This is an excellent example of a pre-war Colt 44 Russian Single Action Army Revolver with Colt factory letter. The letter describes the revolver as 44 S&W with 5 1/2 inch barrel and blue finish. It states that the revolver was shipped to J..A. Williams of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on August 29, 1927. This revolver is illustrated and described on page 255 of "THE BOOK OF COLT FIREARMS" by R.L. Wilson. The revolver has the Colt pre-war commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame and hammer have vivid case colors. The ejector housing has the late oval head and the hammer has borderless knurling on the spur. The revolver has two piece walnut special order checkered grips inlaid with German silver Colt medallions. The left side of the barrel is roll stamped with the rare dual caliber marking "RUSSIAN AND/S&W SPECIAL 44" in two lines. Only 154 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the 44 S&W Special and 44 Russian cartridges had these markings. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. The left side of the frame is roll stamped with the Colt two line, three patent dates followed by the Rampant Colt. The inside of the loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "671". The assembler's mark "3" and the Colt Triangle "V/P" proof mark are stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The serial number "351298" is stamped on the bottom of the frame.

Excellent. The revolver retains 98% plus of the original blue and casehardened finish. Wear is limited to a few very minor storage marks. The cylinder shows a light drag line. The frame, loading gate and hammer have brilliant case colors. All of the markings are crisp. The replacement grips are excellent. This is an exceptional example of a rare .44 S&W Special Colt Single Action Army revolver with dual caliber markings from one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Colt revolvers ever assembled.