Lot #1625
Lot #1627

Lot 1626: Engraved and Gold Inlaid Charter Arms Undercover Revolver

Extremely Well Documented Serial Number 1 Al Herbert Exhibition Quality Engraved and Gold Inlaid Charter Arms Undercover Double Action Revolver

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: December 10, 2022

Lot 1626: Engraved and Gold Inlaid Charter Arms Undercover Revolver

Extremely Well Documented Serial Number 1 Al Herbert Exhibition Quality Engraved and Gold Inlaid Charter Arms Undercover Double Action Revolver

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: December 10, 2022

Estimated Price: $5,000 - $8,000
Price Realized:

Extremely Well Documented Serial Number 1 Al Herbert Exhibition Quality Engraved and Gold Inlaid Charter Arms Undercover Double Action Revolver

Manufacturer: Charter Arms Corp
Model: Undercover
Type: Revolver
Gauge: 38 Special
Barrel: 2 inch solid rib
Finish: blue
Grip: walnut
Stock:
Item Views: 1516
Item Interest: Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 410
Class: Curio & Relic Handgun
Description:

Offered here is the first revolver manufactured by Charter Arms. In an included letter Charter Arms founder Douglas. S. McClenahan states that he built this revolver, including shaping and finishing the stocks, in July of 1965 after he left Sturm, Ruger, and Co. This pistol is the first of fifty pilot run pistols used to start the company. The revolver was part of a Serial Number One Guns display in the NRA's National Sporting Arms Museum from 2013-2022, as well as being featured on season 4 episode 16 of Outdoor Channel's "Gun stories" on serial number one guns. It is also pictured on page 201 of "Guns of the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum", page 263 of " The Illustrated History of Firearms: Second Edition", and the cover story of the December, 1967 issue of Guns and Hunting magazine. The revolver features blade front and frame notch rear sights. The revolver features near full coverage floral scroll engraving with "DESIGNED BY DOUGLAS S. McCLENAHAN" inscribed on the backstrap. Gold inlays include a band at the muzzle, gold inlaid scroll accents, dots on the frame and cylinder, "#1" on the front of the right side of the frame, and band at the rear of the cylinder. There is a single platinum dot at the center of both sides of the topstrap. The engraving and inlay were executed in 1966 by Colt Master Engraver Al Herbert. This revolver was also part of the Charter Arms display for the 2018 SHOT Show. Also included is a January, 1991 notarized letter from McClenahan for the sale of the revolver to author Jim Supica as well as giving some history of how McClenahan came to start Charter Arms. Provenance: The Supica Collection

Rating Definition:

Excellent as masterfully engraved and inlaid by Al Herbert, retaining 99% plus original blue finish with limited handling marks and crisp engraving. Mechanically excellent. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the first Charter Arms revolver ever made.



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