Lot 27

Cased Churchill-Connolly Master Engraved Colt Single Action Army

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Cased Churchill-Connolly Master Engraved Colt Single Action Army

Estimate: $500,000 - $750,000

Starting Bid: $450,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

The Awe Inspiring “Gray Ghost” Churchill No. 1: Winston Churchill and Damien F. Connolly Master Engraved, Relief Chiseled, and Gold Inlaid Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Carved Grips and Exquisite Bespoke Case by Connolly, Factory Letter, and Extensive Documentation Highly embellished arms have been cherished throughout human history, totems at times representing individuals of martial prowess and status and in others national pride. The best pieces are timeless and have a mystique that is difficult to put into words. To create greatness takes time, patience, and the creative minds and talents of the most gifted men of their era with influences drawn from prior generations. Many of the greatest firearms engravers throughout history worked primarily alone, but when the generational talents come together, they can create unparalleled works of art. It is our utmost honor and privilege to present the finest Colt Single Action Army revolver to ever come from the factory. This is a truly one-of-a-kind joint masterwork with over 9,000 hours of meticulous craftsmanship over nearly a decade from the beloved late Master Engraver Winston Churchill (1939-2023), widely recognized as the greatest American engraver of the 20th century, and the multi-talented bespoke gunmaker and Master Engraver Damien F. Connolly who Churchill referred to as "the Michaelangelo of the 21st century". Connolly moved from Australia to Vermont to work with Churchill on the project. It commemorates both the most iconic firearm in American history, the Colt Single Action Army revolver, and the cowboys and Native Americans who carried them in the American West in the late 19th century represented on equal terms on alternate sides of the frame. Thomas J. Koessl, the mastermind and patron of this project, was deeply immersed throughout the entire process of the creation of Winston Churchill's last and greatest masterpiece. He noted that the revolver has become known as the "Gray Ghost" by the men involved after its distinctive French gray finish and the fact that very few people have had the honor of viewing this work of art. Mr. Koessl has alternatively named it the Churchill-Connolly-Colt in honor of the two immensely talented artists who created it. The serial number is "CHURCHILL/No 1" in gold on the underside of the frame, the butt is inscribed "WINSTON G. CHURCHILL/-ENGRAVERS-/DAMIEN F. CONNOLLY", and the highly intricate Rampant Colt overlay inside the case lid reads: "COLT" and "DAMIEN F. CONNOLLY - WINSTON G. CHURCHILL/-ENGRAVERS-". The revolver alone is truly a sight to behold with its immaculate deep relief engraving, timeless French gray finish with contrasting shaded backgrounds and 24k gold inlays drawn from iconic works of western art, and raised relief entwining scroll carving that pairs perfectly with the engraving. The case and accessories are befitting of Churchill's final masterpiece, and each are works of art in and of themselves. Together, they are truly awe inspiring and overwhelming in their beauty. In an included letter extolling Connolly's talents in relation to Connolly moving to Vermont for this project, Mr. Koessl wrote, "After years of coordinating the creation of exceptional museum quality firearms for clients throughout the United States, I personally decided to have Mr. Churchill engrave an exceptional Colt Single Action revolver as a final tribute to a great American manufacturer by our finest American engraver. It will be a museum piece unlike any other in the field of contemporary custom firearms, truly a 'Gun for the Ages.' When I approached Winston Churchill about making a truly exceptional case with engraved accessories to highlight the Colt revolver, he immediately recommended Damien Connolly...I will have him carve the grips on my Colt Single Action revolver. I can state with absolute certainty that I know of no other human being alive today capable of such intricate, relief wood carving executed in a style and creativity unknown before Damien Connolly's emergence onto the firearms scene." In another related letter Mr. Churchill stated: "I will soon start the engraving of my last Colt revolver. It will be my masterpiece-my last masterpiece! I am overjoyed that Damien will be carving the grips for the gun, making the exhibition case for it, including all the necessary components (screwdrivers, cleaning rod, etc.) that are proper for such a presentation piece. And in the end, he will