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LOT 141
Outstanding Colt Pre-War/Post-War Single Action Army .44 Special Revolver Shipped to Legendary Master Engraver John Rohner with Factory Letter - Serial no. 357532, 44 special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1940 and chambered in .44 Special. Per Colt expert and author David Brown, only 506 standard first generation Single Action Armies were chambered in .44 Special (see “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 100). Having its serial number factory applied in 1940, this is an example of a scarce pre-World War II Colt Single Action
Army revolver that was later assembled and finished after the war and kept at the factory. The pre-war/post-war Single Action Armies
are found in the 356,000 and 357,000 serial number range, many were used by Colt for advertising and
public relations purposes, and they have been thoroughly
discussed in several of the Colt Single Action books. Per Don Wilkerson, this is one of only six pre-war/post-
war SAA built in this configuration (5 1⁄2 inch barrel in .44 Special) out of a total production of just over 330 (see “Colt’s Single Action Army Revolver,” pages 100-101). When this gun shipped in 1961 it was one of only five
that Colt gifted as none were sold that year (page 36). The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was
shipped on April 25, 1961 to John R. Rohner of Iowa City, Iowa, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 Special, blue finish, and type of
stocks not listed. This was a single gun shipment. John R. Rohner was a well accomplished master engraver. In the firearms engraving community, John is known as the “Godfather of the American Engraving Renaissance,” having spurred the growth of the art by co-inventing the Gravermeister and co-founding GRS corporation. He influenced the spread of firearms engraving through articles he authored in the 1950s-1960s. He is noted in multiple sources for his passion for teaching engraving and introducing engraving to the masses. He was a Charter Member of FEGA when it
was founded in 1981. The barrel has the correct markings for a .44 Special SAA manufactured after 1931: the one-line Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44 SPECIAL” on the left side. Matching assembly number “357” appears on the back of the frame and loading lever. The matching serial number appears on the frame and right side of the trigger guard and back strap. CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 99% plus original blue and vivid casehardened finishes with limited handling marks. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The John Rohner Collection; The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 7,500 - 11,000
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by Brown, only 506 standard frame Colt Single Action Army revolvers were produced in .44 Special.
LOT 142
Excellent Colt First Generation Single Action
Army Revolver in Very Scarce .38 S&W Special with Original
Box - Serial no. 356981, 38 Special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber 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....
170
According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by Brown, only 25 standard frame Colt Single Action Army revolvers were produced in .38 S&W, and were made only on a special order basis.
[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 Calibers 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. Along with its original Colt factory box, this Colt will make a grand statement to any collection.
The revolver was manufactured in 1939 and the accompanying factory letter states there are no factory records for this particular Peacemaker. Single Action Army records from 1933-1944 have been 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 checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt at the top. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels. The matching partial serial number “81” appears on the rear cylinder face. The assembly number “758” 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, rubber stocks, blue finish, and .38 caliber. Also includes a bore brush. CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original blue finish showing mild thinning on the grip straps, scattered light edge wear, and a light cylinder drag line. The frame retains 97% original case colors. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with glue repairs and nearly all of the end label remaining. A fantastic pre-war Colt SAA revolver in rare and desirable .38 S&W special that will make a grand statement to any collection no matter how advanced.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500