Factory engraved Colt Single Action Army revolvers are among the most desirable of all American firearms. The Single Action Army itself is arguably the most iconic handgun in history, and 357,800 were manufactured prior to World War II. However, though many of the most famous SAAs were engraved, using the most liberal statistics, only 4,500 pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolvers were factory engraved. Rock Island Auction Company is extremely proud to present Colt SAA nos. 350108 and 350181. These two revolvers were shipped from the factory on the same order and are an identical factory engraved pair with shipping history that link these grand works of Colt artistry to America’s Wild West heritage. To our knowledge this is the first time these historically significant revolvers have been offered as a pair at public auction. The accompanying factory letter is for both revolvers, proving without a doubt these two Colt masterpieces were part of the same two gun shipment. The letter states the revolvers were shipped on October 18, 1926 to Richards & Conover Hardware Co. with locations in Kansas City, Missouri and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and confirms the 4 ¾ inch barrels in .44-40 caliber, silver plating, grip material, carved steer head motif on the grip, and level 2 factory engraving. These two revolvers were the only guns in the shipment. Customers of Richards & Conover Hardware Co. included the Miller brothers of the famed 101 Ranch in Oklahoma. The 101 Ranch was founded in 1893 by Colonel George Washington Miller, a veteran of the Confederate Army, and after his death the operation was taken over by his three sons, Joseph, George Jr. and Zack. It was located near modern day Ponca City, Oklahoma, encompassed over 110,000 acres, was the birthplace of the 101 Ranch "Wild West Show," and was one of the early focal points of the oil rush in northeastern Oklahoma. It was the largest diversified farm and ranch in America at the time. The 101 earned most of its notoriety from its Wild West shows that it ran from 1905 to 1932 with an interruption during the First World War. Among their talented participants were the likes of Geronimo, Tom Mix, Will Rogers, Bill Picket, and the Chilean sharpshooter and trick shot horseman Carlos Chavez. Due to financial difficulties the 101 Ranch closed in 1939. The Miller brothers ordered merchandise for their store from Richards & Conover located in Oklahoma City. The 101 Ranch store is pictured in the photo section presented in Michael Wallis’ “The Real Wild West” (book included). In this same book is a photo of 101 Ranch gunsmith Glenn “Ammunition Shorty” Kischko. Kischko is surrounded by an assortment of 101 Ranch firearms including deluxe finished ivory handled Colt Six Shooters. Perhaps this pair made it into the photo. Kischko was the 101 Ranch gunsmith until 1926, the same year this engraved set was shipped from Colt. The photo of Kischko is also featured on the cover and page 91 of George E. Virgines’ “Famous Guns and Gunners” (copy included). In the 1930s the last surviving Miller brother, Zack, filed for bankruptcy, and the 101 Ranch assets were seized and auctioned off. It was at this time that these revolvers were likely separated. In 2018 our consignor reunited the pistols. Prior to 2018 gun “B” (no. 350181) was previously owned by Rafael Cruz. Our consignor purchased gun “A” (no. 350108) in 2012. The .44-40 WCF SAA has found a special place in the hearts of Peacemaker collectors. When introduced in 1877, the .44-40 WCF SAA was intended to be used in conjunction with another legendary Western icon, the Winchester Model 1873 Rifle, which used the same cartridge. As factory engraved examples, these Frontier Six Shooters are certainly one of the rarer and more highly sought after SAAs. In the chapter devoted to engraved SAAs in the seminal work “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” the authors laid out statistics that without a doubt make factory engraved SAAs a true rarity in Colt collecting. Out of the engraved 1st Generations surveyed approximately 15% were chambered in .44 WCF (the vast majority, 65%, where in .45 caliber). .44-40 WCF was also a frequently used caliber featured in the 101 Ranch shows. This chambering fired blank cartridges and shot cartridges, so it is fitting that this pair was chambered in .44-40 WCF as this cartridge was well stocked. This fancy western style pair of SAAs would certainly have made a grand statement with 101 Ranch entertainers who wore elaborate western clothing. One such entertainer