engrave them! The case and all its furnishings, the inlay work, the carving, will be like a throne for a king. I am proud to have him do it. I wouldn't want anyone else to do it." The entire project is meticulously documented, and the lot includes notebooks detailing the engraving by Winston Churchill and Damien Connolly, three volumes of documentation regarding the overall project, the development of the various designs and motifs on the revolver and case (including sketches), and photographs of the work in progress; and an extensive factory letter officially recording the project as a whole. The depth of the documentation is truly extraordinary and provides deep insights into the project. For example, in a message from Connolly in 2008 while he was still living in Australia to Mr. Koessl and Mr. Churchill, he states that he had "gone for an effect of refined opulence, that references what may have been created for a 19th century monarch, or for the great expositions of that time." Having handled many fine exposition cases and cased sets for European royalty, we can confidently say he far exceeded his stated goal. In that message he also noted that the case was designed to be displayed in one of four "modes": with the lid closed, the lid open, lid removed, and with the pistol displayed on a specially designed stand. Winston Churchill's handwritten notebook logging the work on "Tom's Colt 45" begins with "The Last (and best) Masterpiece!" On December 9, 2008, he logged his first hour of work on the project: "Snow. It's a great feeling to be back in the creative harness again!" On March 22, 2010, he noted: "The Colt is here!!" By February 24, 2014, he had logged 2,208.5 hours of work on the project. From there, Connolly took over the engraving of the revolver and logged another 3,310 hours on the revolver in addition to 3,696 hours on the grips, case, and accessories. Over 300 hours were spent on the engraving of the hammer alone. The factory letter dated November 11, 2020, details this masterpiece in extraordinary detail. It is listed as serial number "Churchill No. 1" in .45 Colt caliber with a 6 inch barrel, French gray finish, "One-piece French Walnut stocks decorated with 44 lpi checkering and a spectacular central carving of Arabesque intertwining scroll," factory engraved per contract with Colt, and "Special Features: Furnished with a unique serial number, a black powder style frame, no patent dates on the frame, a two-line barrel address, and "45 Colt" caliber marking on the left side of the barrel." It was shipped to Winston G. Churchill on March 22, 2010. Final delivery is recorded as "December 9, 2019 to Damien F. Connolly after final inspection by Colt for purposes of invoicing, advertising and historical documentation." The extensive remarks document the extraordinary nature of this project and state: "Mr. Thomas J. Koessl signed contracts with Colt Manufacturing Company on February 18, 2010 to produce a factory contracted engraving project utilizing the renowned skills and expertise of Master Engraver, Winston Churchill. This project began in 2010 and took a total of more than 10 years to complete. As the Colt Single Action Army Revolver creation of this exquisitely engraved firearm progressed, Mr. Churchill began to experience the onset of Parkinson's Disease making it impossible for him to continue with the project after contributing 2,208 hours of engraving expertise. Therefore, it was decided by Mr. Koessl, the Colt Factory, and both engravers, that the revolver would pass to the uniquely talented hands of Master Engraver, Damien Connolly. This was a key decision as in examining the engraving of this piece, there is no interruption in the continuity of the engraving. Mr. Connolly assumed the engraving duties on February 24, 2014 and would be responsible for the completion of the project contributing another 3,310 hours of engraving embellishment. The engraving theme selected for this one-of-a-kind Colt Single Action Army Revolver was a tribute to the American West with scenes and motifs depicting images representative of the American Cowboy & Indian. The revolver is engraved with Arabesque scroll, with much of this scroll in sculpted relief. A combination of dot and spear accents, both gold inlaid and steel cut, are incorporated into the design in various locations. Also featured on this firearm are 13 relief sculpted 24 Karat gold inlays. Except for the frame and cylinder, all other areas of the sculpted Arabesque scroll feature intertwining 24 Karat sculpted raised gold line work. The unique engraving features and gold inlays on this Colt Single Action Army Revolver are as follows: • The unique serial number 'Churchill No. 1' is flush gold inlaid inside a slightly recessed half