This Colt Single Action Army revolver was part of an order for 163 single actions by the British Purchasing Commission that was shipped to Britain. The revolvers were ordered by the British as an emergency replacement for small arms lost by the British Expeditionary Force during the evacuation from Dunkirk in May 1940. The "Battle of Britain" revolvers were the last Colt SAA revolvers ordered under a military contract. These guns were shipped to Winchester and then exported to Great Britain. This revolver is identified by serial number as a "Battle of Britain" SAA in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" on page 182. According to "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army" by Brown on p. 28, only 24 of the "Battle of Britain" revolvers were in .45 caliber with 4 3/4 inch barrels and nickel finish, and this revolver is identified by serial number in the book. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was sold to the British Purchasing Commission and shipped to Winchester Repeating Arms Co. of New Haven, Connecticut on June 18, 1940, with a 4 3/4 inch barrel in .45 caliber, nickel finish, and type of stocks not listed. This was a 24 gun shipment. The revolver has British proofs along with the standard Colt markings which include the two-line Hartford barrel address, "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 45" on the left side of the barrel, two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt on the left side of the frame, and matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and both grip panels. The matching assembly number "640" appears on the rear of the frame and loading gate. The left side of the trigger guard is marked with the number "4" along with the Colt factory triangle proof. Brig Pemberton purchased the revolver in 1967 from M.R. Chafin at a cost of $800. How times have changed! This revolver has the distinction of being one of the last SAA revolvers manufactured by Colt before production ceased in 1940 as well as being one of the very historic "Battle of Britain" revolvers purchased by the British for a last-ditch defense when faced with the imminent threat from a German invasion in the summer of 1940. As noted in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver," "No other revolver in history has been asked to defend so much for so long--beginning with the Indian Wars of the 1870s through World War II" (182). Provenance: M.R. Chafin; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection