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According to The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army by Brown, only 24 "Battle of Britain" Colt Single Actions were purchased by the British in this configuration.
LOT 3161
Historically Significant,
Well- Documented,
Exceptionally Scarce “Battle
LISTED BY SERIAL NUMBER IN THE BOOK 36 CALIBERS OF COLT BY BROWN
of Britain” Colt Single Action Army with Colt
London Agency Holster and Factory Letter
- Serial no. 356052, 45 LC cal., 4 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, hard rubber grips. This is an excellent
example of a World War II associated Colt Single Action Army revolver that was manufactured in 1937
and shipped to Great Britain. This revolver has the distinction as being one of the very historic “Battle
of Britain” revolvers purchased by the British for a last-ditch defense when faced with the imminent
threat of a Nazi invasion in the summer of 1940. The revolver is listed by serial number in David M.
Brown’s “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” on page 28 as one of 24 “Battle of Britain”
nickel plated SAAs with a 4 3⁄4 inch barrel in .45 caliber (page 28). The revolver’s serial number is
also listed in Graham, Kopec and Moor’s “A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver on page
182. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 4 3⁄4 inch barrel in .45 caliber and nickel finish
with the type of stocks not listed. The letter also confirms the revolver was sold to the British
Purchasing Commission as part of a grouping of 24 SAAs shipped on June 18, 1940 to the British
Purchasing Commission through Winchester Repeating Arms Co., New Haven, Connecticut.
The British Government purchased 163 Colt Peacemakers to replenish their stock of firearms
in anticipation of an invasion after the loss of small arms by the British Expeditionary Force
during the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. The “Battle of Britain” revolvers were the
last Colt SAAs ordered under a military contract. The barrel is stamped with the two-line
Hartford address on top and “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45” on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger is stamped with the letter “Y” over the Colt factory “VP” triangle proof marks. British proof marks are present on the underside of the barrel, right side of the frame, cylinder at each flute, and left side of the back strap shoulder. The matching serial number is found on the right side of the trigger guard and back strap, frame, and both grip panels. The front cylinder face has the matching partial serial number “052” as well as a five-pointed star. The matching assembly number “747” appears on the loading gate and back of the frame. Includes a desirable Colt London Agency brown leather flap holster stamped with the Colt London Agency marking and “PM” on the inside of the flap.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 95% plus original untouched nickel plating with some loss mostly on the cylinder.
The grips are also excellent with minimal handling marks and overall crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The
rare holster is fine with typical flex wear on the flap, minor handling/storage marks and overall tight stitching. These
Colt London Agency holsters are
true rarities in Colt collecting and
are an essential accessory to any
SAA collection. An exceptional
example of a very historic and rare
British contract Colt Single
Action Army Revolver.
Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000
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