Manufactured in 1940 and chambered in .44 Special. Per Colt expert and author David Brown, only 506 standard first generation Single Action Armies were chambered in .44 Special (see "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army," page 100). Having its serial number factory applied in 1940, this is an example of a scarce pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army revolver that was later assembled and finished after the war and kept at the factory. The pre-war/post-war Single Action Armies are found in the 356,000 and 357,000 serial number range, many were used by Colt for advertising and public relations purposes, and they have been thoroughly discussed in several of the Colt Single Action books. Per Don Wilkerson, this is one of only six pre-war/post-war SAA built in this configuration (5 ½ inch barrel in .44 Special) out of a total production of just over 330 (see “Colt’s Single Action Army Revolver,” pages 100-101). When this gun shipped in 1961 it was one of only five that Colt gifted as none were sold that year (page 36). The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped on April 25, 1961 to John R. Rohner of Iowa City, Iowa, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 Special, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a single gun shipment. John R. Rohner was a well accomplished master engraver. In the firearms engraving community, John is known as the "Godfather of the American Engraving Renaissance," having spurred the growth of the art by co-inventing the Gravermeister and co-founding GRS corporation. He influenced the spread of firearms engraving through articles he authored in the 1950s-1960s. He is noted in multiple sources for his passion for teaching engraving and introducing engraving to the masses. He was a Charter Member of FEGA when it was founded in 1981. The barrel has the correct markings for a .44 Special SAA manufactured after 1931: the one-line Hartford address on top and "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44 SPECIAL" on the left side. Matching assembly number "357" appears on the back of the frame and loading lever. The matching serial number appears on the frame and right side of the trigger guard and back strap. Provenance: The John Rohner Collection; The Don and Carol Wilkerson Collection; Property of a Gentleman