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LOT 1139
Outstanding Documented Individual Shipped Pre-War/
Post-War Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Case and Factory Letter - Serial
no. 357492, 45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, hard rubber
grips. Having its frame serial number factory applied in 1940, this is a very 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 August 22, 1969, dated
factory letter, addressed to Champ G. Wilson in Laurel, Mississippi, states this revolver was
originally sold and shipped to Harold M. McClary at 509 North 3rd Street in Boonville, Indiana,
on April 25, 1961, one of two in the shipment in this configuration, in .45 caliber with a 7 1/2
inch barrel, blue finish, and type of grips not listed. The factory letter further states, “This gun is
an original pre-war Single Action Army revolver, was assembled from surplus parts after World
War 2, and not shipped from the factory until 1961.” An obituary and relevant information was
located for Harold Metz McClary (August 27, 1904-May 9, 1994) at this address in Boonville,
Indiana, who retired in 1971 as principal of Oakdale Grade School after having worked in the
schools of Warrick County and Boonville for 49 years, and was notably a Civil War history buff.
Apparently this school principal also had a sweet tooth for a Colt Single Action Army revolver,
and took delivery of this gorgeous example in 1961 at his doorstep. The 1969 dated factory
letter addressed to a different individual in Mississippi suggests that McClary sold this revolver
sometime in the 1960s. 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 15 of these
Pre-War/Post-War revolvers reportedly manufactured in this specific configuration, being in
.45 caliber, with a 7 1/2 inch
barrel, and blue/casehardened
finish, of which only 4 were listed
as shipped in this configuration
1961, per information on pages 28
and 100 of Wilkerson’s book. 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 date
markings 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, with an “A” on the right
side. Matching visible serial numbers on the frame and grip straps, with
unnumbered grips and cylinder, and assembly number “243” marked on both the loading gate
and rear of the frame. Includes a leather wrapped case with fitted felt lined interior and wood
cartridge block containing 40 rounds of .45 Long Colt.
CONDITION: Excellent plus overall, retains 99% original blue finish and vibrant original case
colors, with a few very small specs of freckling, and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically
excellent. Case is very fine. An outstanding example of a desirable Pre-War/Post-War Colt Single
Action Army revolver shipped to a school principal!
Provenance: School Principal Harold M. McClary; Champ G. Wilson; Private Collection.
Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
According to
"Colt's Single
Action Army
Revolver Pre-War
Post-War Model"
by Wilkerson,
only 15 Colt
Single Actions in
this combination
of caliber, barrel
length, and finish
were produced, of
which only 4 were
shipped in 1961
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