Offered here is an exceptional Colt DA rarity: a National Matches, Camp Perry shipped factory Class “C” engraved Officers Model Heavy Barrel Target Revolver. One of only 180 Officers Model Target Revolvers (32 and 38 calibers) factory engraved. Add its shipment to Camp Perry and this Officers Model Target Revolver is a one-of-a-kind historically significant piece of Colt legacy. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 6 inch barrel in .38 caliber, blue finish, and factory Class “C” engraving as well as being shipped to the National Matches held at Camp Perry, Ohio, on August 17, 1936. This was a single gun shipment. Since 1907 Camp Perry has hosted the National Matches. Considered America’s “World Series of the Shooting Sports,” the National Matches are held each summer and attract the finest civilian and military marksmen and women to compete in a variety of rifle and handgun competitions. In 1936, the National Matches were held from August 24 to September 12. The revolver left the Colt factory on August 17, plenty of time for it to arrive at Camp Perry for the beginning of the National Matches. Since it was introduced in 1930, the Officers Model Target Revolver was Colt’s top of the line target DA, and this highly embellished example would certainly have garnered a lot of attention at Camp Perry. Highly embellished arms made for grand shooting match prizes, but, as confirmed in the factory letter, at the conclusion of the National Matches this “subject revolver was returned to the factory on September 15, 1936, and was then shipped on loan account on September 15, 1936 to H.W. Kline of Kansas City, Missouri. The revolver was then delivered by Mr. Kline to R.S. Elliott Arms Company in Kansas City, Missouri on October 7, 1936. R.S. Arms Company then took final delivery of the revolver on October 28, 1936.” Of interest is factory Class “B” engraved Colt Woodsman pistol no. 102052, which has comparable shipment history and was sold by RIAC in December 2011. The Woodsman was shipped on loan account on September 15, 1936 to H.W. Kline, the same day as this revolver, and then delivered to R.S. Elliott Arms Co. on October 7, 1936, the same day this revolver was delivered by Kline to R.S. Elliott Arms. The Class "C" engraving covers 3/4 of the surface in the style of renowned Colt master engraver Wilbur Glahn (1888-1951). From the time he arrived in Hartford in 1919 until the spring of 1950, Wilbur Glahn did the bulk of the engraving for Colt. His death in 1951 signaled the end of one of America’s family dynasties of firearms engravers. He left behind a legacy of high quality craftsmanship and design, which is certainly showcased on this Colt DA featuring the highest class of engraving Colt offered at the time. The embellishment on this very special, historic revolver represents some of the best workmanship. The embellishment on this revolver features mostly floral scrollwork on punch dot background, along with wavy line and dot motifs on the sides of the top strap, entwining lines on the butt, and zig zag line patterns, including a floral blossom behind the hammer. Amongst the scrolls on the side plate is a Rampant Colt in a diamond panel. The Rampant Colt in a diamond is a motif clearly visible in the aforementioned period brochure. The factory pearl grips feature silver Rampant Colt medallions. The accompanying factory Colt black box is numbered to the gun and has correct model end labels as well as a factory “ENGRAVED.” label. According to Colt historian R.L. Wilson, 180 Officers Model Target Revolvers (32 and 38 calibers) were factory engraved (see “The Book of Colt Firearms,” page 355).

Excellent with 98% plus of the original blue finish overall and exceptionally rare factory Class "C" engraved, showing minimal handling marks, a light cylinder drag line, and pearl grips with highly attractive fiery colors. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine. An outstanding work of Colt factory firearms artistry, this Camp Perry shipped factory engraved Colt Officers Modern Target revolver is most deserving of the finest public or private collections. Finding a better example both in condition and historical significance will be nearly impossible.