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LOT 1172
Excellent Documented Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver in Scarce .38 Long Colt with Original Box and Factory Letter - Serial no. 327883, 38 LC cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Colt introduced the .38 Long Colt caliber to its line of SAAs in 1886, and it is a highly sought after chambering for today’s collectors. As explained by Colt historian and author David Brown, “The comparatively small production of this caliber makes these guns hard to find, and they
are prized by collectors. Specimens in mint condition are extremely rare.” Before 1914 Colt produced only 1,011 standard SAAs
chambered in .38 LC (“The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 170). This high condition example comes with a
factory letter that confirms it was sold to Howell Shingle Co. of Portland, Oregon, and shipped on December 9, 1913,
to Marshall-Wells Hardware Co. with a dealer location in Portland, Oregon. Interestingly, it goes on to list all the
other dealer locations of this company. This was a single gun shipment. The factory letter confirms the 4 3/4 inch
barrel in .38 Colt and blue finish with type of stocks not listed. The barrel has the two-line Colt Hartford
address on top and is marked “38 COLT” on the left side. The frame carries the standard two-line patent date marking followed by a Rampant Colt on the left side. The trigger guard is stamped with the Colt factory triangle proof and the number “1.” Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap. The matching partial serial number “7883” is marked on the back of both grip panels. The matching assembly number “733” is found on the loading gate and back of the frame. Includes the original box and bore brush. The matching number box carries the correct period label listing the 4 3/4 inch barrel, “rubber” grips, blue finish, and .38 “Colt cartridge” caliber. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% plus bright original high polish blue finish with high edge wear and light cylinder drag lines. The hammer and frame retain 98% vivid original case colors. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. The repaired box is fine. Mechanically excellent. A high condition Colt SAA in highly desirable .38 LC well deserving of the finest collection.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000