Magnificent, Well-Documented, Silver and Gold Plated Cuno Helfricht Deluxe Factory Master Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Relief Carved Steer Head Ivory Grip and Factory Letter, Featured in "Colt Pistols" by R.L. Wilson

An elite, museum-quality Colt collectible, this First Generation Single Action Army is a Cuno Helfricht deluxe factory master-engraved masterpiece with rare silver-and-gold plating, carved ivory grips, factory-letter documentation, and published provenance in R. L. Wilson’s “Colt Pistols.” Its extraordinary combination of factory engraving, two-tone precious-metal finish, relief-carved stocks, and exceptional condition places it among the most desirable collectible Colts.

• Colt First Generation Single Action Army revolver, also known as the “Peacemaker”
• Factory master engraved by Cuno A. Helfricht, Colt’s legendary engraving shop head
• Deluxe factory configuration with:
  • Silver-plated finish
  • Gold-plated cylinder
  • Gold-plated hammer
  • Gold-plated backstrap
  • Ivory grips with carved steer head motif
  • Factory engraving
• Factory letter confirms this revolver was:
  • Shipped to Von Lengerke & Antoine of Chicago, Illinois
  • Shipped on Halloween, October 31, 1908
  • Sent as a 1-gun shipment, adding important rarity and provenance
  • Factory documented with a 5 1/2 inch barrel
  • Chambered in .32-20
  • Finished in silver with gold-plated cylinder, hammer, and backstrap
  • Fitted with ivory grips featuring a carved steer head motif
  • Factory engraved
• Published and documented in R. L. Wilson’s “Colt Pistols,” pages 210–211
• Wilson identifies this specific revolver by serial number and describes it as:
  • “By Cuno A. Helfricht personally”
  • “One of the finest examples of his artistry”
  • S.A.A. No. 305457
  • Surviving since its 1908 production date with full silver plating
  • Retaining much of the gold plating on the cylinder, hammer, and gripstrap
• Wilson notes that the photographs show Helfricht’s distinctive handgun scroll style especially clearly because of the plated finishes
• Important collector note:
  • The revolver is pictured in the book with a different set of grips with medallions
  • It is now fitted with ivory grips featuring a carved raised-relief steer head
• Extremely rare factory-engraved Colt Single Action Army:
  • R. L. Wilson wrote on page 385 of “The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One” that the grand total of engraved Single Action Army revolvers, excluding the Bisley Model and Flattop Target Model, from 1873 through 1940 was approximately 3,000
  • Wilson further noted that a number of these included hand-engraved inscriptions or monograms
  • For the Cuno Helfricht period, through circa 1921, Wilson estimated approximately 2,550 factory-engraved Single Action Army revolvers
  • This leaves fewer than 500 engraved examples for the subsequent years leading up to World War II
  • Other estimates suggest as many as 4,500 engraved First Generation Single Action Army revolvers
  • Even using the higher estimate, engraved examples account for only approximately 1.26% of total production
  • Total First Generation Single Action Army production is listed as 357,859 on page 25 of R. L. Wilson’s “Blue Book Pocket Guide for Colt Dates of Manufacture” from 2008
• Cuno A. Helfricht historical significance:
  • Head of Colt’s engraving shop for nearly 50 years, from 1871 to 1921
  • Worked through the important transition from percussion firearms to cartridge firearms
  • Oversaw Colt engraving during a period of rapidly growing demand for decorated firearms
  • At the height of the firearm engraving fad, Helfricht supervised a shop of six engravers
  • By the turn of the century, experts believe Helfricht did most of the work himself with help from one to two assistants
  • His successors included famed Colt engravers Wilbur Glahn and William Gough
• Collector importance:
  • Helfricht-engraved Colt arms are highly prized by today’s collectors
  • Examples with special-order features are especially desirable
  • This revolver combines two of the most desirable special features:
    • Two-tone gold and silver plated factory finish
    • Relief-carved ivory grips
  • Very few Single Action Army revolvers left the factory with hand-carved grips
  • The factory gold and silver plated finish is another rare special-order feature
  • The combination of factory engraving, two-tone finish, and relief-carved stocks is exceptionally rare
• Engraving details showcase high-quality Colt factory artistry:
  • Predominantly flowing scroll engraving
  • Beaded background
  • Floral blossom on the right side of the frame
  • Cross-hatching on the right side of the frame
  • Fan pattern on the recoil shield
  • Fan pattern on the top of the backstrap
  • “X” patterns on the backstrap
  • Wavy-line motif on top of the ejector rod housing
• The right ivory grip panel is carved with a wonderful raised-relief steer head
• The engraving demonstrates Helfricht’s deep understanding of the Single Action Army’s lines and proportions
• Barrel and chambering:
  • 5 1/2 inch barrel
  • Chambered in .32-20
  • Barrel marked “32 W.C.F.” in a banner on the left side at the breech
• Sights:
  • Blade front sight
• Barrel and frame markings:
  • One-line Colt Hartford barrel address
  • Two-line patent date markings in a panel on the left side of the frame
  • Encircled Rampant Colt trademark following the patent markings
• Proof and assembly markings:
  • Triangular “VP” proof on the left side of the trigger guard
  • “6” on the left side of the trigger guard
  • Assembly number “355” on the loading gate
• Serial-number details:
  • Matching full serial numbers on the frame
  • Matching full serial numbers on the trigger guard
  • Matching full serial numbers on the butt
• Exceptional condition further elevates its collector value
• A “jaw dropping” Single Action Army with an extraordinary blend of:
  • Factory Cuno Helfricht master engraving
  • Documented 1908 shipment
  • One-gun shipment provenance
  • Published R. L. Wilson documentation
  • Rare silver-and-gold plated finish
  • Relief-carved ivory steer-head grip
  • Matching serial-numbered major components
  • Exceptional overall presentation
• A centerpiece-grade Colt suitable for the most advanced collections of factory-engraved Single Action Army revolvers, Helfricht-signed-era Colt artistry, and rare special-order First Generation Colts.