[Daniel1882]

Hello all. New member here. This is my 1882 1st gen SAA .45.. I was lucky enough to come across this piece a couple years ago. I purchased it from an antique store in Florida. It was among a large collection they had acquired from the daughter of the previous owner that had passed away. It was between this one and a Texas Ranger but I couldn’t seem to take my eye off this one. Think it was the engraving work lol.. I am looking for any and all thoughts on it from a community of knowledgeable people as to place a ball park value on it and any information that may be out there as far as who may have done the engraving. Serial numbers (84647)

match throughout and as far as I can tell all is original except for the rubber grips were replaced with ivory and the engraving was done post factory at or near Simmons Hardware in St. Louis Missouri back in the late 1800s. Rifling in barrel shows very little ware and hammer action is all working and functional. I’ve thus far only been able to gauge its value based on others somewhat like it I’ve come across on auction sites and I gotta say I’ve seen quite a few going for a lot that seem of lesser quality. Some with similar engraving style but again not as good as this one. Thanks in advance for any and all comments. Very interested in learning and sharing more about this piece.

 

[JimK]

Beautiful gun, welcome from South Texas! Others here more qualified than me can share more answering your questions

 

[M38A1]

Welcome aboard the Colt Forum from north Texas! Congratulations - that is a beautifully engraved revolver. You might try to contact the daughter and see if she could add any information as to its history.

 

[Swag01]

Very nice engraving on that one and a great look to it. Any small marks, initials, or letters on it anywhere that might identify the engraver? Whoever did it was a master. Thanks for showing. It is a beautiful old Colt.

 

[Mikebiker]

Welcome to the site and please feel free to post often. Your pictures are very good!

The engraving is quite unique. The excessive background is stippled rather then punch dot. I don't think the engraving is as near as old as the gun. A nickel gun would not have been engraved when new. The 2 piece ivory grips may also be a more recent addition. The nickel would have to have been chemically stripped in order to get it off. The Indian head also seems to late of a style for a gun of this vintage. Most non factory engraved guns at this time were simple scroll work. The amount of coverage is also more then normally seen at this time. The patina as pictured has a very nice aged look. It looks light brown in the pictures. The metal that is not engraved shows some roughness and is not freshly polished. The barrel address shows no buffing and may be hand engraved vs roll stamped which would also indicate later work. A picture of the serial numbers would help a bit. I am thinking that the engraving was dome sometime after the late 1950s up until fairly recent. It does have great eye appeal and and a good aged look. It is a very nice looking gun and most here would be happy to own it. I am sure more opinions will be offered.

 

[inspcalahan]

Beautiful gun! The engraving is well done, tasteful and pleasing to the eye. Anything marked under the grips maybe? letters or initials? I agree with Mike, it's more recent but nowadays, when "more recent" is referred to on guns from the 1880's, the 1950's are "a lifetime ago" as well, going on 70+ years. I really drawn towards the track made between the cylinder notches - a way to keep it as a shooter and from messing up any engraving that would be marred with a drag line. Interesting.

The ivory definitely is of the newer variety, either worn hard or made to look that way. The layered (white/off white/yellow) section on the right panel shows it likely wasn't from the premium all white sections used back then. They also don't fit particularly well in the curve area of the grip. Likely from another gun at some point and put on this one? Perhaps. All that said, never say never with the old guns. Maybe it was just a second shelf piece of ivory back in the day and hasn't held up well over the years. Regardless, I'd be more than pleased to own that one, even just the grips!

Thank you for joining the forum and posting that beauty - looking forward to other's comments as well.

 

[45NUTT]

Very Nice old Colt, Sir!

All I can add is when the screws are also engraved, it seems to indicate the engraving was done more recently. (I think)

 

[inspcalahan]

Also, it's hard to see from the pictures but, did they leave the caliber marking on the gun? I can see the patent dates and barrel address well.

 

[stavok]

Welcome to the forum. Great first post!

 

[Todd]

The most impressive 'first post' that I have personally seen.

What a beauty!

 

[Bartleylaw]

Resembles one of mine:

 

[jplower]

Interesting work on the gun but I believe it is Mexican engraving. They were fond of stippling and were doing this type of work up through the 1980's. Looks nice with average scroll work. Made these for tourists for a long time south of the border.

 

[MarkInTx]

Welcome to the Forum from (northern) South Texas!

That is one helluva nice entrance for your first post!
Beautiful gun and engraving!

 

[Rick]

Interesting work on the gun but I believe it is Mexican engraving. They were fond of stippling and were doing this type of work up through the 1980's. Looks nice with average scroll work. Made these for tourists for a long time south of the border.

Agree. My first impression of the gun was border town engraved. Had one very similar with profuse engraving. Yours shows better than the one I had.

 

[Daniel1882]

Y’all are awesome, thanks for replying. Appreciate all the input so far! I’m not an avid/knowledgeable collector by no means. Just recently got into collecting old things 😂.. but I was drawn to this gun for some reason. In fact the only other handgun I have is the super redhawk pictured below.

 

[saintclair]

The old and the new! Quite a contrast in guns between the Colt and the Ruger!

 

[Jimmy2Dogs]

Well, first, Welcome to the Colt Forum. Don't be a stranger.

I'm not even remotely qualified to make any kind of value judgements regarding your gun.

One thing I did notice is the spider web engraving on the frame's ears. That looks to me to be a more modern style...but again, I'm not the guy you need to talk to about the who, when, how, etc. of this gun's engraving.

 

[Jimmy2Dogs]

The most impressive 'first post' that I have personally seen.

What a beauty!

I'll drink to that! Oh, wait, it's only 7:50 a.m. Oh, well, that's okay...I'll drink to it anyway.

 

[SHOOTER13]

Welcome to the COLT Forum from the Cradle Of Liberty...Pennsylvania !!

Enjoy Our Community Sir...

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I'll drink to that! Oh, wait, it's only 7:50 a.m. Oh, well, that's okay...I'll drink to it anyway.

It's 5:00 somewhere!