Kenny Majors Master Hand Engraved 2nd Generation Colt SAA, Chinese Railroad Themed .45 Single Action Army Revolver & Case, C&R

SOLD FOR:$4,305

LSB#: 141218PS13
Make: Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Co.
Model: 2nd Generation Single Action Army, One of 5000 – Colonel Saml Colt Sesquicentennial Model
Serial Number: 2986SC
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading-Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” The left side of the barrel is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / JULY 2, 72 JAN. 19, 75” and with a Rampant Colt which has a ‘hat’ emblem on the haunch. The underside of the frame is marked “2986SC”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The assembly number on the loading gate is “787”. The left inside of the trigger guard and backstrap are marked “2986SC”. The right inside of the backstrap is marked “V”. The rear surface of the cylinder is marked with a Rampant Colt and the front face is marked “986”.
Barrel Length: 7 ½”
Sights / Optics: The original front sight has been pierced and gold inlaid to form half of a Chinese coin, which appears to be embedded half way into the barrel. The coin has a square hole in the center with Chinese markings, gold plated sides and a blued edge. According to the engraver, all of this was done with the front sight in place without removing it from the revolver. Great care was taken to secure the sight during this process as the gold must be carefully hammered into the sight. The rear sight is a “U” groove milled into the top strap with a square notch rear face.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The checkered two piece hard rubber grips have “719” scratched into the inside of each panel. The grips sport a Rampant Colt logo and an American Eagle on each panel. Only light marks from admiration are present on the grips. The grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. This pistol started as a Colonel Samuel Colt Sesquicentennial commemorative, but has been exquisitely engraved by Kenny Majors. The engraving honors the presence of the Chinese people in 1800s California with scenes and designs. The left side of the barrel depicts Chinese people working on the Southern Pacific Rail Road, building the Bakersfield to Tehachapi line. The cylinder displays two scenes, one of a Chinese man giving an opium pipe to a cowboy, and the other represents the gunfight during which a Chinese man, while shooting at another Chinese man, accidentally killed a white man, which caused the so called “Chinese Riot” around 1900. The front sight was artistically modified to form a miniature Chinese coin with a square hole in the center, plated in gold and set into the barrel. Chinese symbols in gold leaf which represent prosperity, fortune and good lock are present on both sides of the frame, backstrap, the loading gate and recoil shield. A beautiful five toed Imperial Dragon adorns the right side of the barrel, which is breathing a fire of railroad tracks, which meander along the barrel, through the hole in the front sight, supplying material for the workers on the left side of the barrel. The rest of the pistol presents a Chinese inspired floral scroll design with other embellishments. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The unfluted cylinder is unmarred and is rotated so that both scenes are visible. The action functions correctly. We did not test the action nor fire this handgun.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The pistol comes in the original wooden Colt display case. A silver plaque which reads “One of 5000 / COLONEL SAMl COLT / SESQUICENTENNIAL MODELS / 1814 – 1964” is screwed to the lid. Shallow scratches are visible on the plaque and scattered shallow marks are present on the case. Mars in the finish are evident toward the rear of the lid and back side of the case. The interior of the case is lined with burgundy velvet and filled with a form fit lid which holds a book and a form fit floor which holds the pistol, a commemorative medallion which features a bust of Samuel Colt and is inscribed “COLONEL SAMUEL COLT / 1814-1964”. The medallion is in Excellent condition. A wooden form which holds 12 rounds of .45 Colt cartridges also can be found within the case with 12 dummy loads of .45 Colt with nickel brass and nickel plated bullets. There does not seem to be any propellant in the cases and the primers have firing pin indentations. The wooden form is in Excellent condition. The rounds exhibit marks from handing and are in Fine condition. The cutout in the lid holds a copy of “The Arms Collection of Colonel Colt” by R.L. Wilson. The book is held into place with two leather straps which snap together. The jacket of the book exhibits fraying around the edges at the binding, scattered spots of surface loss, small incidents of fraying along the top and bottom edges and a 1 ¼” tear. The page bindings are unbroken and the book is in Very Good condition. A warning tag is also present in Good condition. The compartments are lined in burgundy velvet which exhibits compression marks from contact with the pistol. The box is in Very Good condition.
Our Assessment: This pistol is from the Peter Sherako collection. It was manufactured as a Colonel Samuel Colt Sesquicentennial commemorative, but subsequently exquisitely engraved with scenes depicting moments in history of the Chinese people in California. We spoke to Kenny Major, the Master Engraver responsible for the design, who remembered virtually every mark and scene, giving us a lovely history and description of the artwork. The engravings feature gold leaf Chinese symbols for luck and prosperity as well as three scenes depicting important movements of history for the Chinese people in California, along with an Imperial five toed dragon and Chinese inspired designs. The front sight was modified to form a gold plated miniature replica of a Chinese coin which appears as if it were embedded into the barrel. The front sight is engraved and integral to the design of the pistol. This is a beautiful, one of a kind 2nd Generation Colt revolver, spectacularly engraved by Master Engraver Kenny Majors which will be the focal point of any collection.