Exceptional Special Order Pre-World War II .38 Special Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Factory Letter

Manufactured in 1929, this Colt Single Action Army revolver is factory chambered in .38 Special and fitted with a 5 1/2 inch barrel and factory nickel finish. The included factory letter confirms the configuration in “.38 Colt” with nickel finish, 5 1/2 inch barrel, and further notes a special order 3 1/2 lb. trigger pull. It was shipped to the Buckeye Cycle Company of Akron, Ohio, on March 12, 1931.

The revolver is fitted with black checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt motif in an oval at the top. The butt is fitted with a special order factory lanyard loop, not noted in the factory letter. Careful examination reveals the revolver is correctly chambered for the .38 S&W Special cartridge rather than the .38 Colt Special: the cylinder has beveled chamber mouths, while revolvers chambered in .38 Colt Special featured sharp 90-degree shoulders.

As noted in R. L. Wilson’s Book of Colt Firearms, only 25 Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured in .38 S&W Special, while 82 were chambered in .38 Colt Special, making this a particularly rare and desirable example. The left side of the barrel bears the fourth style roll marking, “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL,” introduced in 1929, with the one-line Hartford address on top. The frame is marked on the left with the three-date/two-line patent legend followed by the Rampant Colt trademark.

Additional factory markings include a “1” assembler’s mark above the Colt “VP” proof on the left front trigger guard bow, a “5” inspection mark in the hammer well, and assembly number “779” on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number is stamped on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap, with the partial serial “57” on the rear face of the cylinder. Both grips are etched on the interior with the full serial number. All visible numbers match.