Editing Colt Single Action Army (section)

==Engraving==
[[File:Colt Factory engraved.JPG|thumb|right|Factory engraved SAA by Cuno Helfricht, shipped 1893 to E. J. Post & Co. Albuquerque NM]]
[[File:Colt SAA, Ivory stocks.jpg|thumb|First generation Colt SAA with carved ivory stocks]]
Colt engraved about one percent of its first-generation production of the Single Action Army revolver, which makes these engraved models extremely rare and valuable with collectors.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|pages=148–151}} Engraved pieces were often ordered by or for famous people of the day, including lawmen, heads of state, and captains of industry.<ref name="Wilson3" /> This tradition began with the founder, [[Samuel Colt]], who regularly gave such examples away as a means of publicity for Colt.

Colt employed a number of engravers, many of whom were trained artisans who emigrated from Europe.<ref name="Wilson3">Wilson (1995) p. 200</ref> These artisans, such as Gustave Young, Cuno A. Helfricht, Rudolph J. Kornbrath and [[Louis Daniel Nimschke]], were known for inlaying gold, silver, and precious stones in their work. Many of these engraved pieces were adorned with stocks made of ivory or pearl, with engraving and inlays as well.<ref name="Adler2011">{{cite book|last=Adler|first=Dennis|title=Guns of the Civil War|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ffy-V60WHNkC&pg=PA265|year=2011|publisher=MBI Publishing Company|isbn=978-1-61060-140-5|page=265}}</ref>

About 400 of the Second Generation Colt Single Actions were factory-engraved by Colt. The factory engravers of the period were Alvin Herbert, Earl Bieu, Dennis Kies, Robert Burt, Steve Kamyk and Leonard Francolini. One of the most sought-after engravers who have worked on Colt revolvers was Alvin White and the shop of A. A. White Engravers.<ref name="OutletPublishing1988">{{cite book |last1=Tanner |first1=Hans |title=Guns of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jigcE0zw1MEC|year=1988|publisher=Random House Value Publishing|isbn=978-0-517-22518-9|pages=70–71}}</ref>