was Jack Webb who was a trick shooter employed by the 101 Ranch at the time the revolvers were ordered. On the back of the grip panels to each revolver are the handwritten letters “JW” which corresponds to Jack Webb’s initials and the number “101” which was a commonly used marking to identify 101 Ranch property. When he died in 1956 Webb “was known as one of the world’s greatest trick shot artist with either pistol or rifle and was recognized as the greatest living trick roper.” These Six Shooters would have certainly made great companions in the hands of Jack Webb. If these pistols could talk! The deeply cut floral scroll engraving is consistent with other revolvers cut by Colt Master Engraver Wilbur Glahn's hands. Note in particular the "V" shape design behind the hammer which has been seen on other Glahn engraved Single Actions. He executed the majority of Colt's factory engraving between 1919 and 1950, but only a select number of SAAs were engraved by Glahn since a significant percentage of the Single Action Army revolvers that were factory engraved were engraved before Glahn even arrived in Hartford. The silver plating and relief carved steer head grip are rare factory special order features. Factory silver plating and engraving is without a doubt an extremely rare combination, and the addition of the special steer head carving on the right grip makes this an exceptionally rare pair. Full factory silver plating is one of the scarcest finishes for first generation Colt SAAs. In the 1-164100 serial number range, for instance, only two factory engraved .44-40 WCF SAA with a 4 ¾ inch barrel and silver finish are reported to have been manufactured (see “The Official Record of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver, 1873-1895”). Although this pair falls outside the serial number range of this study, the stat speaks to the rarity of the configuration. Each revolver has matching respective serial numbers on the frame, both grip straps under the right grip panel, and back of both grip panels, and matching respective assembly numbers on the loading gate and rear of the frame. The barrels carry the two-line Hartford address on top and the iconic “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER .44-40” marking on the left side. The left side of the frames have the two-line patent dates marking. The left side of each trigger guard has the number “3” over the Colt triangle factory proof. The revolvers wear a set of factory silver Rampant Colt medallion grips featuring a relief carved steer head on the right panel. Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson has noted that only "a few" SAAs had factory hand carved steer head motif grips. Similarly decorated deluxe .45 caliber SAAs (nos. 328849 and 309543) were owned by Zack and Joe Miller (see “Famous Guns and Gunners,” pages 58-60). Each of the Miller guns were fully engraved, sported full silver finish, and wore steer head carved pearl grips. Other included items associated with this historic pair: 101 Ranch letterhead, 101 Ranch $10 bill, 101 Ranch $5 bill, Pawnee Bill’s Wild West shot souvenir playing card, 101 Ranch touring schedule (date unknown), and Collings and England’s “The 101 Ranch.” This beautiful pair checks off all the boxes desired by collectors. The set is in incredibly high condition, features wonderful factory engraving, features special order factory silver plated finish, fitted with special order factory relief carved steer head grips, and attributed to the famed 101 Ranch. All together this is an incredible Colt rarity that is as good as a collector can hope to encounter.

Excellent, retaining 90% plus original factory silver plating with some high point wear and crisp engraving. The hammer has factory bright polished sides, shows less wear compared to the other components, and appears to be a replacement. The grips are also excellent with typical age lines on the bottom, crisp carving and attractive color and grain. Mechanically excellent.

As described in "A." Provenance: The Rafael Cruz Collection ("B" gun only); The TTT Collection

Excellent, retaining 97% plus original factory silver plating with crisp engraving. The grips are also excellent with crisp carving and attractive color and grain. This extraordinary, extremely rare, documented, special order pair of identical factory engraved, silver plated and relief carved stock Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolvers linked to the legendary 101 Ranch is a true rarity in Colt collecting that is well deserving of the finest SAA or Western collections.