Offered here is a factory documented work of late 19th century Colt art likely by their master engraver Cuno Helfricht. Helfricht spent his nearly 50 year career exclusively with the Colt firm (1871-1921). During his tenure with Colt, Helfricht saw the transition from percussion to cartridge firearms and a rapidly growing market for engraved firearms. At the height of the firearm engraving fad, Helfricht oversaw a shop of six engravers. By the turn of the century, experts believe that Helfricht did most of the work himself with the help from one to two assistants. Helfricht's successor's included famed Colt engravers Wilbur Glahn and William Gough. Using the most liberal statistics only 2,500 1st Generation Colt SAAs of the 357,800 manufactured were factory engraved, and the overwhelming majority of those 2,500 were done in the twilight years of production. Thus, an emphasis must be placed on the rarity of factory documented black powder single actions. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, nickel finish, pearl grips and factory engraving. The revolver was shipped to J.C. Petmecky of Austin, Texas, on November 5, 1890. This shipment was for a total of four guns. An immigrant from Germany, Joseph Carl Petmecky (1842-1945) settled an Austin, Texas, at an early age and became a gunsmith and retailer. He is listed in the 1881 city of Austin directory (a copy of the related page is included). During the Civil War he temporarily closed his business to devote his skills and time to the Confederacy both as a soldier and gunmaker. The engraving consists mostly of floral scroll engraving on a punch dot background along with fan patterns on the recoil shield, loading gate and the top of the back strap, star burst on the side of the ejector rod housing, and zig zag line and dot motifs on the back strap, butt, trigger guard, top strap, rear of cylinder, and top of the barrel ahead of the two-line Hartford address and ejector rod housing. The engraving on the cylinder chambers alternate between scrollwork and zig-zag lines motifs. The left side of the barrel has "45 COLT" inside a panel, and the left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a circled Rampant Colt. As documented in the factory letter, the revolver is wearing pearl grips. The right grip panel featuring an incised American eagle with inlaid stone eye. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard and back strap.

Very fine, retaining 60% original nickel finish with the balance a smooth gray patina. The engraving is crisp overall. The period replacement grips are fine with a surface chip at the top (right panel), attractive colors and crisp carving. Mechanically excellent. A highly desirable and very scarce Austin, Texas, shipped factory engraved black powder Colt Single Action Army Revolver with attractive relief carved eagle pearl grips. The serious Colt collector needs a Helfricht factory engraved Blackpowder Colt SAA Revolver for their collection to even begin to be considered complete.