Page 115 - 4092-BOOK3-FLIPBOOK

LOT 3123
Outstanding Historic Documented World War II “Battle of Britain” First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver
- Serial no. 357143, 45 Long Colt cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1940, the last year of production for the SAA revolver, and shipped to the United Kingdom.
This revolver was part of an order for 163 SAA revolvers by the British Purchasing Commission that was shipped from Colt on June 18, 1940. The revolvers were ordered by the British as an emergency replacement for small arms lost by the British Expeditionary Force during the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. The “Battle of Britain” revolvers were the last Colt SAA revolvers ordered under a military contract. This revolver is identified by serial number as a “Battle of Britain” SAA in “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver” on page 182.The revolver has a commercial blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and backstrap. The frame and loading gate have a casehardened finish and the trigger and hammer are blued. The sides of the hammer are polished. The revolver is fitted with two-piece, black checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval at the top. The left shoulder of the back strap is stamped with the British Government “Broad Arrow” property mark above a “Crown/E4/E” Enfield inspection mark. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the address “COLTS PT.F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in one line
and the left side is roll-stamped “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-
date in two-line patent markings followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with a “4” assembler’s mark above the Colt “VP/Triangle” proofmark. An “F” inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number “870”. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame in front of the trigger guard and the partial serial number “43” is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. This revolver has the distinction of being one of the last SAA revolvers manufactured by Colt before production ceased in 1940 as well as being one of the very historic “Battle of Britain” revolvers purchased the British for a last-ditch defense when faced with the imminent threat from a German invasion in the summer of 1940.
CONDITION: Excellent plus. The revolver retains 99% of the original blue and vivid original casehardened finish. The barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and backstrap show only light handling
marks. The cylinder has minimal turn
marks. The case colors on the frame and
loading gate are vivid. The hammer,
trigger and screws retain nearly all of
the niter blue finish. All of the markings
are crisp. The hard rubber grips have
faded slightly but remain in near mint condition. Mechanically excellent. This is an outstanding example of a historic documented “Battle of Britain” Colt SAA revolver in nearly new condition.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 18,000 - 27,500
113
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE 36 CALIBERS OF THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER BY BROWN
According to The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army by Brown, only 32 "Battle of Britain" Colt Single Actions were purchased by the British in this configuration