The “Black Beauty,” the finest, most coveted Colt Single Action Army in private hands leads an immense roster of high condition, beautifully embellished and historic firearms in Rock Island Auction Company’s May 2-4 Premier Auction in Bedford, Texas. The revolver has been part of the Brig and Louis Pemberton Collection for more than 20 years.

The company will also offer the largest-ever grouping of machine guns in the May sale.

Look for the May Premier Auction catalog online soon.

The “Black Beauty”

This spectacularly engraved and gold inlaid revolver is well-known and well-documented as part of R.L Wilson’s book, “L.D. Nimschke Engraver” among other publications but is being offered for the first time in several years since being acquired by the Pembertons. The Single Action Army was likely displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1889 before it was presented to former Mexican president Manuel del Refugio Gonzalez Flores.

Nimschke created a masterpiece with this Colt, ranking among earlier brilliant works that included Remington revolvers previously presented to Ulysses S. Grant and Alexander II of Russia. Where this gun differs from those presentation pieces is the extraordinary level of gold inlay complementing Nimschke’s finest interlacing scroll engraving and finely beaded backgrounds. An eagle head is featured among the scrolls on the left side of the recoil shield and the trigger bow has crossed banners similar to Grant’s Remington New Model Army revolvers. This extraordinary art object has gold popping from the blued finish at the at the muzzle and breech ends of the barrel and borders on the sides of the frame, top strap and backstrap as well as the cylinder, truly showing that “Not all art is framed.”

There is no understating the immense condition and embellishment of this Colt Single Action Army engraved by Master L.D. Nimschke that has been nicknamed “The Black Beauty.”

Nimschke’s Artistry

The “Black Beauty” is part of what could be described as a master class of Nimschke engraving offered in this auction. Among the firearms that received his attention includes an exhibition “bank note” engraved Winchester Model 1866 rifle that is one of Nimschke’s most recognizable works and also documented in Wilson’s book, “Winchester Engraving.” Its gold-plated receiver has floral scrolling on a punch dot background and a spectacular bust of Columbia, the female personification of the United States borrowed by the artisan from Civil War-era currency.

A rarity among fine firearms is a Marlin Model 1889 rifle with engraving attributed to Nimschke by Marlin expert William Brophy and shares similarities with Nimschke’s work shown in Wilson’s book about the engraver.  Likely an even greater rarity is Nimschke’s work on a silver and gold plated Colt Lightning medium frame saddle ring carbine. The gun features scroll engraving and beaded backgrounds and a relief engraved Rampant Colt on the left side of the frame. Hartley & Graham, at one time the largest firearms dealer in the United States, often utilized Nimschke to engrave Colts, and documents show the pump-action rifle was shipped to the company in 1888. A carbine with similar engraving previously sold by RIAC is identified as his work.

This rare documented Marlin Model 1889 is embellished by Master Engraver L.D. Nimschke. Available in May.

Elite Collections

Joining the masterful offerings from the Pemberton Collection in the auction are pieces from legendary collectors Charles Marx, Mac McCroskie, Andrew Singer, Robert M. Lee, Nick Shannon, Norman R. Blank and Greg Lampe. Among the pieces from these collections are a pinched frame Colt Single Action Army serial no. 14, a cased presentation Colt First Model Dragoon to general and future president Franklin Pierce, an extraordinary presentation cased deluxe factory engraved Colt Model 1861 Navy revolver, an early production “wedge over screw” Model 1851 Navy revolver with highly ornate engraving and an exceedingly rare Cuno Helfricht factory engraved blued/casehardened Colt Model 1877 “Rainmaker.”

The selection of sporting arms that will be available at the sale are topped by pieces from the Robert M. Lee Collection that include a pair of 20 gauge J. Purdey and Sons shotguns with engraved game scenes and gold inlays by Master Engraver Philippe Grifnee, a magnificent big five-themed game scene engraved Holland & Holland dangerous game double rifle by Master Engraver Phil Coggan in .577 Nitro Express and a stunning elephant engraved Purdey & Sons dangerous game double rifle by Master Engraver Rashid El Hadi in .600 Nitro Express. From Norman R. Blank’s collection comes a factory engraved Purdey & Sons self-opening sidelock shotgun by Master Engraver Ken Hunt depicting Sandro Botticelli’s iconic Renaissance painting “The Birth of Venus.” This spectacular piece won the Gold Medal Concors d’Elegance for fine guns in 2001.

