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According to "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Graham, Kopec and Moore, of the 1,478 Colt Single Actions manufactured with long flute cylinders, only 626 were produced in 1913.
AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN A STUDY OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER BY GRAHAM, KOPEC & MOORE
LOT 1139
Outstanding Documented One of the Finest Known Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Very Scarce Long Fluted Cylinder in .41 Colt, Original Box and Factory Letter as Photographed in A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 330365, 41 Long Colt cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Colt introduced the .41 Colt caliber to its famed Single Action Army revolver line in 1885. Colt author David Brown passionately summarized the .41 Colt caliber’s alluring image as: “The .41s were favorites in the West among men who wanted something
a bit less husky than the .45 or the .44-40, yet something still dependable for man-stopping power at short ranges. The lawmen for the most part, clung to the bigger bores; but several famous outlaws are known to have liked the .41 Colts” (see “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army,” p. 146). Among First Generation Single Action Army revolvers, only 16,402 left the factory chambered for .41 Long Colt compared to 150,683 in .45 Colt, making it comparably scarce. Making this SAA even more desirable and rare is that it is factory documented as shipped in 1913 with a long fluted cylinder. The double action long flute cylinders are rare as Colt only
134 assembled 626 single action revolvers in 1913 (1,478 total from 1913-1915)
utilizing surplus cylinders from the Model 1878 revolvers per Graham, Kopec, and Moore on page 156 of “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver”. SAAs with the long fluted cylinder are rare and even rarer in high condition such as this example. In fact, this is one of the finest long fluted cylinder SAAs in existence. This SAA is well deserving of the finest private or public collections and stands as a benchmark in Colt collecting.
The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, Missouri, the Gateway to the West, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .41 caliber, blue finish, double action cylinder with long flute configuration, and type of stocks not listed. The long fluted cylinder is listed under “special features” in the factory letter. This was a
five gun shipment. The second, older included Colt factory letter (copy) from 1970 is addressed to noted Colt collector George S. Lewis, Jr. As one fellow collector put it, Lewis amassed “one of the classic Colt collections
of all time.” RIAC has had the pleasure of cataloging the George S. Lewis,
Jr. collection, including in this auction where you will find several of Lewis’ finest Colts. This phenomenal Colt certainly reaches Lewis’ discerning
taste in firearm collecting. The barrel has the two-line Hartford address on top and “41 COLT” on left side. The frame has the three-line patent date marking followed by a Rampant Colt. Matching serial numbers appear on
the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels (“0365”). The matching assembly number appears on the rear of the frame and loading gate. Includes the original Colt factory box numbered to the gun, “Proper Ammunition” leaflet, specials instructions, and bore brush. The revolver along with its box was pictured and identified in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” on page 161 where it is cited as “one of the two finest Long Flutes known” and from the George S. Lewis, Jr. collection. CONDITION: Excellent plus, retaining 97% plus bright original polished blue finish with some minor flaking mostly on the grip straps and ejector rod housing and partial cylinder drag lines. The hammer and frame
retain 99% original vibrant case colors. The grips are excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fair. As one of only two finest known fluted cylinder SAAs, this magnificent Colt Peacemaker will be a crown jewel to any SAA collection. If you are looking for the very best in condition and rarity this is it!
Provenance: The George S. Lewis Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 25,000 - 37,500