This excellent first generation Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1937. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that states it was sold to the British Purchasing Commission and shipped to Winchester Repeating Arms on June 10, 1940. This revolver was one of 163 Single Action Army revolvers that were sold to the British Purchasing Commission by Colt along with other revolvers and automatic pistols in an emergency effort by the British to replace the small arms lost during the Battle of France in May 1940. These guns were shipped to Winchester and then exported to Great Britain. The letter describes the revolver as caliber .45 with a 7 1/2-inch barrel and nickel finish. The stocks are not listed in the letter. When the Luftwaffe was defeated in the Battle of Britain, the Colt Single Action revolvers were placed in storage and subsequently imported to the United States following WWII. The revolver has a full nickel plated finish with two-piece black checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt trademark in an oval at the top. A British 'Broad Arrow' property mark above a "Crown/G6" inspection mark is stamped on the left shoulder of the backstrap. British nitro proof marks are stamped on the right side of the barrel just ahead of the frame and a small "Crown/GP" proof mark is stamped over each chamber of the cylinder and on the right side of the frame. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped "COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt two line, three patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The assembly number, "367" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The assembler's mark "4" and and the Colt "Triangle/VP" proof mark are stamped on the left trigger guard bow. The serial number, "355618" is located on the bottom of the frame.

Excellent. The revolver retains 97% of the original nickel-plated finish. Wear is limited to a few minor storage marks. The grips are in excellent condition. All of the factory markings and British proof, inspection and property marks are crisp. The action functions perfectly. This is an excellent example of one of the very last pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolvers manufactured with a historic WWII, "Battle of Britain" association.