May 18, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/18/2022
1938 Vintage Colt Single Action Army revolver, serial number 353306. 4 - 3/4" barrel with interesting dual caliber marking, .44 Russian and .44 S&W Special marked on left side of the barrel. Factory documentation lists the revolver as .44 S&W caliber. According to R.L. Wilson's book, "THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS" page 252 "TABLE OF PRODUCTION TOTALS BY CALIBER" only 24 pre-war Colt SAAs were chambered in .44 S&W, 154 were chambered in .44 Russian, and 506 chambered in .44 S&W Special. Author David M. Brown agrees with those same production quantities in his book "THE 36 CALIBERS OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY" however, Brown also discusses a .44 S&W Russian chambering with a total production of 12, all of which were London shipped. Subject revolver is blue with case hardened frame and hammer. 2-piece checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colt motif. Left side of frame marked with 2-line patent dates and Rampant Colt motif. Revolver is accompanied with a Colt Archival Letter dated July 7, 1965 signed by R.H. Wagner, Spare Parts Supervisor. Letter documents .44 S&W caliber, 4 - 3/4" barrel, blue finish. Shipped to Hampton's Hardware Co., Port Arthur Texas on February 16, 1938 in a shipment of 2 guns of the same type. Letter further comments: "We are unable to verify the calibre marking (dual calibers) on the barrel of your revolver as records are no longer available giving this information. It is our understanding that some Single Action Army Revolvers were marked in this manner, but we do not know how many." This exact revolver, s/n 353306, is pictured on page 173 of the definitive book, "A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER, THIRTY YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION" by Graham, Kopec, and Moore. CONDITION: Excellent+ with 95-97% bright original blue overall, a couple miniscule areas of light frosting found on breech/left side of the barrel and light thinning at the muzzle. Most all the original bright case color remains on the frame and hammer with light fading on the recoil shield. Unmolested screws with exception of 1 frame screw. Grips are excellent plus showing minimum wear. Bore is bright. Action is tight and crisp. Overall a near "benchmark" quality example in a rare and desirable variation. -MKS-