Having its frame serial number factory applied in 1940, this is a scarce example of a pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army revolver that was subsequently factory assembled and finished after the war and kept at the factory. The accompanying factory letter states the revolver was shipped to Charles A. Barker of Iowa City, Iowa, on April 25, 1961, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 caliber, with finish and stocks not listed. This was a 2 gun shipment. Of interesting note, serial number 357532, recently sold by Rock Island Auction Company (Auction 4092 August 2024, Lot 141) was shipped on the same exact date, in a 1 gun shipment, to master engraver John Rohner also located in Iowa City, Iowa. Barker and Rohner may have known each other in some form. Information has been located related to a Charles A. Barker listed as an attorney in Iowa City. The Pre-War/Post-War Single Action Army revolvers are found in the 356000-357000 serial number range, and many were known to have been used by Colt for advertising and public relations purposes. According to "Colt's Single Action Army Revolver Pre-War Post-War Model" by Don Wilkerson on page 19, there were only 338 pre-World War II manufactured Colt Single Action revolvers assembled after World War II, which comprise the group of revolvers referred to as Pre-War/Post-War by collectors. This is one of only 6 of these Pre-War/Post-War revolvers reportedly manufactured in this specific configuration, being in .44 Special caliber, with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, and blue/casehardened finish, per page 28 of Wilkerson's aforementioned book. The production line restarted for the Second Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers in 1956 and continued until 1974, with the 1961 shipment date of this First Generation revolver being five years into the timeline of Second Generation production. The last Pre-War/Post-War revolver was reportedly sold by the factory at auction in 1980. The barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford address on top and "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44 SPECIAL" on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard has the Colt factory triangle "VP" proof and an "X" inspector's stamp. Assembly number "500" marked on the loading gate. Provenance: The Charles Marx Collection