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The accompanying Colt Archive Department letter states the revolver was manufactured on October 2, 1939 and sent to the shipping room on October 5, 1939. No other information was given as SAA records from 1933-1944 were lost. The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL” on the left side. The frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The trigger guard has the number “4” and Colt factory triangle proof. The cylinder has the S&W Special chambers which have no shoulder, but are tapered. The revolver wears a set of desirable original Colt factory medallion checkered diamond walnut grips with “2” etched on the back of both panels. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The assembly number “679” is marked on the loading gate and rear of the frame. The original Colt box is numbered to the gun and features an end label listing 5 1/2 inch barrel, “wood” grips, blue finish, and .38 caliber. Also includes a bore brush and “Special Instructions.” CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 99% plus original blue finish with minimal handling marks and a faint cylinder drag line. The frame retains 98% vivid original case colors with some fading on the high edges. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The otherwise fine, faded original factory box has tape repairs on the corners of the lid. An exceptional First Generation Pre-War Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .38 Special that would be nearly impossible to improve upon. Estimate: 18,000 - 25,000
Outstanding First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver in Extremely Rare .38 S&W Special with Original Box - Serial no. 356921, 38 Special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, checkered medallion walnut grips. This is an exceptional example of a pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .38 S&W Special. First Generations SAAs in .38 S&W Special are a rarity in Colt collecting. As explained by SAA expert and author David Brown, “This, surprisingly enough, is a rare caliber, having been made only on special orders....[T]he .38 Special calibers did not attain popularity until after World War II, after the Colt Single Action went out of production. Only twenty-seven Colt Single Action .38 S&W Specials were made: twenty-five with the Standard Frame, two in the Standard Frame Bisley Model” (see “The 36 Caliber of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 162). These revolvers were made only on special order and saw extremely limited production compared to other calibers. This extremely high condition example is worthy of the finest private or public collection. It is certainly the finest example we have ever had the pleasure of cataloging, and along with its Colt factory medallion checkered diamond walnut grips and original Colt factory box, this Colt will make a grand statement to any collection.
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Brown, only 25 Colt Single Action revolvers were produced in .38 S&W Special.
LOT 1121