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LOT 3124
Phenomenal Documented Wilbur Glahn Factory Engraved
Individual Chief J.D. “Whaler Bill” O’Meara Shipped Colt
First Generation Single Action Army Revolver in Very Scarce
Dual Caliber .44 Russian/.44 S&W Special with Ivory Grips and
Factory Letter - Serial no. 341715, 44 Russian S&W special cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, ivory grips. This Colt Single
Action Army revolver is a true work of American art. The accompanying
factory letter lists this revolver as shipped in a one gun shipment on April 6,
1921, to individual Chief J.D. O’Meara, address unavailable, and confirms its rare
configuration as factory engraved in .44 S&W caliber with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue
finish, and ivory grips. It is one of only an estimated 24 standard frame Single
Action Army revolvers listed as made in .44 S&W according to factory ledgers per
page 104 of “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” by David M. Brown.
This exact revolver is listed by its serial number on page 282 of “Colt Peacemaker
Encyclopedia, Volume 1” by Keith Cochran, under the heading “O’Meara, J.D.
1874-1933.”
The listed individual recipient of this factory embellished
revolver, Joseph Dean O’Meara (1874-1933), was the
chief of police in Lead, South Dakota, at the
time of this revolver’s delivery in 1921. An
included letter addressed to Mr. Marx
from a Kirt W. Keller, states, “It is
interesting to note that Chief J.D.
O’Meara (b. 1874) was the chief
of security for the Homestake
Mining Company, had one
arm and was active as a
gunsmith from before
World War One until
his death in 1933.
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