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LOT 3192
Excellent Colt First
Generation Single
Action Army Revolver
in Desirable .357
Magnum with Original Box
- Serial no. 356984, 357 Magnum cal., 5 1/ 2 inch
round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber
grips. Manufactured in 1939 and is one of only 625
standard frame first generation SAAs chambered in
.357 Magnum (see David Brown’s “The 36 Calibers
of the Colt Single Action Army,” page 182. Although
introduced in 1935 towards the end of first generation production, the .357
Magnum cartridge was popular, including with highway and law enforcement
agencies looking for a powerful cartridge that could with proper loads stop
a car by damaging its engine. The .357 Magnum was the last cartridge Colt
introduced to the first generation line of SAAs. This standout example features
a barrel with the one-line Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION
ARMY .357” on the left side. The left side of 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” above a Colt factory triangle proof. The
matching assembly number “762” appears on the loading gate and rear of the frame. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame and right side of the trigger guard, back strap under the grip panel, and back of both grip panels.
The last two digits of the serial number (“84”) are stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. The original Colt factory box is numbered to the gun.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 97% original blue and 98% casehardened finishes with slight thinning on the back strap, multiple noticeable cylinder drag lines, and a patch of pitting visible at the rear of a cylinder flute. The grips
are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is very good with an absent lid short side.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
LOT 3191
First Generation Colt Single Action Army
Frontier Six Shooter Revolver with
Factory Checkered Walnut Grips and
Factory Letter - Serial no. 328355, 44-40 CF cal.,
4 3/4 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish,
checkered walnut grips. The letter describes this
Colt Single Action Army revolver as: “Caliber: .44/40, Barrel
Length: 4 3/4”, Finish: Blue” and “Type of Stocks: Wood”. The letter states that serial no. 328355 was shipped
to E.H. Hunt (address unavailable) on February 11, 1914. The revolver has the Colt pre-WWI commercial blue finish on the barrel,
ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The hammer has
borderless knurling on the spur, and the ejector rod has the late oval head. The revolver has the very desirable special order checkered
walnut grips inlaid with silver Rampant Colt medallions. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the address “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co./HARTFORD
CT, U.S.A.” in two lines. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER .44-40” in one line. The caliber designation “44” is
stamped on the underside of the barrel just ahead of the frame. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/two-line patent
markings followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with the Colt “Triangle/VP” proofmark, and the assembler’s number “1” is
stamped on the left rear trigger guard bow. The serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match.
CONDITION: Very fine. The revolver retains 85% plus of the high polish blue and color casehardened finish. There is light edge wear on the muzzle and front of the ejector housing, and the balance
of the barrel and ejector housing have nearly all of the high polish blue finish. The cylinder has turn marks near the
stops and several spots of very light pitting over one chamber but retains 85% of the blue finish. The blue on the
back strap and inside of the grip is thin. The frame, hammer and loading gate have 95% of the casehardened finish
with vivid case colors. The markings and serial numbers are sharp. Mechanically excellent. The grips are excellent
with sharp checkering. This is an outstanding example of a Colt Single Action Army Frontier Six Shooter with rare
factory documented special order checkered walnut grips.
Estimate: 10,000 - 16,000
According to The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single
Action Army by Brown, only 625 standard frame
Colt Single Actions were produced in .357 magnum
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