Samuel Colt and his company developed guns as art objects—bespoke in their way. Let’s examine two examples of how Colt made guns into one-of-a-kind, bespoke objects, which helped solidify the company’s popularity. Today, we will look at Two Classic Colts.

Colt Firearms Were a Mix of Art and Function

Most firearms collectors with a cursory knowledge of gun history know that Samuel Colt developed a revolving mechanism allowing a gun to be fired repeatedly upon each squeeze of the trigger and subsequent percussion of the hammer without reloading. Colt based his eponymous Firearms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Conn., and Colt’s guns became among the world’s leading firearms in the late 1800s. (Earlier, the Colt Patent Arms Company was based in Paterson, N.J., though that venture did not achieve widespread success.)

Today, driving on the interstate through the city of Hartford, across from the Connecticut River, you’ll see an area once and still known as the Coltsville Historic District. Inching through the seeming-to-be-constant rush-hour traffic, you’ll witness the unmistakable blue “onion” dome painted with metallic stars atop the Colt Firearms Building. A reproduction of the telltale “Rampant Colt” is on the very top. Was this a gift from a Russian czar—as I was told when I was in college in Connecticut in the 1980s—to show his appreciation for Colt guns? Or was it really a marketing ploy—just a way of making the building noticeable and memorable, an idea from a marketing genius?

World Class Facility

Perhaps. The work inside was unquestionably among the best anywhere—the guns manufactured in the Hartford plant became world-famous. Another famous Hartford resident, Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), visited the factory in 1868 and wrote: “It comprises a great range of tall brick buildings, and on every floor is a dense wilderness of strange iron machines . . . It must have required more brains to invent all those things that would serve to stock 50 Senates like ours.” No question, it’s a building complex that’s replete with history. This is where the Two Classic Colts were made.

The Colt Single Action Army handgun cemented the company’s fame, which grew throughout the period of Western expansion. Although Samuel Colt died in 1862 in his late 40s, the year of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War, the Battle of Antietam, when about 22,000 died in Maryland, Colt guns (supplied to both the North and the South) were involved in the killing. Still, Colt firearms were the standard of the time—and not only revolvers.

Remarkable was that, so early in our country’s history, Colt and his managers were known for employing engravers to adorn the metal of his company’s guns, and many guns became attractive showpieces, bespoke in their hand-hewn manufacture and design. That’s important—many of these U.S. guns were made as presentation pieces, given as demonstrations of high respect and reverence to celebrities and politicians of the era. One of a kind. Desirable. Something to be proud of—yet still capable of completing their intended task. 

Gifts to Dignitaries

Samuel Colt thought that such a high-quality gun represented ultimate respect, and many were presented to dignitaries or leaders of the time. To produce such guns, Colt saw to it that some of the world’s best artisans worked at his company, producing astounding yet highly functional works of art. Through the lens of history, we now see that Colt was a master marketer, gaining exposure for his company and brilliantly orchestrating what we now call “branding.” He made Colt a known name—and the guns supported the reputation by getting the job done. This is the foundation of the Two Classic Colts.

One recipient of a special Colt rifle was the former president of Mexico for seven terms from 1876 to 1890 and 1885 to 1911, Porfirio Diaz Mori, who made his name known as a general who served during Mexico’s War of the Reform (1858 to 1860) and the French intervention in Mexico (1862 to 67)—a heady time in early Mexican history when the state was largely up for grabs and many were grappling for dominance. The French Emperor Maximillian occupied Mexican territory, and Diaz led a resistance against that occupation. Diaz then orchestrated a coup in 1876 with a group known as the “Cientificos” and dominated Mexico for about 35 years—a period of Mexican history known as the “Porfiriato.”

Porfirio Diaz Mori

Because of his methods and strategy for seizing power, Diaz is a dubious leader in most history books and ushered in decades of conflict in Mexico. He was known as a strong-arm leader and an agent for the wealthy (not unlike contemporary examples in modern politics) and despised by the rural poor or campesinos. Alas, his strong-arm policies and political ambitions led to the Mexican Revolution, and Diaz was forced to retire in 1911. Four years later, he died. 

