Lot 1071

Texan F.S. Fritter's Engraved Colt Single Action Army & Archive

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Texan F.S. Fritter's Engraved Colt Single Action Army & Archive

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

Exceptionally Fine and Highly Desirable Cuno Helfricht Factory Master Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Steer Head Relief Carved Pearl Grips Documented as Owned by Texas Lawman and Saloon Owner Frank S. Fritter and Accompanied by an Impressive Archive of Items, Including a Springfield Trapdoor Rifle, Holster, Sword, Sword Cane, Documentation, and Various Antiques -A) Well-Documented Factory Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver Exceptionally Fine and Highly Desirable Cuno Helfricht Factory Master Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Steer Head Relief Carved Pearl Grips Documented as Owned by Texas Lawman and Saloon Owner Frank S. Fritter and Accompanied by an Impressive Archive of Items, Including a Springfield Trapdoor Rifle, Holster, Sword, Sword Cane, Documentation, and Various Antiques -A) Well-Documented Factory Engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver This incredible archive consists of items belonging to Frank S. Fritter (1827-1915), a Confederate cavalryman, sheriff of Kinney County, Texas, and western saloon owner. Brig Pemberton noted: "This Single Action and all of the items that are with it constitutes one of the most complete collections of the effects of a man that was a Western Sheriff and a successful saloon owner. The gun by its own is a gem." The revolver is a stunning factory engraved Colt Single Action Army manufactured in 1904 and is featured on page 438 of "The Colt Engraving Book Volume One" by R. L. Wilson and described as: "Single Action number 257635, .45 caliber, is a Helfricht engraved 5 1/2-inch, with fine quality carved pearl steer head grips. Revolver was personal sidearm of Fielding Stafford (Frank) Fritter, who was Sheriff of Kinney County, Texas, from c. 1878-1886. After he retired as sheriff, Fritter opened the California Exchange Saloon, Brackettville, Texas, and remained there until his death in 1915." Despite being well-known and highly popular, the total number of factory engraved Colt Single Action Army revolvers was very limited. R. L. Wilson on page 385 of "The Colt Engraving Book, Volume One" wrote, "The grand total of engraved Single Action Army revolvers (excluding the Bisley Model and Flattop Target Model) from 1873 through 1940 is approximately 3,000. A number of these also included hand engraved inscriptions or monograms." Of those, Wilson estimated 2,550 were engraved by 1921 while Master Engraver Cuno Helfricht led Colt's engraving shop. Helfricht thus oversaw the engraving of the majority of Colt’s famous Single Action Army revolvers and heavily influenced how the world remembers the famed Colt six shooter. This revolver is an exceptional example of his iconic work. The engraving consists of primarily scrollwork with beaded backgrounds, banners around the "45 COLT" marking on the barrel and serial number on the trigger guard, a chevron design on the left side of the frame at the front, fan designs, wavy line and dot borders, and checkered panels. The right pearl grip features a detailed raised relief carved steer head, and the left panel is smooth. The grips are obviously original with exceptionally tight fit, and both have numbers in pencil beginning with the "257" of the serial number and the last three digits illegible. The revolver also features the rounded blade front sight, the one-line address on top of the barrel, the two-line patent marking on the left side of the frame followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trade mark, "5" on the left side of the trigger guard, assembly number "3918" on the loading gate, the matching partial serial number "635" on the back of the cylinder, and the matching full serial number 257635" on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The revolver is accompanied by a lightly tooled single loop holster marked "P. R. BARNHARD/-MAKER-/DEL RIO. TEX." An included letter and receipt from C. Gordon Downing Jr. in 1995 indicates that the revolver was purchased in 1991 by Charles G. Downing Sr. from Bess Fritter, widow of Stafford Fritter, the grandson of Frank S. Fritter. The Downings and Fritters had discussed the revolver in 1971, but Mr. Fritter did not want it sold until after his death because the revolver was used by his grandfather at his California Exchange Saloon. The revolver was subsequently sold to Tom Power who also purchased Fritter's Springfield trapdoor rifle. The following are among the items listed in an another 1995 statement as sold to Power by Agnes Fritter Vondy and as having belonged to her grandfather F. S. Fritter: portrait of F. S. Fritter, masonic sword and diploma, sword cane, long horns and bottle from the California Exchange Saloon, prints "Surprised" and "A Drop Too Much" from the saloon, original account book, and various other documents, including his liquor licenses. The Frank Henderson, Kalamazoo, Michigan, fraternal sword has a 28 1/2 inch blade etched "F. S. Fritter" and a "F. S. Fritter" etched scabbard. The rattan wrapped sword cane features a 16 3/4 inch blade. The whiskey decanter is marked "Old Reserve/D/Whiskey/Especially Distilled for/F. H. Fritter". His son Francis Hancock Fritter (1880-1959) worked with him in the saloon business. Tom Power's display of the revolver and Fritter collection won the "Best Single Weapon Manufactured After 1898" award. The collection was purchased by Brig Pemberton in 1997. Also included is a star shaped sheriff's badge marked as for a sheriff of Zapata County, Texas, with "BOB HAYNES" inscribed on the back. Robert Anderson Haynes (1860-1920) was a Texas Ranger and Zapata County Sheriff. Fielding "Frank" Stafford Fritter's obituary indicates he was born in Virginia in 1827, stood 6 ft. 2 in. tall, and was "built as neat as men ever grow." His biography is explained in three binder of research and original documents. He went west as a '49er, and then came to Brackett (later Brackettville), Texas, in the 1850s. He is recorded as a Confederate private in Company A of Baird's Regiment of Texas Cavalry (4th Regiment Arizona Brig. Showalter's Regiment) during the Civil War. The unit, commanded by John S. "Rip" Ford, famously won the Battle of Palmito Ranch on May 12-13, 1865, more than a month after the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia. After the war, he worked as a stove cutter, merchant, farmer, and stockman before serving four terms as Kinney County sheriff starting in 1878. The nearby U.S. Army post Fort Clark was home to the "Buffalo Soldiers" and Black Seminoles. The 1870s and 1880s were a tough time in Kinney County. Since it borders Mexico, the lawmen had to deal with criminals, including murderers, and hostile Native Americans fleeing across the border beyond their jurisdiction. After his work as a lawman, he was the proprietor of "The California Exchange", a saloon in Brackettville, the county seat of Kinney County. He was also an active Mason as demonstrated by the sword and mason certificate included. Shortly after this revolver was made, in the fall of 1905 Fritter was "stricken with paralysis," but was slowly improving and able to walk about before the years end. In 1913, his son Dan A. Fritter was arrested in San Antonio for the murder of Roy Wroten after shooting him three times, but he was evidently released shortly thereafter and later worked for the government. F. S. Fritter died in 1915 at the age of 88 and left behind a large family, including seven children. Many of his descendants still live in Brackettville, Texas, today.

