The factory letter included with this Single Action Army confirms the current configuration, including the hard rubber grips and that it was engraved with Type B engraving by Colt Master Engraver Bill Mains. According to the records shown in Wilkerson's THE POST WAR COLT SINGLE-ACTION REVOLVER, 1955-1975, Mains engraved 121 Single Action Army revolvers of Colt's total 349 in just five years making him Colt's most productive post-war SAA engraver. Despite how active Mains was, he only produced 4 type B engraved revolvers with a blue finish, 5 1/2 inch barrel, and in .45 caliber. Wilkerson's data further demonstrates that only seven SAA are known to have been engraved with type B engraving in this configuration total. The letter also notes that the revolver was shipped to the "Colt Firearms Division c/o James McLaughlin, Jr." on December 10, 1970. Perhaps this revolver was a gift for a Colt employee. It has exquisite vine scroll type "B" factory engraving covers roughly half of the surfaces; rich detail has been put into both the scroll and background. The hammer is blued with polished sides. It has the matching serial number marked on the bottom of the frame and on the left side of the grip straps under the grip panel. The partial serial number "142" is marked on the front face of the cylinder. The matching assembly number "351" is marked on the loading gate and right rear of the frame. The black, checkered hard rubber grips have Rampant Colt and American Eagle emblems in relief on both sides and are hand numbered to gun. The front of the frame near the cylinder pin has a "B" and the buffalo mark Bill Mains often placed on his work since Colt discouraged engravers from signing their work. Mains' shop was in Buffalo, New York. The revolver includes an original "Stagecoach" factory box with correct caliber and barrel length marks on the ends and papers including "Handling the Handgun: Four basic steps to better pistol shooting", Single Action Army manual and warranty card.

Excellent plus. This revolver is nearly new in box and has only collector type handling marks and the faintest of drag lines inspection and removal of the cylinder. The grips are as new. The box has only shelf/storage type wear.