Wheelgun Wednesday: Nimschke’s “Black Beauty” Headed to Auction
The Colt Single Action Army is the definitive revolver. Custer made his last stand with it. Billy the Kid died by one, assuming he actually died in 1881. Teddy Roosevelt wielded it in battle. Patton led the Allies to victory with one. Now an extremely rare specimen is going up for auction through Rock Island Auction Company on May 2, 2025.
This isn’t just any .44-40 Single Action Army—this is Black Beauty, customized by master engraver Louis D. Nimschke for Mexican President Manuel Gonzalez, as evidenced by the golden MG monogram on the backstrap. It has since worked its way through a series of collectors.
Black Beauty is said to be Nimschke’s finest work and his final masterpiece, perhaps exceeding even Ulysses S. Grant’s Remington New Model Army revolvers, due to Nimschke’s rare use of gold inlays. “Gold inlays are rarely seen on Nimschke engraved firearms with few exceptions, including other masterpieces such as the stunning Manhattan Navy and the George L. Holmes buggy rifle,” the listing states.
Unique features of Black Beauty:
- Nimschke’s signature scroll engraving with finely beaded backgrounds
- Gold bands at the muzzle, breech, and cylinder
- Gold borders on the frame, top strap, and back strap
- Gold scrolls and a gold-inlaid monogram “MG” (for Manuel Gonzalez)
- Nimschke’s initials, L.D.N., are engraved on the barrel
Perhaps most importantly for collectors, Black Beauty includes the “pulls” from Nimschke’s scrapbook, which are incredibly rare.
Speaking of rare, Black Beauty is such an exceptionally rare piece that it was missed by Colt historian R.L. Wilson in his book, L. D. Nimschke Firearms Engraver. The story of Wilson, who died in 2016, is equally fascinating and sordid, but a tale for another time.
If you’re interested in bidding on Black Beauty, rest assured that it is in excellent condition, and even includes a holster:
Excellent with crisp engraving and markings, bright gold inlays, bright niter blue on the screw, hammer, and trigger, slight patination of the otherwise bright sides of the hammer, 90% plus bright original high polish blue finish, fading to an even brown patina mostly on the grip straps, faint drag lines on the cylinder, and generally only minimal age and handling related wear overall. The grips are also excellent and display distinct embossed designs, crisp checkering, light aged patina mainly on the butt, and minimal handling wear. The holster is also very fine with minor wear, including some verdigris on the silver. Black beauty is a once in lifetime, collection defining masterpiece.
Bidding starts at $650,000.
