While Colt Single Action Army revolvers were often chambered for the same cartridges as Winchester's popular repeaters, they were not commonly chambered for cartridges by Smith & Wesson, their main competitors in the handgun market. This revolver is one of the exceptions, and by 1930 Colt switched to marking these revolvers "44 SPECIAL" which removed any mention of Smith & Wesson from their revolvers. It is one of only an estimated 506 Single Action Army revolvers manufactured for .44 S&W Special per "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by David M. Brown. This is an exceptional SAA chambered in a rare caliber. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was sold and shipped to Whitney Sporting Goods Co. of Denver, Colorado on February 28, 1922 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel in .44 S&W, blue finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was the only revolver of this type in the shipment. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard one-line Hartford address while the rare "RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL" followed by "44" marking is on the left. The standard two-line patent date marking and Rampant Colt are on the left of the frame, and "3/VP" is marked on the left of the trigger guard. The revolver wears a set of Rampant Colt embossed checkered hard rubber grips. Matching serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels, and matching assembly numbers appear on the loading gate and back of the frame. Included consignor records indicate the revolver was purchased from M.R. Chafin in 1967 at a cost of $400. How times have changed! Provenance: The M.R. Chafin Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection

Excellent, retaining 98% plus original blue finish with minimal handling marks and faint cylinder drag line. The hammer and frame retain 97% plus original case colors. The grips are also excellent with crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. This dual caliber .44 Russian/.44 S&W Special Colt SAA is in exceptional condition that will be hard to improve upon, making it a crown jewel in Colt collecting.