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LOT 1132
Exceptional Scarce Dual Caliber Colt Single Action Army Revolver in .44
Russian and 44 S&W Special with Factory Letter - Serial no. 354611, 44 Russian
S&W special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber
grips. Manufactured in 1934. The revolver is chambered for the rarely encountered
.44 Russian/.44 S&W cartridge. “The Book Of Colt Firearms” by Sutherland and
Wilson states that only 506 Colt Single Action revolvers were chambered for the
.44 S&W Special cartridge and 154 in the 44 Russian cartridge which were added in
1890 and 1889 respectively. After January 10, 1913, all 44 Russian chambers would
take the 44 Russian and 44 S&W Special cartridge. The barrel marking was changed
accordingly and an undetermined number of Single Action Army revolvers were
marked with the dual caliber designation. The top of the barrel is marked with the one-line address and the left side “RUSSIAN
AND/S&W SPECIAL 44”. The left side of the frame is marked with the two-line, three patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt.
The matching serial number is marked on the bottom frame and on the right side of the front and back straps under the grips, on
the inside of each grip panel and the rear face of the cylinder is correctly numbered “11”. The matching assembly number “571” is
marked on the right rear of the frame and on the loading gate. The revolver had the standard Colt blue finish with casehardened
hammer and frame, blade front and frame notch rear sights, and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt
at the top. The accompanying factory letter verifies the caliber (44 S&W), barrel length, blue finish, grips as “Not Listed” and that it
was shipped as 1 to Edwards & Walker, Portland, Maine on May 22, 1934.
CONDITION: Excellent. The revolver retains 98% plus original blue and casehardened finish with some minor wear on the forward
end of the ejector housing and a drag line on the cylinder. The replaced grips have faded to brown and remain very fine with a
few minor dings and dents, and crisp checkering. The markings are crisp and clear. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 11,000 - 16,000
Colt Single Action Army
Revolvers with the Dual
.44 Russian/.44 Smith &
Wesson Special Caliber
Designation are Rare