The factory letters list this revolver in .44-40 with a 3 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, pearl grips, factory engraving, and "name Marcelino Baca also engraved on back strap." It was sold and shipped to E.J. Post & Co. in Albuquerque, New Mexico territory, and was the sole gun of this type in the shipment on December 6, 1898. The revolver features extensive scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds along with line and wavy line and dot accents, a rounded blade front sight, the two-line "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co./HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." on top of the barrel, "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" just barely fitting in an engraved panel on the left side of the short 3 1/2 inch barrel, "PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871/JULY 2. 72. JAN. 19. 75." in an engraved panel on the left side of the frame followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark, "Marcelino Baca" distinctly inscribed on the back strap, smooth pearl grips, assembly number "33/." marked on the loading gate, and the matching serial number "172740" marked on the frame, trigger guard, and butt. It is accompanied by a brown lever Mexican double loop holster with tooled floral patterns and "32A" marked on the back. Sheriff's Model revolvers in .44-40 are very rare. Page 338 of "The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, 1873-1895" by the Wilkersons and Hoyt lists just 122 "plain revolvers without ejectors" in the 1-164100 serial number range, of which only 10 had nickel finish and 3 1/2 inch barrels. On the following page, they notably list only five "engraved revolvers without ejectors" in .44-40 within the same serial number range and none in this barrel length. The revolver and holster are featured in "Colt Engraving" by Wilson and Beinfeld on page 293 but incorrectly listed as serial number "127740" instead of "17240". The book references the letter details and also notes: "In the book 'Land and Order Ltd.', Baca is shown holding what appears to be this pistol, his thumb on the hammer. Inscribed or monogrammed Single Action revolvers are seldom encountered." They are also featured in "The Colt Engraving Book, Volume 1" by Wilson on page 433 and in Wilson's article "Collecting Colt Firearms" in the Feb. 1973 issue of Arms Gazette (included) where they are captioned as "This deluxe Sheriff's Model Single Action was made for western gunfighter Marcelino Baca. Baca is shown in the book, 'Law and Order Ltd.'" The same article is also printed in "Guns of the World: The Complete Collectors' & Traders' Guide" edited by Hans Tanner. The revolver and holster are also featured in George E. Virgines "The Colt's 'Sheriff's Model'" article in Guns' September 1976 (included) with a similar caption and also in a Japanese "Guns of the World: Colt Handguns" publication edited by Wilson (photocopy of the cover and page included). Copies of the photo referenced in the publications are included. It is featured on page 105 of "Law and Order, Ltd.: The Rousing Life of Elfego Baca of New Mexico" by Kyle S. Crichton where it is captioned: "Elfego (on the left) and a few of the boys at Roswell, starting out for an afternoon of pleasure." Examining the revolver in the photo with magnification shows engraving and what appears to be an ejectorless Sheriff's Model of this barrel length and finish. If engraved and inscribed Colt Sheriff's Models are already "seldom encountered", those that can be seen in period photographs are essentially never encountered. The photograph certainly adds life to the already rare and desirable revolver. The consignor's research and documentation file indicate that Pemberton traded three Colt Single Action Army revolvers, two Colt Lightnings, a Remington percussion revolver, a Winchester Model 1894 takedown, two Winchester Model 1873s, and two S. Norris & W.T. Clement Model 1863 Percussion Rifle-Muskets to Eric Vaule at the Hartford show in 1966 for this one revolver. In his letters, Pemberton indicates Marcelino Baca was a cousin of legendary New Mexican lawman Elfego Baca. The Baca (Cabeza de Vaca/de Vaca/de Baca) family has historic ties in New Mexico reaching back centuries. One member of the family, the earlier Marcelino Baca (c. 1808-1862) born in Taos, was a well-known Mexican fur trader who trapped with Jim Bridger in the Rocky Mountains, later established a ranch near Pueblo, and was killed in combat at the Battle of Valverde while serving in the Union 1st Regiment New Mexico Volunteer Cavalry fighting against the Confederacy in the Southwest. Elfego Baca (1865-1945) became a legendary western lawman after surviving a gunfight in 1884 in New Mexico during which he faced off against between 40 and 80 cowboys who are said to have fired 4,000+ shots into an adobe house that Baca took cover in. He had previously killed one cowboy and shot another in the leg when attempting to arrest Charlie McCarty and then shot and mortally wounded Bert Hearne when he was sent to bring Baca to Justice of the Peace Ted White. Baca was acquitted, and became the sheriff of Socorro County and later a U.S. Marshal before becoming a lawyer and private detective and also held other local offices. He continued to be a well-known figure thanks to representations in popular culture including in books, comics, film, and television. Cipriano Baca (1859-1936) was also a lawman in New Mexico, including as a U.S. Marshal. The Sante Fe New Mexican on February 21, 1899, ran a full article "Hon. Jose Marcelino Baca, Member of the House of Representatives of the 33d Legislative Assembly from Bernalillo County" noting him as "one of the prominent members of the house in the present legislative assembly and as "born in Pena Blanca, Bernalillo County, May 3, 1855, his family being one of the best known and respected in that locality. He attended private schools in his native town and afterward was a pupil in St. Michael's College in Santa Fe. On leaving school Mr. Baca turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and incidentally engaging in the more profitable business of freighting. In 1872 he made a trip to Colorado, where he remained for a year carrying on the business of a freighter in the different mining camps." He then returned to Bernalillo County and became a respected businessman. In 1881, he was elected constable and served for two years. He was then elected water overseer and ditch commissioner. He was elected to the state House of Representatives as a Republican in November 1898. Elsewhere we find that he was the son of Ramon Baca of Pena Blanca and remained an active political figure into the 20th century. The New Mexican newspapers demonstrate that he was a civic and business minded gentleman working on various projects in and near Pena Blanca, including raising funds to build a school. The Baca Toll Wagon Road Company was incorporated by Baca along with his brothers Esquipula, Manuel, and Jose. He also led Marcelino Baca & Bros. and was the president of the commissioners for the La Bajada Land Grant. Esquipula also served as a probate judge in Bernalillo County, and Jose was the proprietor of the Moro saloon in Sante Fe. He was involved in at least a few legal proceedings. It appears he once ran away with another man's wife and was brought before U.S. Commissioner Manuel C. de Baca in Las Vegas, and in another case sued won a settlement against his brother for a debt. The Albuquerque Tribune on Saturday July 6, 1912, reported his rather shocking death under the heading "Rancher Mistakes Carbolic Acid for Whiskey: Tragic Death of Marcelino Baca, Well Known Pena Blanca Ranchman, While Camping Out at Sante Fe." The paper indicates the he was found dead after accidentally mistaking a bottle of carbolic acid for whiskey and taking a swig. "Death must have been almost instantaneous and the struggles of the dying man failed to arouse his sleeping companions whose first intimation of the tragedy was when they awoke at daybreak to find their companion stretched on the ground [cold] and lifeless." Provenance: The Eric Vaule Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection

Very fine with 75% original nickel plating remaining on the frame, barrel, and grip straps; period re-plated cylinder, light frosted appearance, minor flaking, crisp engraving and markings, and generally fairly minor overall wear. The right grip has a crack down the center and chips at the heel. The left grip has minor chips at the lower edge. Both grips exhibit attractive iridescence. Mechanically fine. The holster is very good with mild wear and distinct tooling. This revolver is certainly one of the best of the best when it comes to Colt Sheriff's Models. It has it all: rarity, beautiful factory engraving, pearl grips, a factory documented inscription, and a special period holster.