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According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by Brown, only 13 "Battle of Britain" Colt Single Actions were purchased by the British in this configuration
LOT 113
Outstanding Documented Historic “Battle of Britain” Colt Single Action Army Revolver -
Serial no. 355608, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, black hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1937 and is one of the 163 Colt Single Actions sold by Colt to the British Purchasing Commission in June 1940 to replace handguns lost during the evacuation of the British Army at Dunkirk in May 1940. According to “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by Brown on p. 28, only thirteen of the “Battle of Britain” revolvers were in .45 caliber with 5 1/2 inch barrels and nickel finish, and this revolver is identified by serial number in both Brown’s book and in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” by Graham, Kopec and Moore on page 182 as a “Battle of Britain” Single Action Army. The left shoulder of the back strap is stamped with the British Army “Broad Arrow” property mark above a Royal Arms Factory Enfield “Crown/E4/E” inspection mark. London “crown/GP” proofmarks are stamped on the cylinder over each chamber and on the right side of the frame below the cylinder. The underside of the barrel is stamped with post-war Birmingham nitro proofmarks. The revolver has a full nickel-plated finish with black checkered hard rubber grips embossed with the Rampant Colt. The knurling on the hammer spur is not bordered. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the one-line legend “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT U.S.A.” The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt two-line/three-date patent markings followed by the Rampant Colt. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number “213”. The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with the assembler’s mark “4” above the Colt “triangle/VP” proofmark. An “F” inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame and on the right side of the back strap and front strap underneath the grip. Inside both grips are etched with the full serial number. The partial serial number “08” is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver retains 97% plus of the original nickel-plated finish. Wear is limited to some very minor flaking on the left side of the barrel at the muzzle and on the face of the cylinder with some scattered and very minor storage marks. The grips are also excellent. The Colt markings and British proof and property marks are crisp. Mechanically excellent. This is an outstanding example of one of the last documented pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolvers manufactured with very desirable British “Battle of Britain” history. Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE
36 CALIBERS OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER BY BROWN