This magnificent revolver is profusely embellished with masterful floral scroll and 24-karat gold inlays executed in sculpted relief and fitted with two piece carved grips by Carl Bock. The revolver features full coverage of floral scroll engraving with feather pattern border embellishments. The barrel features flush 24-karat gold scroll motif inlays surrounding "SMITH & WESSON" on the left side and "S&W .357 MAGNUM" on the right side. The muzzle has two gold inlaid bands. The cylinder features gold inlaid wire bordering around the flutes and a band around the rear. The 24-karat relief inlays consist of the an American buffalo head on the left front upper portion of the frame, a cougar on the crane and a grizzly bear below the cylinder release. The right side has a running White Tail deer on the side plate, a fox on the lower right side, a Bighorn Sheep on the upper front and a wolf directly below it. Flush gold inlaid scroll motifs decorate the frame sides with gold wire bordering. The scroll style is similar to and undoubtedly inspired by Rudolph J. Kornbrath. The target style grips feature exquisite scrollwork, a thumb rest cutout on the left panel with a scroll engraved panel and a relief carved Grizzly bear and foliage scene on the right panel. There is a decorative rosette surrounding the grip screw hole and silver S&W medallions. The revolver is accompanied by a letter from author and firearms expert R.L. Wilson detailing the revolver and his estimate to duplicate such a revolver. Wilson concludes, "The writer regards The North American Big Game Special as a major Smith & Wesson embellishment revolver" and "The North American Big Game Special Smith & Wesson is an important example of contemporary embellishment, worthy of the finest private or museum collection." Provenance: Chad Gripp collection.

Near new with only the faintest handling evidence overall. The carved, ink-stained grips are excellent. A must own for the serious Smith & Wesson or high-art engraving collector.