Colt Single Action Army revolver manufactured before the termination of production in 1940 and assembled from pre-war parts in 1947-1948. Colt historian R.L. Wilson states that Colt assembled approximately 300 'Pre-War/Post-War' Single Action revolvers. This revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that describes it as: "Serial Number:357635, Caliber:.38 Special, Barrel Length: 5 1/2", Finish: Blue and color case, Type of Stocks: Rubber". The letter states that the revolver was shipped to John Keosayian in Chester, Heights, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1996. The letter further states that: "this gun was part of Colt archive collection and is sold in its existing condition for collectors' purposes only". The revolver has the Colt pre-war commercial blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame and loading gate are color casehardened. The top of the hammer has a high polish blue finish and the sides are bright. The two-piece, black, hard rubber, grips are checkered and have the Rampant Colt trademark embossed in an oval at the top of the grip. 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 .38 SPECIAL" is roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/two-line patent marking followed by the Rampant Colt trademark. The assembly number "394" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The Colt "Triangle/VP" proofmark is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow and an "F" assembler's mark is stamped on the left rear trigger guard bow. The full serial number, "357635" is stamped on the bottom of the frame and the right side of the trigger guard and back strap beneath the grips. The partial serial number "35" is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. "357635" is scratched in the inside of both grips. All of the visible serial numbers match. The revolver is accompanied by a pre-war Colt carton with blue and white end label, a test target for .38 Special Colt Single Action No. 357465 and a cleaning brush. The carton label is for a blue, .38 Special, Colt Single Action Army, with 5 1/2 inch barrel and rubber grips but the carton is serial numbered to another revolver.

Near new. The revolver appears to be un-fired and retains close to 100% of the original blue and color casehardened finish. There are no turn lines on the cylinder. The grips are also in new condition. The non-matching carton is in fair condition with missing end panels on the lid and glued repairs to the edges of the lid and body. This is a near new example of one of the very last 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers produced with documentation that the revolver was formerly in the Colt archive collection.