This rare double action casehardened and factory engraved Colt Model 1877 Rainmaker, chambered in .32 caliber from the prestige collection of Charles Marx will be offered in the May Premier.

Historic Guns

A trio of documented Winchester Model 1873 “One of One Thousand” rifles are among the historic arms that will be on offer including an exceptional and extremely rare model that is factory engraved and silver inlaid that is the only known “One of One Thousand” chambered in .38-40 caliber and one featured in the James Stewart film “Winchester ‘73” that catapulted the gun to legendary status with a modern audience.

Rare Confederate revolvers from the Civil War will also cross the podium in May. An extremely rare and fresh to market T.W. Cofer percussion revolver, one of a surviving few from a production run of 86 to 140 in 1862 that was delivered to the 5th Virginia Cavalry, and a Dance & Brothers dragoon-type percussion revolver that was one of only a few hundred made from 1862 to 1865 in Columbia, Texas for the Confederacy, will be available.

This rare and iconic T.W. Cofer revolver, manufactured in Virginia in 1862 and issued to the 5th Virginia Cavalry, available in May.

From the World War 2 era comes a “National Treasure” model shop M1 Garand bearing serial no. 5 that was photographed in Billy Pyle’s “The Gas Trap Garand,” and an extremely rare Japanese Type 5 “Garand” that was among 125 reported made 1944-1945.

“Fast and Fancy” handgun history comes alive with the Montana-shipped Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police Model legendary handgunner Ed McGivern used to set a speed shooting world record. It will be available along with the target from that record-setting endeavor, as will a smooth bore Winchester Model 1873 documented as shipped to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Among the classic and desirable Winchesters in the auction is a factory shooting prize straight grip Deluxe “Forest & Stream Express” Centennial Model 1876 in .50-95 Express that is the first Express rifle in the U.S. Having already highlighted apex examples of Colt revolvers, others worth mentioning include a Rudolph Kornbrath engraved Deluxe Single Action Army, a Colt D Company Walker, the finest known early production New York engraved nickel and gold Colt Model 1871-72 Open Top, a one-of-a-kind silver banded and embellished Colt Paterson revolving “plains rifle,” and a William H. Gough factory-engraved exhibition quality Government Model with gold plated state seal inlaid grips presented to Florida Gov. John W. Martin by Connecticut Gov. John H. Trumbull will be available.

This one-of-a-kind Colt Paterson revolving “plains rifle” and a rare early production, serial no. 113 Patent “Colt Texas Paterson” No. 5 revolver will be available in May.

Stunning Sporting Arms

Items from the Robert M. Lee and Norman R. Blank Collection top the roster of sporting arms that will be available, but the breadth of high condition and engraved offerings is astounding. They include a consecutive pair of Factory Creative Art-signed fantasy-themed over/under shotgun Ivo Fabbri shotguns that draw on European Renaissance art, an exquisite factory engraved Boss & Co. sidelock over/under shotgun, a pair of factory Paul Chung signed and engraved Purdey & Sons sidelock over/under shotguns, a factory engraved Holland & Holland Royal hammerless ejector sidelock double rifle, a scarce Parker Brothers 28 gauge VHE Grade double barrel shotgun and an outstanding factory engraved Purdey & Sons single barrel trap shotgun by engraver Geoffrey Casbard.

This Holland & Holland sidelock ejector dangerous game-themed double rifle in .577 Nitro Express has engraving executed by Master Phil Coggan, and will be available in May.

More than 100 Machine Guns!

A DLO M58 belt-fed machine gun leads an extensive roster of more than 100 full-auto firearms available in May along with a Cadillac Gage Stoner 63 machine gun, M60 machine guns, World War 2-era German submachine guns, an early production Colt AR-15 select fire rifle, Thompson submachine guns and a factory original Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine gun. This is the largest-ever number of Class III items offered at one time at auction.

This DLO M58 belt-fed machine gun is an American-made version of the FN U.S. M240 machine gun, available in May.

Guns for Sale, This May

Whether you are seeking a truly magnificent piece to lead your collection, military weapons of the Civil War or World War 2, bespoke sporting arms, truly fascinating historic pieces or some fantastic Class III opportunities, Rock Island Auction Company’s May 2-4 Premier Auction offers firearms from a wide range of genres and eras. Be sure to visit us on Preview Day, May 1, to see and hold these amazing arms in person.