Tagged with Colt Single Action Army Archives

The Jet Set Engraver, Kelly Laster

Kelly Laster wakes at 3 a.m. in a Dallas hotel, pours coffee, and starts cutting steel, all while staying on Portugal time so the jet lag never catches him. A jeweler who taught himself to engrave firearms and refined the craft in Italy, he’s turned Texas cattle brands into single action revolvers that collectors chase, which makes him the world’s first jet set cattle brand gun engraver.

Michael Graczyk June 12, 2026

The Colt Single Action Army and the Modern Double-Action Revolver

The Colt Single Action Army and modern double-action revolvers differ fundamentally in action operation and cylinder access. Understanding those differences also helps collectors identify the Colt’s three production generations.

Michael Graczyk April 29, 2026

Original Boxes and Accessories in Collectible Firearms

A cardboard box and a few pieces of paper can add thousands of dollars to a collectible firearm’s value. Understanding the packaging equation can mean the difference between a smart buy and a missed opportunity.

Michael Graczyk March 6, 2026

Buying a Colt Single Action Army at Auction

Buying a Colt Single Action Army requires careful examination of its production period, configuration, condition, and documentation. Factory records and verifiable provenance can help distinguish an original revolver from an altered or misidentified example.

Michael Graczyk October 2, 2025

David Wade Harris and the Texas Cattle-Brand Engraving Tradition

David Wade Harris is the last living master of Texas cattle-brand firearm engraving, a nearly century-old tradition that began with Cole Agee in the 1930s. Working alone with hand-forged tools and techniques unchanged for 300 years, the 62-year-old engraver represents the final link in a three-generation lineage that transforms Western firearms into historical archives of Texas ranching heritage.

Michael Graczyk September 30, 2025

Colt Single Action Army: A Collector’s Guide to Three Generations

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you — if you’ve got a Colt Single Action Army sitting in your safe or hanging on your wall, you’re holding a piece of American legend. The SAA has transcended being just a firearm and become a symbol, an icon, a piece of Americana that represents everything from rugged individualism to frontier justice to American ingenuity.

Michael Graczyk September 16, 2025

Investment-Grade Revolvers What Makes Them Worth Your Money

Collectible Revolvers: What Actually Determines Value

Look, I’ll be straight with you—there’s something magical about holding a really good revolver. We’re talking about investment-grade revolvers here, think of them as the vintage Ferraris of the gun world, except instead of sitting in some rich guy’s garage collecting dust, these beauties actually hold their value, and often get more valuable over time.

Michael Graczyk September 11, 2025

The Most Expensive Revolvers Ever Sold at Auction

Historic provenance can turn a collectible revolver into a multimillion-dollar artifact. These record-setting sales demonstrate the importance of ownership, documentation, rarity, condition, and craftsmanship.

Michael Graczyk July 8, 2025

Colt .45: Two Firearms, Two Cartridges, One Enduring Name

The name “Colt .45” commonly refers to two distinct firearms: the Single Action Army revolver and the M1911 semiautomatic pistol. Understanding their different designs, cartridges, and histories is essential for accurate identification and collecting.

Michael Graczyk March 11, 2025

The Jet Set Engraver, Kelly Laster

The Colt Single Action Army and the Modern Double-Action Revolver

Original Boxes and Accessories in Collectible Firearms

Buying a Colt Single Action Army at Auction

David Wade Harris and the Texas Cattle-Brand Engraving Tradition

Colt Single Action Army: A Collector’s Guide to Three Generations

Collectible Revolvers: What Actually Determines Value

The Most Expensive Revolvers Ever Sold at Auction

Colt .45: Two Firearms, Two Cartridges, One Enduring Name

Collectible Colt Firearms: Five Models in Context

Ten Landmark Firearms Every Collector Should Know

The Colt Single Action Army: From U.S. Service Revolver to Collecting Landmark