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LOT 3224
Outstanding
Pre-War/Post-War
Colt Single Action Army Revolver in
.44 Special with Factory Letter - Serial no. 357718, 44 special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Having its frame serial number factory applied
in 1940, this is a scarce example of a pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army revolver that was
subsequently factory assembled and finished after the war and kept at the factory. The accompanying
factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Charles A. Barker of Iowa City, Iowa, on April 25, 1961, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44
caliber, with finish and stocks not listed. This was a 2 gun shipment. Of interesting note, serial number 357532, recently sold by Rock Island
Auction Company (Auction 4092 August 2024, Lot 141) was shipped on the same exact date, in a 1 gun shipment, to master engraver John
Rohner also located in Iowa City, Iowa. Barker and Rohner may have known each other in some form. Information has been located related to
a Charles A. Barker listed as an attorney in Iowa City. The Pre-War/Post-War Single Action Army revolvers are found in the 356000-357000 serial
number range, and many were known to have been used by Colt for advertising and public relations purposes. According to “Colt’s Single Action
Army Revolver Pre-War Post-War Model” by Don Wilkerson on page 19, there were only 338 pre-World War II manufactured Colt Single Action revolvers assembled after World War II, which comprise
the group of revolvers referred to as Pre-War/Post-War by collectors. This is one of only 6 of these Pre-War/Post-War revolvers reportedly manufactured in this specific configuration, being in .44 Special
caliber, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, and blue/casehardened finish, per page 28 of Wilkerson’s aforementioned book. The production line
restarted for the Second Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers in 1956 and continued until 1974, with the 1961 shipment
date of this First Generation revolver being five years into the timeline of Second Generation production. The last Pre-War/Post-War
revolver was reportedly sold by the factory at auction in 1980. The barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford address on top and
“COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44 SPECIAL” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed
by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard has the Colt factory triangle “VP” proof and an “X” inspector’s stamp. Assembly
number “500” marked on the loading gate.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retains 99% plus original blue and casehardened finishes, with crisp grip checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 6,000 - 10,000
LOT 3225
Excellent Colt First Generation Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 352725, 38-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., nickel
finish, hard rubber grips. An included Colt archive letter indicates that this revolver was manufactured on April 19, 1929, just prior
to the beginning of the Great Depression, but states that the factory shipment record was unable to be located for this serial number
due to having been “evidently lost or destroyed many years ago.” This excellent example is chambered in .38-40 WCF, considered to be the third
most popular caliber in terms of sales in the Single Action Army revolvers, with 38,240 standard frame Single Action Army revolvers reportedly
manufactured in this caliber, per page 150 of “The .36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by David Brown. Features the one-line Hartford
address on top of the barrel, and “38 W.C.F” caliber designation on the left side, with a blade front sight and top strap groove rear sight. 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 “1” above a Colt factory triangle “VP” proof. The matching
number “25” is marked on the rear face of the cylinder.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retains 98% plus original nickel plated finish, light firing marks on face of cylinder, with a few minor handling marks, and crisp grip checkering.
Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,500
Collector’s Fact
According to "Colt's Single Action Army Revolver Pre-
War Post-War Model" by Don Wilkerson, of the 338
Pre-War/Post-War Colt Single Actions produced, only
6 were produced in this configuration.
193