A Big Bore w/ a short barrel. An Engraved Colt SAA Sheriff's model revolver

Hello all,

I thought to share with you the story of one of my favorite Big Bores, an Engraved Colt Single Action Army Sheriff's Model revolver. As you know from my previous posts, I love guns with stories to tell.

This Colt is one of the rare 2nd Gen Sheriff's models of which only 503 were produced. These were commissioned by Centennial Arms Corp., Chicago, Illinois, in 1960. The Colt Factory letter lists this gun as sent to them on October 13th, 1960, in a 200 gun shipment. Gun is listed as a 3" .45 caliber with blued finish, stocks are not listed.

These were the first and only Sheriff's models made by Colt since the First Generation production ended, and the only Sheriff's models made during the 2nd Generation period. Centennial Arms sold these guns for $139.95 in the early 60's.

The Colt Factory letter includes additional information telling that the gun was returned to the Factory in Feb. 1979 with a work order for Type B Engraving in Oak Leaf Style, with "Willie P. Dorman" in Script on Backstrap, Silver Medallion Ivory Grips, and finished in Full Silver Plate.

The Gun was Engraved by the famous Colt Master Engraver Howard Dove. "H. DOVE ENGR 1979" is stamped on the left side of the back strap under the left grip. I have the original copy of the work order from Colt Industries to Ace Pawn Shop, (a business owned by Mr. Dorman) listing this gun by serial number and ordering the Custom Work. The Ace Pawn Shop work letter lists all this in detail on their invoice and today the gun remains in the same configuration as when it was shipped back to Willie Dorman in 1980. The Custom work cost $1,206.34 and took 14 months to complete. That would equal about $3,875.00 of Custom work on a $450.00 gun in 2018 dollars.

In addition, this Gun appears in the First Edition of Don Wilkerson's book; "The Post-War Colt Single Action Revolver." The gun was also featured in an article in the April 1987 Guns Magazine, page 44, by the Famed gun writer Robert O'meara. This gun is also pictured in a second article written by O'meara for the Australian Shooters Journal, June, 1993, page 46.

Fortunately, copies of both articles, a copy of Wilkerson's book picture, O'meara's Color photos, and all the original paperwork have been preserved by the several owners over these last 50+ years. Several former owners' hand written notes and documentation tell interesting tid-bits of the gun's History. Notes, letters, and the photos from O'mera to one of the former owners have also been preserved. One of the hand written records recounts a 1-hour conversation that a new owner had with the engraver, Howard Dove, where Howard tells him this was the "First" and "Only" time he engraved "Oak Leaves and Acorns" on a gun. Howard went on to say that when Willie Dorman received the Customized revolver, after waiting 14 months, he returned the revolver back to the Colt Factory because his name was spelled wrong; "Dolman" instead of "Dorman". Howard said it was because of a secretarial error. Howard went on to tell that the incorrect name had to be buffed away, and then he re-engraved the name with the correct spelling, and then had it re-silver plated a second time. This inconvenience to Willie was compensated by a 17% discount shown on the final billing.

Notes by one of the former owners states that he had a conversations with Willie Dorman in 1993 when Willie was 57 years old. His hand written note states that Willie acquired the gun by trading a Winchester lever action rifle in 218B caliber. That man with whom he traded was the famous "Carbine Williams". (see link) The gun remains un-fired to this day. Its in new condition, with only the tarnish of time patina being added over the years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Marshall_Williams

Thanks for a great story. I have always enjoyed stories of single piece guns...in particular with Colts, Winchesters and doublerifles.

Merry Christmas.

Hello jens poulsen,

Thanks for the reply.

A Merry Christmas to you also.

Great little gun and great story.

Hello twobobbwana,

Thanks for the reply.

As a Christmas present to "myself" I cased the gun for display.

Very nice.

Hello p dog shooter

Thanks for the reply.

This Howard Dove engraved sheriff's model is also pictured on page 58 and again on page 136, in Doc O'Mears's "Colt SAA" book. Doc mentions that this was the only revolver that Howard Dove engraved with the Oak Leaves and Acorns pattern.