dome area framed by delicate Arabesque scroll and gold line work, with all lettering highlighted by shadow line work. The serial number area is complemented by an elaborate design located at the front of the trigger guard. • The muzzle end of the barrel features two gold inlaid bands of varying widths with patches of scroll and gold line work flowing back toward the barrel address. The front sight is engraved with delicate sculpted Arabesque leaves framed by a gold inlaid sculpted leaf border along with a framed gold inlaid cartouche surrounded by scroll. The barrel also features a flush gold inlaid "45 Colt" caliber marking and Colt barrel address. An elegant cartouche of sculpted gold surrounds the barrel address and is complimented by sculpted Arabesque scroll and intertwining gold line work. Two gold inlaid bands of varying widths decorate the rear of the barrel and ejector tube with patches of scroll and gold line work flowing back toward the muzzle. • The ejector rod housing has sculpted patches of scroll with intertwining gold line work at each end, and an elegant panel of scroll and gold accents in the center. • The cylinder features two gold inlaid bands of varying widths and complete coverage of complex flowing Arabesque scroll. • The front of the frame features a sculpted gold inlaid wolf's head howling to the heavens. • The forward right side of the frame has a gold inlaid mountain lion in sculpted relief descending the frame surrounded by scroll. • The forward left side of the frame features a sculpted gold inlaid rearing stallion majestically standing amid scroll. • The left panel scene depicts a Cowboy on horseback rounding up two errant steers all done in sculpted gold relief surrounded by sculpted flowing Arabesque scroll. • The recoil shield has a sculpted gold inlay of Frederic Remington's famous 'Bronco Buster' sculpture amid scroll work. • The right panel scene is decorated in sculpted gold relief with a noble Indian warrior pursuing two buffalo surrounded by flowing scroll. • The loading gate has a gold inlaid grunting buffalo head framed in sculpted Arabesque scroll. • The top of the frame is engraved with a series of sculpted Arabesque leaves flowing toward the muzzle end of the barrel on both sides of the fluted sight groove. • The hammer features intricate sculpted Arabesque scroll with gold inlaid line work accenting its various contoured shapes. The top of the hammer has small, sculpted panels front and rear, with 72 lpi checkering on the hammer spur. • The top of the backstrap features James Earle Fraser's 'End of Trail' sculpture and a background of both sculpted and bulino engraving, with Arabesque scroll and intertwining gold line work that descends the backstrap. • The trigger guard is embellished with a sculpted gold inlaid American bald eagle as he would be descending in flight amid scroll work. • The bottom of the grip frame is embellished with sculpted Arabesque scroll and line work beautifully framing the two engraver's names, Winston G. Churchill and Damien F. Connolly. • All screws feature an intricate flowing 8 leaf engraving design. This masterpiece also includes a museum quality custom made presentation case equal to the quality of the engraved Colt revolver it houses. This one-of-a-kind case is made of highly figured Turkish Walnut, French fitted with a pale sandstone velvet interior. It was designed and hand crafted by Damien F. Connolly and features an innovative opening/closing mechanism along with superb engraving and carving on the various accessories within the case. Mr. Connolly's ingenuity from start to finish is evidenced in his amazing attention to detail. A total of 3,696 hours went into the creation of the case and accessories, with 1,115 of those hours dedicated to the engraving of the accessories and 626 hours devoted to the creation of the unique, Arabesque gold inlaid and niter blued name plate located inside the lid of the case. This revolver was subsequently returned to Colt for final inspection on December 9, 2019 for proper invoicing, photographing for future advertising, and historical documentation. It was then returned to the engraver, Damien Connolly. It is with pride that we at Colt add this truly spectacular Single Action Army Revolver to our long lineage of factory custom embellished firearms."

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 6 inch round

Gauge: 45 Long Colt

Finish: French gray/gold

Grips: walnut

Serial NumberChurchill No. 1

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Condition: Unfired and unturned since completion. Museum quality. One of the greatest works of firearms art of all time.

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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