Colt Single Action Army Consecutive Pair Factory Class D Master Engraved by Jan Gwinnell

Most collectors spend years chasing a single factory-engraved Single Action Army. This is a matched pair, cut by the same hand, finished alike, and tied together by consecutive numbers. That last part is what changes the conversation. Colt engraved plenty of presentation guns over the years, but pairs that left Hartford together and stayed together are a different animal.

Both revolvers carry Factory Class D coverage by Jan Gwinnell, one of Colt's master engravers. The scrollwork runs deep across the frame, barrel, cylinder, and grip straps, flowing English scroll with tight backgrounds and a rampant colt worked into the recoil shield area. Look closely at the two side by side and the patterns mirror each other, which is exactly the point of commissioning a pair. The work is even and confident, the kind that only comes from years behind the burin.

The finish is bright silver plate, polished to a mirror that throws the engraving into relief. Each gun wears fleur-de-lis checkered ivory grips with that warm cream tone that pairs naturally against the shine. The barrels read COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 45, with the September 19, 1871 and later patent dates stamped clean on the left side of the frame. The four click action works as Colt intended.

Provenance is where this set earns its keep. The pair is documented in Don Wilkerson's Colt reference, and it ships with both original factory boxes, a Colt factory letter, and a custom glass-top wooden Colt display case with a soft grey interior. The case carries the etched Colt logo and a brass escutcheon.

For the collector who already owns good single examples, a consecutively numbered, factory master-engraved pair in matching dress is the next tier up. You are not buying two guns here. You are buying one commission that happens to come in two pieces.