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LOT 134
Outstanding Documented Denver, Colorado, Shipped Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver in
Very Scarce Dual Caliber .44 Russian/.44 S&W Special with Factory Letter - Serial no. 342757, 44 Russian S&W
special cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. While Colt Single Action Army revolvers
were often chambered for the same cartridges as Winchester’s popular repeaters, they were not commonly chambered for
cartridges by Smith & Wesson, their main competitors in the handgun market. This revolver is one of the exceptions, and by
1930 Colt switched to marking these revolvers “44 SPECIAL” which removed any mention of Smith & Wesson from their revolvers.
It is one of only an estimated 506 Single Action Army revolvers manufactured for .44 S&W Special per “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army” by David M. Brown. This is an exceptional SAA chambered in a rare caliber. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver
was sold and shipped to Whitney Sporting Goods Co. of Denver, Colorado on February 28, 1922 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44 S&W, blue finish,
and type of stocks not listed. This was the only revolver of this type in the shipment. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard one-line
Hartford address while the rare “RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL” followed by “44” marking is on the left. The standard two-line patent date marking
and Rampant Colt are on the left of the frame, and “3/VP” is marked on the left of the trigger guard. The revolver wears a set of Rampant Colt
embossed checkered hard rubber grips. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels, and matching
assembly numbers appear on the loading gate and back of the frame. Included consignor records indicate
the revolver was purchased from M.R. Chafin in 1967 at a cost of $400. How times have changed!
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with minimal handling marks and faint
cylinder drag line. The hammer and frame retain 97% plus original case colors. The grips are also excellent
with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This dual caliber .44 Russian/.44 S&W Special Colt SAA is in
exceptional condition that will be hard to improve upon, making it a crown jewel in Colt collecting.
Provenance: The M.R. Chafin Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000
According to "The 36 Calibers of
the Colt Single Action Army",
only 506 Colt Single Action
Army revolvers were produced in
.44 Smith & Wesson Special.
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