Page 128 - 4094-BOOK1

LOT 118
Historic, Documented Special Order Factory
Inscribed, Consecutively Serialized Pair of
Nickel Finished First Generation Colt Single
Acton Army Revolvers with Matching Inscribed
Double Heiser Holster Rig Belonging to a FBI
Special Agent and Kentucky Law Enforcement
Official with Factory Letter -A) Colt Single
Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 357434, 357
Magnum cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, stag
grips. Offered here is a rare consecutively serialized
pair of Colt Single Action Army Revolvers built
for and factory inscribed to FBI Special Agent
Chester C. Smith. Per the accompanying
factory letter, this matched set was shipped
to the Sutcliffe Co. of Louisville, Kentucky,
on October 17, 1940, and the letter confirms
the 4 3/4 inch barrels in .357 Magnum, nickel finish,
3 1/2 lb. trigger pulls, and factory engraved back straps with the description of the engraving and type of stocks not
available. Both revolvers were special ordered with the original owner’s name and hometown factory engraved on
the back straps: “Chester C. Smith, Verda, Ky.” The factory inscription and shipment as a consecutive set make for a very
rare pair of pre-World War II Colt SAAs that is often missing from the most advanced collections. These Peacemakers were
carried by Smith in the accompanying highly fashionable floral tooled double Heiser holster rig. The inscription on the
back strap is repeated on the back of each holster as well as on the back of the belt. This holster rig is another custom order
made by Smith with the lettering likely done by Heiser. Without a doubt this double revolver holster rig set belonged to Chester
C. Smith. This rare pair is pictured and identified in “Doc” O’Meara’s “Colt’s Single Action Army Revolver: The Legend, the Romance & the
Rivals” on page 146 (note the revolvers had pearl stocks). Smith wore the revolvers in the Heiser holster rig as Grand Marshal of the Kentucky
Mountain Laurel Festival for 15 consecutive years. But the guns were not just for show: “They were used on one occasion to stop a charging
bear and were carried by [Smith] in his undercover law enforcement work for a federal agency,” wrote O’Meara. Chester had a long and
distinguished law enforcement career. He was an undercover operative and special agent with the FBI, a U.S. Marshal, and a Verda city police
officer as well as holding other high positions in law enforcement for the State of Kentucky. These
SAAs certainly have a story to tell! The revolvers and holster rig are also pictured and identified
in R.L. Wilson’s “Colt Engraving” on page 401.” Wilson added, “These revolvers were carried as
service pieces and also for big game hunting in the North and Northwest. A charging bear was
killed by Smith with one of the revolvers.” They were featured in Flayderman’s November 1969
catalog and September 1985 issue of Guns Magazine.
The barrels have the two-line Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .357”
on the left side. Colt manufactured only 525 standard frame first generation SAAs chambered
in .357 Magnum (see Wilson’s “The Book of Colt Firearms,” page 252). 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. The left side of the frames have the
two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guards
carry the number “4” and the Colt factory triangle proof. The matching respective serial numbers
appear on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap under the right grip panel. The last matching
two digits of the respective serial number appear on the cylinder (rear face) of the revolvers.
Each revolver is fitted with a set of two-piece stag grips. Factory inscribed, consecutive pairs of
Single Action Army revolvers are extremely rare. This may be the only pair
chambered in .357 Magnum.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 85% plus original nickel finish with flaked off nickel
exposing gray patina on the balance. The slightly oversized period replacement grips are very
fine. Mechanically excellent. The holster rig is very fine.
According to "The Book
of Colt Firearms" by
Wilson, only 525 Colt
Single Actions
were chambered in
.357 Magnum
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