Description
There are engraved Colts… and then there are engraved Colts by George B. Spring.
This exceptional 3rd Generation Colt Single Action Army represents the height of late-20th-century Colt Custom Shop artistry. Finished in deep Colt Royal Blue and chambered in the timeless .45 Colt, this revolver was factory-supplied and subsequently master-engraved and gold-inlaid by George B. Spring, one of Colt’s most respected modern engravers.
The engraving is nothing short of extraordinary. Nearly every visible surface is adorned with 24-karat gold inlaid, intertwined scrollwork, executed with remarkable depth and fluidity. The barrel carries an elegant gold scroll along the top flat, while the cylinder is fully embellished with bold, sweeping gold inlay that wraps each flute in continuous motion. The frame, backstrap, trigger guard, and hammer are richly engraved, with gold accents and finely detailed background treatment that creates dramatic contrast against the high-polish Royal Blue finish.
The result is a revolver that feels alive in the hand, light catching the raised gold, shadows settling into the deep scroll cuts, every angle revealing new layers of detail.
The revolver is fitted with a one-piece smooth Mother-of-Pearl grip, which perfectly complements the gold inlay and lends a refined elegance to the traditional SAA silhouette. Gold-finished screws and accents complete the presentation, reinforcing the cohesive artistic vision throughout.
Accompanying the revolver is a remarkable documentation package, including:
- Colt factory letter confirming shipment in “white” for engraving
- Letter from George B. Spring detailing the engraving, finish, and exhibition history
- Period correspondence between Spring and the original owner
- Historical context tying the revolver to its display at the 1999 Colt Collectors Association Show
According to the included letters, the revolver was engraved in Spring’s studio and later shown publicly before entering a distinguished collection. This level of documented provenance significantly elevates the revolver beyond decorative artistry; it becomes a traceable piece of Colt Custom Shop history.
George Spring’s association with Colt spanned decades, and his work represents one of the last great eras of traditional American factory engraving. His scroll is unmistakable: confident, balanced, and deeply cut, with gold laid in so cleanly it appears to have been poured into the steel.
This is not simply a factory-engraved SAA.
It is a documented, master-engraved example by one of Colt’s premier artisans, chambered in the cartridge that built the West.
For the advanced Colt collector, this revolver sits at the intersection of craftsmanship, documentation, and modern Custom Shop legacy, a piece that will stand comfortably in any serious Single Action Army collection.
