This revolver was embellished by award winning former Colt Master Engraver Leonard Francolini in 1997. He engraved for Colt's Custom Gun Shop in 1972-1979 and has since gone on to craft some of the most impressive works of firearms art ever made while using traditional hand tools. The front sight is pierced and has a scroll pattern and gold accents. The engraving throughout is fine scroll patterns with stippled backgrounds. Some of the scrolls are gold inlaid forming borders and highlights on the various components. There are also gold wire borders and bands. The markings are also gold inlaid. The gold contrasts nicely with the deep blue finish. The front of the "black powder" style frame has "97" inlaid in silver over "Francolini" in gold. The screws on the sides filed flush with the frame giving a "screwless" appearance and uninterrupted canvas for the engraving. The ejector rod tip is the early "bullseye" version, and the trigger guard has been reshaped to have a rounder bow. The smooth grips have gold colored Colt medallions and no markings.

Exceptional overall with only light handling and storage marks. Work by Leonard Francolini is highly sought after. He is certainly among the best 20th and 21st century firearms engravers.