Factory engraved Colt Single Action Army revolvers from the First Generation are very rare, and fewer still of these factory engraved revolvers went to Texas. Making this revolver even scarcer are the silver plating, gold inlays, and inscribed initial. The Colt Single Action Army is forever linked with Texas and the American West, and no state retains as strong of a cowboy heritage as Texas. The engraving was executed by Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn, and the floral scroll engraving is consistent with other revolvers cut by his hands. He executed the majority of Colt's factory engraving between 1919 and 1950, but the numbers were limited. Using the most liberal statistics, only 2,500 First Generation Colt SAAs of the 357,800 manufactured were factory engraved, and many of those were engraved before Glahn was in Hartford, making any surviving Glahn engraved Colt a significant treasure. This revolver comes to Rock Island Auction Company by way of Texas and letters in .38-40 with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, silver finish, rubber grips, factory engraving, and gold inlaid cylinder (extremely rare, very few factory documented gold inlaid Colt SAAs were made). It was sold to Anderson Brothers (address unavailable) and shipped to Shapleigh Hardware Co. of St. Louis on October 2, 1925, as the sole gun of its type in the shipment in Colt order 10347/1. Included information states that after discussion with Colt experts and the Colt archives, it was determined that the sold to and shipped to information is reversed and states that the revolver was ordered and purchased by George Mitchell Anderson (1866-1933) who moved to Texas in the late 1880s. He was a merchant in Houston and was later one of the key figures in Cleveland north of Houston, where he owned multiple businesses including the Anderson Brothers store established in 1914 that continued on past his death. A script "A" is inscribed behind the hammer in a triangular pattern that coordinates with the gold inlaid chevrons on the cylinder between the flutes and the designs on the recoil shield, loading gate, and heel. The other engraving consists of the floral scroll patterns and wavy line accents Glahn is known for. Aside from the cylinder, the engraving is very similar to the non-gold inlaid factory engraved Colt Single Action Army 350655 that was engraved by Glahn, shipped to Wolf & Klar in Fort Worth in 1927, and sold by RIAC for $103,500 in May of this year. The barrel has a blade front sight, the one-line address on top, and "38 W.C.F." on the left. The frame has the two-line patent marking on the left, and the trigger guard has "3" over the "VP" proof on the left. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, rear face of the cylinder ("75"), and right side of the grip straps. The assembly number "392" is on the loading gate and back of the frame. The correct replacement grips have "347975" marked inside (revolver number "34675," flip the "9" and it would be matching). Includes a custom made case.

Excellent with light natural aged patina forming on the original silver which remains 95% complete showing minor flaking on the muzzle and grip straps, light gold wash in the cylinder flutes, distinct gold inlay between the flutes, crisp engraving and markings, and generally only light age and storage related wear. The grips are also excellent and have crisp checkering and minimal wear. Mechanically excellent. The custom case is very good with minor wear. This is a beautiful and one-of-a-kind factory engraved, gold inlaid, initial inscribed, and silver plated Colt Single Action Army revolver in outstanding condition no doubt highly cherished by Mr. Anderson and will be a proud addition for any Colt collection.