The Colt Lightning Rifle presented to him is exquisite and pays homage to his position of power in colonial Mexico, consistent with the company’s policy of providing guns to recognized leaders. This is one of the Two Classic Colts. This medium-frame Lightning rifle was a wonder of the time and an example of Colt’s attempt at designing a pump-action carbine—with a nickel-plated finish and in .44-40 caliber, mounted with an exceptional Italian walnut buttstock with a checkered straight grip and carbine buttstock without trap. The left side of the receiver has a stud and ring with a safety on the trigger guard. The Rampant Colt trademark is on both sides, with vignettes of extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns with fine-pearled backgrounds. Diamond and dot patterns adorn this gun. 

Pump Action Rifle

Colt produced these pump-action rifles until the early 1900s, though they never caught on in popularity to overtake the more mainstream lever-action rifle. They were popular with sportsmen. They clearly competed against the pump-action rimfire rifles produced by Winchester Repeating Arms and Remington Arms. The pump action only adds to the allure of this Diaz gun.

As one of Two Classic Colts, it’s an impressive rifle, something to behold. With elaborate engraving by Cuno Helfricht and almost full coverage of the receiver and top tang. One engraved scene shows a horseman roping a buffalo. It also has the long-haired rider bears a close resemblance to Buffalo Bill Cody. The trigger plate and trigger bow are similarly engraved in foliate arabesque patterns and geometric patterns. The areas in front of and behind the loading gate recess have extremely fine diamond and dot patterns with a matching diamond pattern over the receiver ring.

Each side of the front edge of the receiver is engraved in a small shell pattern. The top tang is engraved with a fine pattern around the hammer slot. Again with foliate arabesque patterns down the tang. Helfricht personalized the gun, engraving “Porf. Diaz” on the bottom tang. From 1884 to 1902, Colt made about 90,000 similar pump-action firearms, but few were engraved so elaborately or had the space nickel plated as this gun does.

Colt Single Action with Ivory Grips

Wilbur Glahn got the assignment to make this gun bespoke. As a master engraver, he applied his talents to create a genuinely one-of-a-kind revolver. Glahn was one of Colt’s top engravers. Which means he was a pro among pros, one of the top gun engravers working at the time. That carries on a legacy consistent with early Colt guns of bespoke design. In fact, this gun is similar to Porfirio Diaz Mori’s Colt Lightning rifle. Glahn was influenced by master engraver Cuno Helfricht. The fine shading and crisp, sharp cuts in the engraving may have resulted from Glahn painstakingly imitating Helfricht’s work.

Helfricht was part of a well-regarded engraving legacy. His father and gunmaker Charles J. Helfricht created astounding stockwork. Helfricht, the father, trained in German and, coming to America, became a contractor for Colt. His son, Cuno, apprenticed with his father. He helped Colt in the company’s assent to the heights of gun production and their success with military contracts. Though Cuno was born in Germany, he grew up in Hartford and rose to the chief of engraving at Colt. 

Wilbur Glahn

Glahn joined the Colt company in 1919 and created many artistic works. The book Colt Engraving by renown researcher and Colt historian R. L. Wilson includes a section on Glahn and features gorgeous photos of many guns adorned in his hands. But none so fine as this revolver. Glahn was clearly the successor to Helfricht, carrying on the Colt tradition. 

According to James D. Julia Inc., in Fairfield, ME, where this gun was up for auction last October. The pearled background found in the engraving on the frame is consistent and even an evident influence of Cuno Helfricht. The leaf and vine patterns on the top strap of the revolver and the arabesque patterns. They are similar to Helfricht’s work. 

Two Classic Colts

When this gun was at auction, it was accompanied by a letter from Colt historian M. S. Huber. It identified the revolver as .44 caliber with a barrel length of 5 ½-inches with nickel finish and ivory. It shipped to the Ellery Arms Co. in San Francisco, on May 9, 1921. The engraving covers about 50 percent of the gun. With extremely well-executed foliate arabesque patterns. Exquisite work by Glahn and a testament to the intrinsic artistry in Colt firearms.