The accompanying Colt factory letter confirms the .44 Special caliber, barrel length and nickel finish. The stocks are listed as stag smooth bone). This revolver was shipped to R.S. Elliott Arms Company of Kansas City, Missouri, on June 30, 1933 as a one-gun shipment. This revolver has the scarce "dual caliber" marking on the left side of the barrel: "NEW SERVICE" followed by "RUSSIAN & S&W SPECIAL 44". The top of the barrel is marked "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./PAT'D AUG 5, 1884 JUNE 5. 1900 APR 9 01 JULY.4. 1905". The left side plate has the Rampant Colt behind the cylinder latch and the lower frame area above the trigger guard bow has the Colt "VP" Verified Proof. