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LOT 3180
Rare Factory 4 Inch Barrel Cutaway Colt Second Generation Single Action Army Revolver Inscribed “PROPERTY OF COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO.” with R.L. Wilson Letter - Serial
no. 38596SA, 45 LC cal., 4 inch round bbl., nickel finish,
hard rubber grips. In the accompanying letter noted Colt historian R.L. Wilson recalls how this unusual factory cutaway Colt SAA came to be. This cutaway was commissioned by R.L.
Wilson himself while working as the Assistant Manager, Public Relations at Colt. Wilson wrote,
“Its design and manufacture were inspired by the author’s fascination with cutaways, while employed
by the Colt’s Patent Firearms Mfg. Co.” This Single Action Army cutaway follows in the footsteps of the long tradition of “skeleton arms” design work that was initially started by
company founder Samuel Colt who found such designs useful for “demonstration and promotional purposes.” The revolver was fabricated in the Colt Custom Shop by master
gunsmith John Pelletier. The barrel was shortened to the non-standard length of 4 inches to reduce its size “in order to be more portable.” While he commissioned the revolver to
be built, Wilson however did not keep it for long as he immediately sold it to noted firearms dealer and Colt expert Herb Glass, Senior. At the time of the sale Glass was a consultant
to the president of Colt. Wilson considered this cutaway “as one of the great firearms built by the company in the post-World War II years.” The revolver was manufactured in 1964 and features numerous cutaways on the left side of the frame and barrel, on the cylinder, ahead of the trigger, and on the left grip panel. These cutaways include two cylinder chambers, the barrel at the muzzle and a series of removed sections on the frame to expose the inner workings of the hammer. The barrel is marked with the one-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 marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The back strap is marked “PROPERTY OF COLT’S PATENT FIRE ARMS MFG. CO.”
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 99% plus original nickel finish with minimal handling marks and a light cylinder drag line. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. Action cycles properly. A one-of- a-kind factory cutaway Colt Second Generation Single Action Army revolver for the serious Colt collector.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3181
Colt Second Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Original Black Box - Serial no. 4081SA, 38 special cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1956 with standard markings
and features. Includes the original Colt black box. This revolver is
consecutively serialized with the next lot.
CONDITION: Very good, retains 85% of the original blue finish and 90% plus of the original case colors with the barrel showing some chemical type grey and plum patina, mild thinning on the backstrap, and some light cylinder drag lines. The grips are very fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is good with some minor wear and a piece of the long lid edge absent. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
According to author Wilkerson in The Post-War Colt Single Action Army Revolver 1955-1975, approximately 2,881 Colt Single Action Army revolvers
were produced in this configuration.
LOT 3182
Colt Second Generation Single Action Army Revolver with Original Black Box - Serial no. 4082SA, 38 special cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/ casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. Manufactured in 1956 with standard markings and features. Includes the original Colt black box. This revolver is consecutively serialized with the previous lot.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 98% plus of the original blue finish and 90% plus of the original case colors with some scattered light handling marks and a light cylinder drag line. The grips are also excellent with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is good with mild wear and some separated corners.
THESE TWO LOTS ARE CONSECUTIVELY SERIAL NUMBERED
120 Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750