Lot 1077

Wilbur Glahn Factory Engraved Colt Single Action Army Revolver

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Wilbur Glahn Factory Engraved Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Estimate: $50,000 - $85,000

Starting Bid: $45,000

(0 Bids)

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

Highly Attractive Well-Documented Wilbur Glahn Factory Deluxe "C" Coverage Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Carved Eagle Pearl Grip and Factory Letter Colt Single Action Army revolvers factory engraved by Wilbur Glahn are among the finest pieces of American artistry in firearms. The accompanying factory letter lists this revolver as part of two guns of the same type in a shipment on April 10, 1920, to Richards & Conover in Kansas City, Missouri, for J.W. Dinkin Hardware Co., in .45 caliber with a 4 3/4 inch barrel, blue finish, and grip type not listed. The revolver was subsequently returned to the factory and masterfully engraved by Wilbur Glahn while he was responsible for most of the engraving at Colt between c. 1919-1950 and is wearing a set of attractive unnumbered factory pearl grips with silver Rampant Colt medallions and a relief carved patriotic eagle on the right side. The Single Action Army itself is arguably the most iconic handgun in history, and over 357,000 were manufactured prior to World War II. However, though many of the most famous Single Action Army revolvers were engraved, using the most liberal statistics, only 2,500 pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolvers were factory engraved. This exact revolver is pictured on page 559 of "The Colt Engraving Book: Volume Two" by R.L. Wilson in which the related caption on page 558 states, "Sometime in the mid 1930s the revolver was returned to the Colt factory for engraving and fitting of the pearl grips. Design included on the front sight. By Wilbur Glahn, C style. (The Brig and Louise Pemberton Collection)". The revolver features Wilbur Glahn's distinctive high quality floral pattern factory engraving on beaded backgrounds covering approximately 80% of the surfaces including the front sight, barrel, ejector rod head and housing, frame, cylinder, loading gate, trigger guard, and rear grip strap. The fact that the front sight is engraved on this particular revolver is noteworthy, as this is uncommon on factory engraved Single Action Army revolvers. It has a blade front sight and frame-top groove rear sight. The top of the barrel is marked with the two-line Colt Hartford address in an engraved panel and "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45" is on the left in a coordinating panel. Two-line patent date markings and a Rampant Colt are surrounded by engraving on the left of the frame. An "X" is marked above a triangle "VP" proof on the left side of the trigger guard. The factory refurbishment number "578" is marked on the front of the cylinder, loading gate, and sides of the grip straps. The matching visible full serial number is marked on the frame and grip straps, matching partial "71" is on the rear of the cylinder, and assembly number "735" is on the loading gate and rear of the frame.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 4 3/4 inch round

Gauge: 45 Long Colt

Finish: blue/casehardened

Grips: relief carved pearl

Serial Number339671

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection
  • Condition: Extremely fine, retains 98% plus factory blue finish and vivid case colors, with minimal handling evidence, and absolutely sharp factory engraving. The grips are excellent with a crisp carved eagle. Mechanically excellent. This is a breathtaking Colt Single Action Army revolver showcasing Wilbur Glahn's masterful factory engraving.

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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