Colt Pair with Serial Number Zero from the Colt CEO Collection of George Strichner
Guns International #: 100441024 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Colt Revolvers - Commemorative - Pairs of Revolvers
Seller's Information
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Seller: Gunsbysally
Company: Guns by Sally
Member Since: 5/1/09
State: Pennsylvania
Country: United States
Total Number of Listings: 211
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
****** NO RETURNS ***** SOLD AS IS *****
Payment Types Accepted: Money order personal check Mastercard Visa
Description:
ATTENTION: This is the last week for these guns. They are selling on . If you want them, you know what to do.
Guns by Sally-always the best for less. We are deeply honored to offer this exceptionally rare opportunity for the Colt collector to own not one, but 2 guns from the George A. Strichner collection. He was hired as president of Colt Industries in 1962, and was appointed Chairman in 1963. He was much responsible for one of Colt's many turnarounds in its storied history, and his tenure was very colorful. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Custom Shop in 1976. Back to the guns. I was aware that a major Colt collector had these guns, but I never thought he would part with them. What changed his mind was that he heard tell of a Colt collector that offered 25 thousand dollars for a 1st year Anaconda with a 3 digit serial number. Seeing as how Colt made thousands of these revolvers, my collector felt his guns would be worth twice that much. He wanted to first offer them to his friends and fellow collectors on the Colt forum. However, he was unable to do that since he did not have enough posts. Members, please mention this on the forum. So, he selected me to consign them on Guns International. They are the Santa Fe Trail and Fort Larned models, made especially for the Colt Chairman, both with serial number 0. Collectors are always seeking that serial number 1, and Mr. Strichner realized the only thing better than 1 is zero. Many of his collection were serialized this way, and several can be viewed at the Autry Museum . R.L. Wilson was a personal friend and business associate, and research states: In collaboration with George A. Strichman, late Chairman of the Board of Colt Industries, Wilson organized the Colt Industries Museum Collection (1972-85), as well as Chairman Strichman’s own 170-piece Colt collection. Both arms groups are now featured exhibits at the Autry National Center of the West – comprising the finest and best balanced museum collection of Colt firearms in the world. Much of the enthusiasm for finely engraved 2nd Generation Colts was created in 1980-81 by then-Colt Industries chairman, George A. Strichman, who commissioned the most elaborately embellished and costly 2nd Generation models of all. He challenged Al De John's Colt factory engravers and the staff at American Master Engravers to do their best work. The result was a remarkable collection of guns which were the inspiration for Colt Custom Shop limited editions. Most of the Strichman collection is now part of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles, California. Many of them can also be seen in 'Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas, A Collector's & Shooter's Guide', available from Blue Book Publications, and in Wilson's 'Colt, An American Legend'. Wilson was commissioned by Colt Industries Chairman George A. Strichman to build gold inlaid revolvers for Soviet Union Chairman Leonid Brezhnev, for publisher Malcolm Forbes and for the original talk show host, Barry Gray (WMCA, New York). Gray, who interviewed more than 10,000 celebrities over his 40-year career, began collecting Colt Single Action Army revolvers after having Wilson on his show to discuss The Colt Heritage. They became fast friends, and Gray became an advocate on behalf of firearms ownership (and collecting), inviting Wilson back for further appearances, as well as other firearms enthusiasts, often brought to Gray’s attention by Wilson. Present that day for the presentation cased Colt Python to Gray was Colt Industries’ President, David Margolis, who would eventually be involved in sale of the Colt Industries’ arms collection to the Autry Museum. George Strichner stepped down in 1984, and died in 1989. The Colt Collection was sold in 1985, and somehow these guns escaped shipment to the museum. They are in excellent condition, with only the most minor handling and storage wear. Unturned and unfired, they have always been tethered. The factory production boxes, one set of literature, and numbered Strichner collection tags are included. It is interesting to note that sources for Colt production often list 501 guns made for each of these commemorative revolvers. That is, 1 through 500, plus these zero guns. This listing will run for no more than 1 month. If they are not sold, they go back into the safe. Reasonable offers will be considered. If you believe you are the ultimate Colt collector, step forward and claim your prize. Good luck, gentlemen!
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes