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According to "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army
Revolver" by Graham, Kopec and Moore, only 163 Colt Single
Actions were sold to the British Purchasing Commission.
LOT 3188
Historic Documented World War II “Battle of Britain” Colt First Generation Single
Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter - Serial no. 355616, 38 Special cal., 7 1/2 inch
round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Army revolver was part
of an order for 163 single actions by the British Purchasing Commission that was shipped
to Britain. 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 184 and Keith Cochran’s “Colt Peacemaker
British Model” on page 150. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was sold to
the British Purchasing Commission and shipped to Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New
Haven, Connecticut on June 18, 1940 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 caliber, nickel finish and
type of stocks not listed. In “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver,” the authors
identified only 36 “Battle of Britain” guns chambered in .38 Special and 63 guns in all calibers
finish in nickel (page 182). The revolver lacks any British proofs which is not uncommon for a
“Battle of Britain” SAA. “A few revolvers escaped the English proofing process,” explained the
aforementioned authors, “but most received stampings of some type; apparently no standard
pattern for proofing or other markings was established” (183). Brig Pemberton purchased the
revolver in 1966 from Phillip G. Levitt at a cost of $2,000.
The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38
SPECIAL” marked on the left side. The frame carries the two-line patent dates marking
followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with the number “4”
along with the Colt triangle proof. Each grip panel is numbered to a different gun. Matching
serial numbers are found on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The Colt black box has
the revolver’s serial number written above “WRA Co” in pencil on the underside and lacks end
labels. 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. As noted in “A Study of the Colt Single
Action Army Revolver.” No other revolver in history has been asked to defend so much for so
long--beginning with the Indian Wars of the 1870s through World War II” (182).
CONDITION: Very fine, retaining 95% original nickel finish with numerous scattered dings
and scratches. The oversize replacement grips are very fine with overall crisp checkering.
Mechanically excellent. The box is fine with separated lid corners.
Provenance: The Phillip G. Levitt Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN A STUDY OF
THE COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER
BY GRAHAM & KOPEC & MOORE
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