letter, are included. Matching serial numbers are marked on the frame and under the right grip. The assembly number "92" is marked on the loading gate and on the rear of the frame. The barrel has the standard blade front sight, the two-line Hartford address on top, and "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45" on the left. The frame has the two-line patent marking and Rampant Colt trademark on the left. The left side of the trigger guard has a "4" and the "VP" proof. The restored period correct Colt factory box lacks a visible serial number. The end label is correct for a 4 3/4 inch Single Action Army. The box also features an additional "ENGRAVED" end label, and contains a spare pair of checkered hard rubber grips. Provenance: I.E.P. Waggoner; The Jonathan Peck Collection; The Richard Ellis Collection; The Dr. Joseph Murphy Collection; The Tony Smith Collection; The Brad Witherell Collection; The Nick Shannon Collection

Excellent plus, 99% original nickel overall. Grips are near mint. Mechanically excellent. A benchmark example of a factory engraved First Generation Colt Single Action Army.