Description
Some revolvers are beautiful. Others tell a story. These two — both engraved by Colt Master Engraver Howard Dove — manage to do both in a way that’s almost poetic.
1. Colt New Frontier Sheriff’s Model – “JUSTICE No.1”
This Colt New Frontier Sheriff’s Model Revolver in .38 Special is a showcase of artistry and American symbolism. The royal blue finish, paired with fire-blued screws, trigger, and cylinder pins, gives it a depth of color that shifts with the light — subtle, elegant, unmistakably Colt. The revolver bears the custom serial number “JUSTICE No.1,” confirmed by an official Colt factory letter, anchoring it firmly in documented history.
Howard Dove’s engraving transforms this revolver into a storytelling piece. His flush gold inlays and type ‘B’ American scrollwork flow across the frame like liquid gold. A judge’s gavel is delicately inlaid on the loading gate, while Lady Justice, blindfolded and holding her scales, graces the recoil shield. Thirteen engraved stars tie the piece to America’s founding ideals, balancing symbolism with craft.
Delivered to Universal Firearms Ltd. on September 26, 1987, the revolver comes housed in a double ebony presentation case, complete with its original correspondence and documentation. In near-mint condition, with over 99% of its royal blue finish intact, it remains as functional as it is breathtaking — a testament to Dove’s mastery and Colt’s legacy.
2. Colt Single Action Sheriff’s Model – “FREEDOM No.1”
Its counterpart, the Colt Single Action Sheriff’s Model Revolver in .357 Magnum, carries the serial number “FREEDOM No.1.” Like its twin, it gleams in royal blue, detailed with fire-blued accents and ornate engraving by Howard Dove. The Liberty Bell shines in gold on the loading gate, while the recoil shield bears an Eagle and Shield motif, framed by thirteen stars and the powerful inscription “LIBERTY OR DEATH.”
The scrollwork and flush gold leaf inlays continue across the backstrap and trigger guard, tying every surface into one unified expression of craftsmanship and patriotism. Retaining over 99% of its original finish, this revolver remains pristine, mechanically perfect, and visually stunning.
Each of these revolvers represents a union of art and heritage — a tribute to America’s ideals of freedom and justice, immortalized in steel and gold. Together, they stand as one of the most extraordinary matched pairings in Colt’s modern history.
