This is a beautiful example of a super rare, Colt special order factory engraved and gold washed Exhibition grade model 1889 DA revolver in .41 Colt, that was manufactured in late 1892. (Only 80 revolvers of this model are reported to ever have been engraved. This revolver is even rarer in that it has the longer 6 inch barrel with the "long two-line" barrel address and long fluted cylinder.) The beautiful revolver has a nickel-plated finish with a Gold washed finished cylinder with "Carved Mother-of-Pearl" grips. This revolver was a historically important model for Colt as it was the first double action revolver ever produced by Colt with a swing out cylinder. This was a very limited production model with approximately only 31,000 produced between 1889 to 1894 with a considerable amount being sold to the Navy. As noted this example was factory engraved by Colt in beautiful scroll/vine engraving pattern with a punch dot background with a geometric (zig-zag/dot) pattern around the markings and borders. The engraving covers approximately 75% of the pistol which was nickel-plated with the cylinder being gold wash plated. The mother-of-pearl grips have been carved in a large "Eagle and Snake" pattern similar to those presented to Porfirio Diaz (the President of Mexico). The top of the barrel is stamped "COLT'S PT F.A.MFG.CO. HARTFORD CT.U.S.A./PATENTED AUG. 5TH 1884 NOVEMBER 6TH 1888." with "COLT. D.A. .41" on the left side. The assembly number "224" is marked on the frame, crane, cylinder, cylinder release and underside of the barrel with the full serial number (21029) marked on the butt. The barrel has the standard blade front sight with the frame notch rear sights.

Very fine with 90% of the original nickel plated finish overall with some minor flaking on the edges of the muzzle, front of the frame. The cylinder retains 95% of the period replated gold finish with flaking/wear on the front edges and rear area of the flutes. The hammer and trigger retain 45% of their nitre blued finish overall. The mother-of-pearl grips are in very fine condition with some minor chips along the lower edges and corners of the grips with nice distinct carvings on each side. The fit of the grips to the frame is nice and tight, showing they have been on the revolver for some time. Interestingly the back side of each grip has a spacer for the grips that is a cut-out of an old Mexican newspaper, probably indicating that the grips were carved in Mexico, to loosely duplicate the pair presented to the President of Mexico noted above. Certainly a very scarce/rare early Colt M1889 revolver that would be worth doing some additional factory research on.