This is a beautiful pair of first generation pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolver as manufactured in 1931 that has been beautifully engraved and embellished by Ed Bohlin, one of the famous and prolific silver/engraver and leather saddle and holster maker of the 1920-1940 era. Many of his clients were the most famous Hollywood Western movie star actors such as Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Roy Rogers and even the "Lone ranger", Clayton Moore. He was born in Sweden and emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s eventually settling in the Los Angeles area where he learned his trade by starting out making highly decorative leather saddles, holsters and western accouterments that were fully adorned with the large and very decorative Southwestern/Mexican style Silver Conchos. His talents eventually lead him to also begin applying these large silver Conchos to Colt Single Action revolvers as shown here. The process he used was to actually solder silver plates to various areas of the revolver, as in this case the side of the frame, the outward facing top half of the top strap and frame, the recoil shield and loading gate, the top of the barrel and ejector housing, the full length of the back strap and the flutes of the cylinder. In these examples he also made silver, two-piece grip sets. Once that was accomplished he fully engraved the silver plates in a floral and geometric pattern with a Western style motif. Both of these pistols additionally each have a set of intertwined initials (LG inside C) on the top right side of each grip panel. The engraving on the silver panels is matching on each pistol and covers 100% of each panel. The remaining exposed metal parts were then blued. The only markings still visible on each pistol is the left hand barrel markings of "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 45", with all other markings being covered by the engraved silver plates. The copy of the included Colt factory letter confirms the caliber with type of stocks not listed, 5 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish at time of original shipment to Tufts-Lyon Arms Co., Los Angeles, California, on July 17, 1931 as a one gun shipment.

Very fine as refinished with 95% of the custom embellished metal surfaces with all of the silver and engraved inlays intact and meticulously engraved. The silver grips are also in beautiful condition also with a meticulous matching engraved pattern on both sides of each grip. A desirable example of a very rare Ed Bohlin engraved Colt Single Action revolver.

This is the second pistol of this beautiful pair of Ed Bohlin embellished and engraved Colt Single Action Army revolvers, with this example also being manufactured in 1931 (only 49 numbers apart). This beautiful pistol as with the other pistol has been fully adorned with the large and very decorative Southwestern/Mexican style Silver plates that are fully engraved in a beautiful matching pattern. This revolver as in the case of the "A" lot has had the silver plates attached to both sides of the frame, the outward facing top half of the top strap and frame (opposite the other pistols), the recoil shield and loading gate, the top of the barrel and ejector housing, the full length of the back strap and the flutes of the cylinder. This pistol has had the same matching all silver, hand made two-piece grip set that exhibits the same floral/geometric pattern with a Western style motif with the intertwined initials (LG inside C) on the top right side of the grip. Likewise the engraving on the silver panels is matching on each pistol and covers 100% of each panel. The remaining exposed metal parts were then blued. Also as previously noted the only markings are on the barrel that consists of "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 45", with all other markings being covered by the engraved silver plates. The copy of the included Colt factory letter confirms the caliber with type of stocks not listed, 5 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish at time of original shipment to Tufts-Lyon Arms Co., Los Angeles, California, on June 4, 1931 as part of a two gun shipment.

Very fine as refinished with 95% of the custom embellished metal surfaces with all of the silver and engraved inlays intact and meticulously engraved. The silver grips are also in beautiful condition also with a meticulous, matching engraved pattern on both sides of each grip. Just a wonderful pair of very rare and high desirable Ed Bohlin engraved Colt Single Action revolvers. Bohlin is the most iconic of all American saddle/holster markers.