Page 126 - 88-BOOK2

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.
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 sixty three produced in this configuration.
LOT 1143
Exceptional Documented Distiller Shipped Pre-War/Post-War Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter and Box - Serial
no. 357498, 38 special cal., 5 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber grips. This is an excellent and scarce late pre-war manufactured Colt SAA revolver that was later assembled and sold after the end of WWII. It is numbered in the pre-war serial range. This serial number is only 361 away from the last First Generation serial number. 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 sixty three produced in this configuration. The revolver has the Colt high quality pre-war
blue finish and casehardened frame, standard Colt markings, matching 124 serial number on the frame, right side of the grip straps and inside both
grips, and matching assembly number “237” on the rear of the frame and loading gate. The letter “F” is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard. 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 accompanying factory letter verifies the caliber, barrel length, blue finish with the grips as “Not Listed” and that the revolver was shipped as 1 of 2 to J. Baxter Gardner, VP of Frankfort Distillers Corp. in New York City on February 23, 1949. The remarks state that this revolver was on a loan account to be used for photographic works by Frankfort Distillers Corp. in New York. On March 10, 1949, the revolver was returned to Colt stock and subsequently shipped to an individual in Amherst, Ma. on October 3, 1972. Paul Jones Jr. trademarked the name Four Roses (bourbon) in 1888 while located on historic Main Street” Whiskey Row” in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1922, the Paul Jones company purchased the Frankfort Distilling Company, and in 1943 Seagram, purchased the Frankfort Distilling Company, primarily to acquire the
most noted and recognized name in the business at the time, Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which was the top selling bourbon in the U.S. in the ‘30s-’50s. The bourbon was moved to Europe for a number years
and in 2002 was brought back to the U.S. and eventually moved back to Kentucky under the name Four Roses Distillery LLC. Comes with an original box re-numbered to the gun, “Shooting Suggestions” pamphlet, test target and bore brush.
CONDITION: Excellent with 98% plus original blue and casehardened finish remaining, showing some light rotation lines on the cylinder and a small amount of light surface oxidation on the back strap. The excellent grips show some very light wear in the otherwise very crisp checkering. The markings are sharp. The action is excellent. The box is fair with a number of electrical tape repairs, some separation on the lid flaps and some material loss. An excellent Pre-War/Post-War Single Action Army revolver that spent almost 24 years of its life at the Colt plant.
Estimate: 7,000 - 10,000