This beautiful revolver is an extraordinarily rare look at what some of the finest arms ever created by the Colt factory and its artisans looked like when they were new in the 19th century. It is a remarkable example of firearms high art and also has historic ties to a heroic lawman in the Colt factory's hometown. The revolver was manufactured in 1886 and was engraved by legendary Colt master engraver Cuno A. Helfricht who worked as the head of Colt's engraving shop from 1875 to 1921. He previously worked for Colt in the Stocking Department c. 1869 prior to returning to Germany where he studied at the Berlin Medal & Die Cutting Institute and then worked in Hartford as an engraver in 1871-1875 before returning to Colt as their primary engraver. Helfricht's engraving covers the vast majority of the metal surfaces and consists of stunning Germanic scroll engraving with punched backgrounds, a "Nimschke" star on the ejector housing, fan and shell designs, gadrooning along the top strap, wavy line designs including interlacing patterns, and additional border designs. The revolver is finished primarily in nickel and has a gold plated cylinder and niter blue small parts. It is fitted with pearl grips. The markings are standard, including matching serial numbers. As the revolver was presented as a prize, the following inscriptions were added after the revolver originally left the factory but may well have been inscribed at the factory: "Lyman Smith" on the back strap and "Foot Guard Fair/DEC. 1888" on the front strap. It is noted that there was no factory shipping records for this revolver likely because the revolver was donated by the factory directly to the fair rather than being shipped. This stunning classic Colt Lightning naturally caught the eye of Colt experts and is pictured on page 456 of "The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1" by R.L. Wilson. Another velvet cased Colt Lightning from 1886 with pearl grips is also featured on page 309 of "Colt Engraving" by Wilson, and a third from 1888 is shown on page 311 demonstrating this style of case was used by the factory for at least a brief period in the late 1880s. In "The Colt Engraving Book Volume 1," it is incorrectly attributed as related to the General's Foot Guards in the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve. The revolver was since found to be related to the Foot Guard Fair in the Colt factory's hometown of Hartford, Connecticut, from December 3 to December 8, 1888. The First Company Governor's Foot Guard was organized in 1771 in Hartford and is the oldest military organization in continuous existence in the United States. Samuel Colt was also involved in the broader Governor's Guards. The fair in December 1888 was organized to raise funds for furnishing the new armory completed that year for the Governor's Foot Guard in Hartford. Over $3,000 in prizes were to be given away to participants in the fair. The hall was advertised to be ready to rent for public events on November 2, and the Foot Guard Armory's large hall was a popular social event center in Hartford in the late 19th century for hosting boxing matches, art exhibitions, banquets, balls, orchestras, fraternal organization fairs, and more. On November 27, 1888, Lyman Smith is listed as one of the recipients of "Military and Fireman's Prizes." During the fair, The Hartford Daily Courant recorded the votes for various prizes and showed Lyman Smith in the lead for a special prize: a "Police Revolver." On the 10th, the Courant reported that "The elegant police revolver received 1,380 votes and went to Officer Lyman Smith, who has the good fortune to belong to the Phalanx. He had 750 votes to 448 for George Heise." The Putnam Phalanx was a ceremonial honor guard formed in Hartford and also a social club. The local newspapers also reported on Smith's police work in 1888, including the arrest of multiple thieves. A full binder of information compiled by the consignor is included on Smith and the Foot Guard Fair. Lyman Smith Jr. (1830-1900) was born in Hartford but grew up in New York City where his father was a police officer until he was killed on duty during a riot in 1844. As his mother had died two years earlier, he became an orphan. He returned to Hartford where he served as a volunteer firefighter in Neptune Engine Co. No. 2 in the 1850s and 1860s and became first assistant engineer and then foreman and captain. He was the chairman of Neptune Engine Co. No. 2's 8th annual ball at City Hall in 1860. He was elected as messenger for the city in 1861. When Hartford formed its police department in the 1860s, Smith became an officer on September 22, 1862, and was issued badge no. 1. He also served in the provost marshal's office, arresting deserters during the Civil War and became a full-time police officer. In 1865, the local papers reported he pursued a burglar that had escaped police custody, fought him during which the burglar stabbed him in the hand with a pitchfork, and then helped arrest the man. Other articles discuss him tracking down suspects and making noteworthy arrests. By the 1880s, Smith was a police detective, and he was promoted to sergeant in 1894. He remained with the department until retiring due to ill-health in March 1900 and died that December from cirrhosis of the liver. He was very popular with his fellow officers as well as with the residents of Hartford. Not surprisingly, the Hartford Police used Colt firearms during the period, including serial number 1 Colt Model 1893 Gatling Gun. While officer Smith likely carried a Colt on duty, it is evident from the outstanding condition of this revolver that he kept this one carefully tucked away and that it has been extremely well cared for ever since. Provenance: The Michael Leff Collection; The Ron Dean Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection

Excellent. This revolver remains about as untouched and excellent as possible for a revolver from over 130 years ago, a true time capsule. The engraving and inscriptions remain sharp. 98% plus of the original gold and nickel plated finishes remain. There is only some very slight fading at the edges of the cylinder and minor handling and storage marks. Nearly all of the vibrant original niter blue finish also remains on the small parts. The grips are also excellent and have beautiful iridescent colors and very faint handling wear. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine and has moderate age and storage related wear on the exterior and minimal wear on the interior mostly from contact with the revolver. This is an incredibly rare and significant Colt revolver. It is certainly among the finest factory engraved Colt Model 1877 revolvers extant. Carpe diem ladies and gentleman, this is as good as it gets.