Factory Deluxe Engraved Colt Bisley Model Single Action Revolver with factory letter. The letter describes the revolver as caliber .45/c with a 4-3/4-inch barrel, silver finish, pearl stocks with carved eagle motif and factory engraved with Nabor Pacheco on the back strap. The letter states that the revolver was sold to F. Ronstadt and shipped to the Wyeth Hardware & Mfg. Company in St. Joseph, Missouri on January 27, 1909. The deluxe engraving consists of tight Germanic scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The engraving was executed by Master Factory Engraver Cuno Helfricht and is very similar in style to Colt Single Action serial number 305405 illustrated on page 439 of "THE BOOK OF COLT ENGRAVING VOLUME ONE" by R.L. Wilson. The two piece pearl grips feature a relief carved standing eagle that is identical to the carved eagle on serial number 305405. "Nabor Pacheco" is engraved on the revolver back strap. The revolver has the distinctive Bisley Model extended grip, special hammer and wide trigger. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. CO,/HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A." in an engraved panels with scalloped edges and punch dots. "BISLEY MODEL .45 COLT" is roll stamped on the left side of the barrel and surrounded by engraved borders. The left side of the frame is roll stamped with the Colt two line, three patent date marking within an engraved panel followed by the circled Rampant Colt trademark. The Colt triangle "VP" proofmark is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The full serial number "308877" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "8877" is stamped on the barrel underneath the ejector housing, on the underside of ejector housing, and on the rear face of the cylinder. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "822". Factory engraved Bisley Model Single Action revolvers are very rare. Colt records show fewer than 60 were factory engraved. Less than 40 Bisley Model Single Action revolvers had factory inscriptions. The combination of deluxe factory engraving, a factory inscription and relief carved pearl grips make this revolver an extremely rare piece. The revolver comes with a single loop floral tooled holster marked "THE F. RONSTADT CO/MAKER/TUCSON, ARIZ.". This revolver was reportedly in the possession of the Pacheco family descendants until recent years when it was sold at auction in 2004. According to the consignor notes, this revolver was presented to ex-Pima County Sheriff Nabor Pacheco by the City of Tucson in 1909 when he was appointed Tucson Chief of Police. While sheriff, Pacheco supervised the last hanging in Tucson which was performed publicly in the court yard of the county jail. Accompanying this lot is a packet of research pertaining to Nabor Pacheco and the Pacheco family.

Very fine. The revolver retains 98% of the factory silver re-plated finish. The highly detailed and flawlessly executed engraving is deep and crisp. All of the factory markings are sharp. The pearl grips are very fine. The relief-carved eagle has some handling wear and there is a small chip in the upper corner of the right grip at the junction with the frame. The action functions perfectly. The holster is very fair with some stains and loose stitching on the toe. This is an extremely rare example of a factory deluxe engraved and inscribed Colt Bisley Model revolver with relief-carved eagle pearl grips.