Lot 1490

George Spring Master Engraved Silver Colt Single Action Army

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George Spring Master Engraved Silver Colt Single Action Army

Estimate: $9,500 - $16,000

Starting Bid: $8,500

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 22, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Exquisite Well-Documented and Award-Winning George Spring Signed, Helfricht Pattern Grade "B" Factory Master Engraved, and Silver Plated Colt Third Generation "Frontier Six Shooter" Single Action Army Revolver Serial Number "COLT 44-40" with 6 1/4 Inch Barrel, Pearl Grips, Display Case, Box, and Factory Letter The included factory letter lists this revolver with the special order serial number "Colt 44-40", special order non-standard 6 1/4 inch barrel, .44-40 caliber, silver plated finish, pearl grips, and factory Grade "B" engraving "by Master Engraver George Spring; utilizing styles and motifs of Cuno A. Helfricht. Coverage was concentrated on the frame and backstrap with lighter coverage on the barrel, trigger guard and cylinder. Patterns of unusual interest are the star burst on both the recoil shield and the gate, as well as, the presentation motif on the back strap." It was shipped to Lew Horton Distributing Co. at 175 Boston Road in Southboro, Massachusetts, for Keith McKenzie on April 27, 1984. "The Story of Colt 44-40" by Keith McKenzie, the Colt Custom Shop Sales Manager when this revolver was built, is included and offers "a rare insider's view into the process of creating a Colt collectible firearm from its original concept and design, through its production, and then to its public display." He explains that as a Colt employee he wanted a gun to call his own and, more particularly, "something uniquely Colt." Among the many hurdles faced was first getting the custom one of a kind "Colt 44-40" serial number approved by then Colt President C. "Ed" Warner and locating a "black powder frame." Heat blued screws had also not been produced at Colt in thirty years, so Al DeJohn, Colt Custom Shop Production Manager, worked to refine the process until he was happy with the results, in part leading to their reintroduction a few years later. The 6 1/4 inch barrel is a one-of-a-kind in Colt's history. Colt's Historian Martin "Marty" Huber searched the historical records and discovered that no Single Action Army had ever been produced in this barrel length, so it was selected by McKenzie. The order was finally placed on June 3, 1983, five years after he initiated the project. The engraving is noted as more of a "B+" grade based on the extra hours Spring put into the work. The revolver is signed "SPRING" on the right side of the butt under the grip. The presentation plate on the original invoice was excluded. The special order barrel has the one-line Colt address marked on top and "FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" on the left. The patent dates in three lines are on the left side of the frame. The trigger guard has the "VP" proof and "K" on the left and "H" on the right. The matching one-of-a-kind serial number "COLT 44-40" is marked on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, and "44-40" is also marked on the front of the cylinder. The assembly number "150" is marked on the loading gate and rear of the frame. The included presentation case is noted as a gift from Jerry Jacobs of American Display in Providence, Rhode Island. The revolver is also accompanied by a shipping box and a factory wood grain box with matching numbered Colt Custom Gun Shop end label detached but included. This storied revolver was featured in the 1985 Colt catalog and is also featured on the cover of the included January 1986 issue of "Guns & Ammo" (creating some controversy as McKenzie had recently left Colt). It was displayed by McKenzie at the Colt Collectors Association national shows in 1987, 2012, and 2022 and twice won the award for "Best Post-War Single Action Army."

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 6 1/4 inch round

Gauge: 44-40 WCF

Finish: silver

Grips: pearl

Serial NumberCOLT44-40

Class: Modern Handgun

  • Provenance: The Collection of Former Colt Custom Shop Sales Manager Keith McKenzie
  • Condition: Excellent overall with crisp engraving, 99% original silver and fire blue finishes, very faint cylinder drag lines, limited minor handling evidence, and lustrous grip coloration. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with storage wear. The display case is excellent. Overall a superbly attractive and one-of-a-kind special order Colt Single Action Army revolver factory engraved in the style of Cuno A. Helfricht by Master Engraver George Spring!

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000