^Lot 3293 DOCUMENTED FACTORY ENGRAVED COLT FIRST GEN SAA

REVOLVER WITH ORIGINAL MOTHER OF PEARL STEER HEAD GRIP. Cal. 45 Colt. S# 217696. Mfg. 1901Bbl. 4 3/4" with blade front sight & 2 line bbl. address. Revolver features Class "B" 50% coverage factory engraving by Cuno Helfricht or his shop. Cuno Helfricht was an Engraver for Colt from 1871-1921, most historians agreed that Helfricht himself did the majority of his shops engraving with some help from just a couple other journeymen. Frame & bbl. adorned with foliate scroll engraving over punch dot background. Recoil shield and loading gate engraved with sunburst design. Revolver stocked with 2 piece mother of pearl grips; left panel has relief carved steer head. CONDITION: metal parts retain 75% of a period renickel with flaking finish notable on left side of bbl. in engraved area as well as right side frame punch dot background. Grips are very good with one BB sized flake missing from heel of left panel. Safety notch missing, though hammer holds strong and operates as intended otherwise. Bore condition unable to be checked as packed with cosmoline. Attempt to remove cyl. rod in order to clean bore unsuccessful, though should be easily achievable with proper tools. Overall a very good entry level example of a Factory Engraved Colt SAA revolver; it is estimated that only 3,000 examples were ever produced By Colt with this one likely engraved by one of their most talented. (25-6042/BH). CURIO. $15,000-20,000.