2650

Colt Single Action Army (1876) L.D. Nimschke Engraved [127134]

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 13,500.00 USD
Colt Single Action Army (1876)  L.D. Nimschke Engraved  [127134]
SOLD
3,200.00USD+ (704.00) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2021 Mar 26 @ 10:46UTC-8 : PST/AKDT
SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping is subject to a minimum charge of $19.00. Shipping and handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing as it is based on the size and weight of your purchase. Additional shipping and handling costs, if required, will be re-invoiced for the balance due. Items are not shipped until the invoice is completely paid. Many buyers purchase a number of lots. Every effort will be made to include all lots in a single shipping charge calculated to cover the weight and size.SHIPPING & HANDLING: Shipping and Handling cannot be estimated prior to invoicing, based on the size a...
This is an engraved Colt SAA S/N 24547 built in 1876; all numbers matching. It has been engraved by the notable Colt engraver Louis Daniel Nimschke. It has a barrel length of 5 1/2 in.; shortened from it's original length of 7 1/2 in. (Reference appraisal by Charles Layson). It is thought that this revolver was engraved while Nimschke worked out of the New York offices, possibly Schuyler, Hartley & Graham or B. Kittredge & Son of Cincinnati, Oh. It was common to take a revolver that was not sold and have it engraved to enhance its value and desirability. (Reference Nimschke engraving in "Colt An American Legend" by R.L. Wilson p. 108). Nimschke also engraved two other guns in the same serial range, notably #23451 and #26006. Unlike some collectable Colts that were never used; this "working" gun shows wear to the engraving. One can only speculate as to whom this owner was; a law dawg or rancher perhaps. The gun is chambered for .45 Colt and wears two-piece fully checkered grips. The barrel wears a dovetailed front sight that confirms that the barrel has been shortened. This practice was quite common in the 1880s for lawmen that wanted a quick pointing gun and later developed by the Colt factory by issuing the Sheriff's model gun without an ejector. While no factory letter exists for this gun, Colt Historian Beverly Haynes describes the gun to be built in 1876, chambered in .45 Colt and with a 7 1/2 in. barrel. The frame wears a two date patent cartouche supporting the early manufacture. These features support that L.D. Nimschke engraved this gun: star motifs on the sides of the frame; cross-hatching above stars, on rear of trigger guard, and under the loading gate; double line border at rear of barrel; straight line border around frame enclosing the foliage; heavy, bold counter-clockwise scrolls, with small interior scrolls and tentacles on the outside. (Reference appraisal by Charles Layson). The bold scrolls intersect the hammer screw at the same location as in other Nimschke engraved firearms of the period (KAW). 2020 Appraisal included with this sale. This gun is an antique and no attempt has been made to fire this gun to confirm its mechanical integrity. Nor should this gun be fired without the examination by a qualified gunsmith. Any attempt to fire an antique gun is at the risk of the owner and not consistent with the value of the firearm.



Please see photos for details of the gun and appraisal. No sales to New York City, New Jersey, California, or Hawaii. This firearm is considered an antique.

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