Offered here is an absolutely stunning, magnificent, silver and gold plated Cuno Helfricht deluxe factory master engraved Colt First Generation Single Action Army revolver. The accompanying factory letter for this Helfricht masterpiece states it was shipped to Von Lengerke & Antoine, of Chicago, Illinois, on Halloween, October 31, 1908, and confirms the 5 1/2 inch barrel in .32-20, silver finish with gold plated cylinder, hammer, and backstrap, ivory grips with carved steer head motif, and factory engraving, as a 1 gun shipment. 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. For the period of Cuno Helfricht (through c. 1921) the total of factory engraved Single Action Army revolvers was approximately 2,550..." That leaves less than 500 for subsequent years leading up to World War II. Others estimate as many as 4,500 engraved First Generation Single Action Army revolvers, but that still accounts for only approximately 1.26% of production based on a total of 357,859, per production figures on page 25 of "Blue Book Pocket Guide for Colt Dates of Manufacture" (2008) by R.L. Wilson. This specific revolver is pictured on p. 210-211 of "Colt Pistols" by Wilson, where he describes it as "By Cuno A. Helfricht personally and one of the finest examples of his artistry, S.A.A. No. 305457 has survived since its 1908 production date with full silver plating, and much of the cylinder, hammer, and gripstrap plating of gold. Photographs present the distinct styling found in Helfricht's favored handgun scroll, all the more plainly observed due to the plated finishes." The revolver had a different set of grips with medallions as pictured in the book. These Helfricht engraved arms are highly prized by today’s collectors, especially those with additional special features such as two-tone gold and silver plated finishes and relief carved grips, both of which are featured on this highly attractive example. The revolver showcases high quality factory scroll, floral, and wavy line engraving from Master Engraver Cuno A. Helfricht, the head of Colt’s engraving shop for a nearly 50 year span from 1871 to 1921. During his tenure with Colt, Helfricht saw the transition from percussion to cartridge firearms and a rapidly growing market for engraved firearms. At the height of the firearm engraving fad, Helfricht oversaw a shop of six engravers. By the turn of the century, experts believe that Helfricht did most of the work himself with the help from one to two assistants. Helfricht's successor's included famed Colt engravers Wilbur Glahn and William Gough. No one knew the lines of the Single Action Army better than Helfricht, and this Peacemaker certainly proves it! The engraving is predominantly flowing scroll patterns with beaded background, along with a floral blossom and cross hatching on the right side of the frame, fan pattern on the recoil shield and top of back strap, “X” patterns on the back strap, and wavy line motif on top of the ejector rod housing. The right ivory grip panel is carved with a wonderful raised relief steer head. Very few Single Action Army revolvers left the factory with hand carved grips. The factory gold and silver plated finish is another rare special order feature. The factory engraving, two-tone finish, and relief carved stocks make for an extremely rare combination of features for a piece of Colt artistry that is high prized by collectors. It also features a blade front sight, the one-line Colt Hartford barrel address, "32 W.C.F." in a banner on the left at the breech, the two-line patent date markings in a panel followed by the encircled Rampant Colt trademark on the left side of the frame, the triangular "VP" proof and "6" on the left side of the trigger guard, assembly number “355” on the loading gate, and matching full serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, and butt. The factory engraving, silver and gold plated finishes, steer carved on the right ivory grip, combined with it's exceptional condition places this jaw dropping Single Action Army among the most elite of all collectible Colts. Provenance: The R.E. Hable Collection; The Nick Shannon Collection