The Colt letter confirms the caliber, barrel length, blue finish, grip material, and factory grade 2 engraving. The letter further states that this revolver was shipped to the Farwell, Ozmun Kirk Co., in St. Paul, Minnesota for R.C. Nickerson on November 11, 1915. The revolver has the Colt high polish commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate are casehardened. The frame screws and trigger have a fire blue finish. The revolver features profuse Germanic scroll engraving on a punch-dot background with fine zig-zag, dot and scalloped border work. The Grade 2 engraving covers most of the barrel, upper portion of the ejector housing, frame, cylinder, bottom and front of the trigger guard and back strap as executed by Colt's master engraver Cuno A. Helfricht as it features his signature punch dot and checkered panels and floral burst on the loading gate and recoil shield. Standard address and patent markings and features for a 1915 production SAA. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "1903" is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the ejector housing, on the inside of the ejector housing and on the rear face of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. The penciled markings on the inside of the grips are illegible. The assembly number "489" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate and on the right rear face of the frame beneath the grip.

Excellent plus. The barrel and ejector housing have 95% plus of the original blue with some very minor thinning at the muzzle and on the end of the ejector housing. There are several tiny nicks and scratches on the front sight blade and right side of the barrel. The cylinder retains 95% of the original blue finish with some high point edge wear on the front and rear edges. The finish on the front edge, bottom and inside of the trigger guard grip strap is thin but still retains 75% original blue. The blue on the back strap shows expected handling wear consistent with the front strap and has thinned equally to a plum patina with about 75% of the blue. The frame, hammer and loading gate retains 95% plus of the original casehardened finish with strong case colors. The frame screws and trigger retain 90% plus of the nitre blue finish The grips are excellent plus exhibiting a handsome even aged patina; wear is limited to some stress cracks on the bottom of both grips and on the side of the right grip. The action is crisp and tight, although the hammer will not hold at half-cock. For cumulative rarity is truly gets no better: an outstanding example of a rare and fully documented Colt Single Action Army revolver with the very desirable combination of finish, caliber, deluxe factory "Grade 2" engraving and factory grips executed by one of the 19th Century's most celebrated and talented master engravers Cuno A. Helfricht.