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You are certainly looking at a rarity in Colt collecting! The factory letter indicates the revolver was shipped on October 23, 1914 as a single gun shipment to New York Sporting Goods Co. of New York City with a 7 1⁄2 inch barrel in .44 S&W Special, blue finish, factory level “2” engraving
and pearl stocks carved with eagle motif. The factory silver Rampant Colt medallion pearl grips feature an attractive relief carved eagle head on the right panel. As noted by Wilson, factory relief carved grips are rare with those encountered generally featuring a steer head motif. The eagle motif on this grip set is especially rare. The revolver features a gold plated cylinder, hammer, trigger and front sight, leaving the remaining surfaces blued. The right side of the trigger guard is stamped with a
Colt factory six pointed star indicating the revolver was returned to the factory at a later date for some type of work. Wilson proposed that the revolver was returned for gold plating and proper fitting of the extra cylinder. The writer agrees with this assessment. The elaborate and exquisite level 2 or “B” coverage engraving stands as a masterpiece by Colt’s longest tenured master engraver Cuno A. Helfricht and consists mainly of impressive Helfricht style scroll patterns backed by punch dots along with zig-zag lines, entwining lines and floral accents. The extra
cylinder is engraved to match, is blued and stamped with the number “7” along with an illegible marking on the front face. As originally intended, the gold cylinder was for show and the extra blued cylinder was for shooting. The engraving and finishing are undoubtedly a mark of Colt’s highest quality of craftsmanship of the early 20th century. The left side
of the barrel is marked “(Bisley Model) 44 RUSSIAN CTG.” inside a banner, and the top of the barrel has the one-line Hartford address. The left
side of the frame has the two-line, three patent dates marking inside
a banner along with an encircled Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard has the Colt factory triangle proof and factory inspection number “1.” The face of the trigger and the back strap are checkered.
The assembly number “2” is on the loading gate and rear of the frame. Many special order Colt’s have low assembly numbers. Matching serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, back strap and gold plated cylinder (“6568”). The oak Colt London partitioned case lined in red felt contains a cartridge block holding 33 rounds, cleaning rod with brush attachment, and James Dixon & Sons oiler. The interior of the case lid features a Colt London paper label, and the exterior of the lid has a blank brass inscription disk with knurled border.
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