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LOT 3073
Exceptional Special Order Pre-World War II .38 Special Colt Single Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter - Serial no. 352757, 38 Special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel finish, black
hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1929. The included
factory letter confirms the configuration with nickel finish, and “Special Features” furnished with a
3 1/2 lb. trigger pull. It was shipped to buckeye Cycle Company, Akron, Ohio, March 12, 1931. This
revolver has black checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt motif in an oval at the top.
The butt is fitted with a special order factory lanyard loop, not mentioned in the letter. The revolver is
chambered for the .38 Special cartridge, and the cylinder has beveled chamber mouths which indicate that it
was manufactured for the .38 S&W Special cartridge rather than the .38 Colt Special cartridge. Colt Single Action revolvers
chambered for the .38 Colt Cartridge had chamber mouths with 90 degree shoulders. The “Book of Colt Firearms” by R.L. Wilson
states that 25 Colt Single Action Army revolvers were chambered for the .38 S&W Special cartridge and 82 were chambered for
the .38 Colt Special cartridge. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped with fourth style barrel marking “COLT SINGLE ACTION
ARMY .38 SPECIAL” introduced in 1929. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in
one line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the three-date/two-line patent marking followed by the Rampant Colt
trademark. The left front trigger guard bow is stamped with a “1” assembler’s mark over the Colt triangle “VP” proofmark. A “5”
inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well. The assembly number “779” is stamped on the inside of the loading gate.
The full serial number is
stamped on the bottom of
the frame and the right side
of the trigger guard and back
strap underneath the grip. The
partial serial number “57” is stamped
on the rear face of the cylinder. The full
serial number is etched on the inside of both grips. All of the
visible serial numbers match.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. The revolver retains 95% plus of the
much frosted original nickel-plated finish. The only other significant
wear is some minor flaking on the face of the cylinder. There is a
light drag line on the cylinder. The nickel-plating on the barrel,
frame, trigger guard, back strap and sides of the cylinder exhibits
minimal handling wear. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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