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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 revolver is one of only one hundred sixteen produced in this configuration.
LOT 1139
Exceptional Washington,
D.C. Shipped Pre-War/Post-
War Colt Single Action Army
Revolver with Factory Letter,
Original Carton, Test Target,
Brush and Pamphlet - Serial no. 357083, 45 Colt cal., 5 1/2 Inch bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. This Colt Single Action Army revolver manufactured using parts manufactured circa 1940 and has the Colt pre-war commercial blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. 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 revolver is one of only one hundred sixteen produced in this configuration. The included factory letter indicates that this revolver was shipped in its current configuration (stocks “Not Listed”) to Joseph A. Lorch at 1010 Vermont Avenue N.W. in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 1956,
with three other guns of the same type. Lorch was well connected within the elite at Colt and likely among the elite in Washington. As Colt’s representative and distributor in the capital, Lorch was involved in getting firearms, including presentation pieces, to politicians and military officials and several photographs of Lorch with officials attest to his role. A prior Pre-War/Post-War SAA that we had the pleasure of auctioning was also shipped to Lorch and a letter from Colt’s assistant sales manager H.W. Lidstone stated “Glad that you are one of the favored few.” The frame and loading gate are color casehardened. The trigger and top of the hammer are blued and the sides of the hammer are polished bright. The two-piece, black checkered hard rubber grips have the Rampant Colt trademark embossed in an oval at the top. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the final style caliber designation: “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the legend: “COLTS PT.F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in one line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt “Two-Line/
is stamped with the Colt ‘Triangle/VP’ proof mark and the rear trigger guard bow is stamped with two “F” assembly marks. According to author Don Wilkerson, the “F” stamp on the trigger guard bow identifies revolvers either directly assembled or supervised by Colt master gunsmith Harry St. John. The assembly number “829” 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 back strap and trigger guard underneath the grip. The serial number is lightly scratched on the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The frame lacks the cut-out in
the top strap. The hammer has border-less knurling on the spur. The revolver is complete with a royal blue cardboard carton. The blue and white label on the end of the carton reads: “5 1/2 Colt’s Army S.A. Revolver. .45/Rubber Blue”. Colt advertising labels are stamped on the inside of the lid and the bottom of the carton The carton contains a wire and fiber cleaning rod, a test target shot by “E.P. KIELEY” and marked in pencil with the serial number and a Colt “SHOOTING SUGGESTIONS” pamphlet. The revolver serial number is written in pencil on one end of the carton bottom.
CONDITION: Exceptional. The revolver retains 99% of the original pre-war blue
and color casehardened finish. The case colors are vivid. The grips remain in
nearly new condition. The carton is in excellent condition; there is some minor
flaking on the four corners of the lid and on one end and part of one side of the
bottom. The end label is in very fine condition. The test target, brush and pamphlet all remain in very good condition. This is an exceptional Pre-War/Post-War Single Action Army Revolver likely owned by an influential politician or military officer in the nation’s capital.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 16,000 - 25,000
ACCORDING TO AUTHOR DON WILKERSON, THE "F" STAMP ON THE TRIGGER GUARD BOW IDENTIFIES REVOLVERS EITHER DIRECTLY ASSEMBLED OR SUPERVISED BY COLT MASTER GUNSMITH HARRY ST. JOHN.
118 Three-Date” patent markings followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The left front of the trigger guard bow