Lot 3109

Cased Engraved Silver & Gold Colt Bisley Single Action Army

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Cased Engraved Silver & Gold Colt Bisley Single Action Army

Estimate: $20,000 - $30,000

Starting Bid: $18,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
August 23, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Historic Well-Documented Cased Helfricht Engraved Silver and Gold Colt Bisley Model Single Action Army Revolver with Pearl Grips Identified to Sheriff John A. Riechman of Shelby County, Tennessee, with Holster and Factory Letter The factory letter lists this revolver in .41 caliber with a 5 1/2 inch barrel and "soft" finish and indicates it was the sole gun of its type in the shipment to H & D Folsom Arms Co. in New York City on May 19, 1905. The remarks confirm that the soft finish indicates the revolver was destined for engraving outside the factory. The revolver features stunning classic Cuno Helfricht style engraving consisting of flowing scrollwork with beaded backgrounds, wavy line and dot accents, fan motifs on the recoil shield and loading gate, and a "Nimschke star" on the right side at the ejection rod, and the engraving closely matches the work of Cuno Helfricht at the factory. The revolver is featured on page 450 of "The Book of Colt Engraving Volume 1" by Wilson where he notes the revolver was "Engraved in 'B' style by the Helfricht shop. Returned to the Colt plant for finishing, when the revolver was polished and plated in silver, with gold-plated cylinder, ejector housing, hammer, and trigger, and fitted with pearl grips." He notes the markings discussed below as indications the finish is from the factory. Wilson also stated: "Not more than sixty Bisley Model revolvers are listed in Colt ledgers as engraved." The left side of the barrel is marked "(BISLEY MODEL) 41 COLT", and the one-line Hartford address is on top. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent marking followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark. A "5" is on the left side of the trigger guard. Assembly number "9935" is marked on the loading gate. "&" is marked on the face of the cylinder, and a star and matching partial serial number "985" are marked on the back of the cylinder and on the barrel under the ejector housing. Another star is located on the left side of the heel. The markings indicate the revolver was refurbished/reworked at the Colt factory. The matching full serial number is marked on the frame, trigger guard, and butt. The back side of each of the pearl grips is marked "59". The brown leather basket-weave pattern loop holster has no visible markings. An included 1993 dated and notarized letter from Art Beltrone confirms he purchased the revolver from a direct descendant of John A. Riechman of Memphis, Tennessee, and states that the revolver was his personal sidearm while serving as sheriff in 1914-1916. Another document indicates that the revolver was passed down to Sheriff Riechman's grandson John Riechman Wilhoite of Memphis. A framed portrait of Riechman and framed display card are also included along with a custom hardwood case is included and is noted as having sat on the sheriff's desk with the revolver in it. John A. Riechman was a city and police commissioner and election board member in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, and became county sheriff under rather unusual circumstances. Democratic political boss Edward Hull Crump Jr. (1874-1954) controlled Memphis through a commission for much of the early 20th century, including as mayor in 1910-1915. A local song stated: "The cotton's up and the river's down, and Mr. Ed Crump - he runs this town." The Shelby County Sheriff, T. Galen Tate, however, was pro-enforcement of prohibition. Because Crump was not allowed to hold both the mayor and sheriff's office, he worked to get his friend Riechman into office in his place. They had missed the deadline to have Riechman on the ballot, but succeeded in getting him elected via an unprecedented write-in campaign that included deploying a large number agents to teach black residents how to write Riechman and signs throughout town to help the large number of illiterate citizens to spell his name correctly on their ballots. Much of the effort was funded by the area's liquor men, and they also helped pay the poll taxes to allow black residents to vote. By 1914, Crump and his allies controlled virtually every office in the city, but Crump was soon removed from office under the state's Ouster Law for not enforcing prohibition. Nonetheless, he remained a dominant force in Memphis and Tennessee for decades. Sheriff Riechman and a posse blew up the home of Matthew Harris with dynamite while trying to arrest his nephew who was not at the house at the time. Harris was severely injured by both the explosion and shots fired by the posse and was awarded $45,000 in damages in court. Like Crump, Riechman was ousted after being charged with permitting saloons to be run in open violation of the law. He remained a prominent local businessman running Riechman-Crosby Co. and civic leader involved in a variety of charity work.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 5 1/2 inch round

Gauge: 41 Long Colt

Finish: silver/gold

Grips: pearl

Serial Number266985

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

  • Provenance: Sheriff John A. Riechman; John Riechman Wilhoite; The Art Beltrone Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection
  • Condition: Very fine with 90% plus of the silver and gold finish remaining with attractively aged patina and light wear, generally distinct markings and engraving, and minor flaking on the back strap. The grips are also very fine with beautiful natural colors and light handling wear. Mechanically functions. The holster is very good with minor wear. The case generally has minor storage wear aside from a chipped section at the right hinge which has two absent screws. Overall, a stunning revolver with a fascinating history.

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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