Colt Model 1862 Police revolver with New York engraving by Master Engraver L.D. Nimschke and Tiffany "Missionary and Child" grip. This revolver is pictured on the dust jacket of "L.D. NIMSCHKE FIREARMS ENGRAVER" by R.L. Wilson and is described along with two half-page illustrations on page 20 of that book. It is also illustrated on page 292 of "THE COLT ENGRAVING BOOK VOLUME I" by R.L. Wilson. The "Missionary and Child" (actually "Justice") style grip on this revolver is considered to be the rarest of the Tiffany grips. Experts believe that the "Missionary and Child" grips may have been designed by John Quincy Adams Ward and manufactured by the Ames Sword Company for Schuyler, Hartley and Graham circa 1864. The revolver features deluxe arabesque style scrollwork on a lined background with stars, arrows and highly detailed borders. This arabesque style scrollwork is rare on Nimschke engraved revolvers. The cast bronze Tiffany grip is gold plated and the revolver has a silver-plated barrel and frame with gold-plated cylinder, hammer, trigger and loading lever. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA" in a panel formed by line, scallop and dot engraving. "COLTS/PATENT" is roll-stamped on the left side of the frame in a relief panel formed by arabesque scrollwork. The serial number, "27931" is stamped on the barrel lug, frame and trigger guard. This revolver was formerly part of the Arnold Marcus Chernoff collection.

Very good. The revolver is all original and extremely well documented. The revolver is mostly bright with barely noticeable traces of the delicate silver and gold plated finish remain in protected areas. The elaborate, highly detailed, scrollwork and borders are crisp. The cast details on the bronze grip remain fine. The only significant handling wear is on the face and high points of Justice ("Missionary"). There is moderate flash pitting on the rear face of the cylinder, percussion nipples and hammer. The cylinder flutes have traces of flash pitting with spots of age discoloration. The action functions well. This is a fine, original and well-documented example of a L.D. Nimschke deluxe engraved Colt Model 1862 Police revolver with the rarest style of the rare Tiffany grips.