Manufacturer: Colt

Model: Single Action Army

BBL: 5 1/2 inch round

Gauge: 45 Long Colt

Finish: nickel

Grips: pearl

Serial Number257635

Class: Curio & Relic Handgun

B) U.S. Springfield Model 1884 Trapdoor Rifle This rifle was manufactured in early 1886 and is noted as having been kept loaded in F. S. Fritter's home. It has a blade front sight, Buffington rear sight, "V/P/eagle head" proof marks, "P", and "A" at the breech end of the barrel; "US/MODEL/1873" on the breech block, the federal eagle design and "U.S./SPRINGFIELD" on the lock, and "US" marked buttplate.

Manufacturer: Springfield Armory U.S.

Model: 1873

BBL: 32 5/8 inch round

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 45-70 Government

Finish: blue

Serial Number320659

Class: Antique

  • Condition: A) Exceptionally fine with crisp engraving and markings, 85% plus untouched original nickel plating with some slight flaking and brown patina mainly on the cylinder, strong original nitre blue on the screws, and fairly minimal overall wear considering its age. The grips are excellent with attractive natural iridescence and a distinct raised relief steer head carving. Mechanically excellent. The holster is fine with a small hole worn at the toe and otherwise fairly light wear. The swords and display items are generally good with moderate wear from age and storage, including a loose grip and damaged veneer on the cane sword and some flaked plating on the fraternal sword's scabbard. B) Very good overall as period refinished with half of the blue remaining, gray and brown patina on the balance, light oxidation, some old chips and slivers absent from the stock, and mild wear. Mechanically excellent. This is a truly impressive historical archive from a fascinating Texas Confederate, sheriff, and saloon owner.

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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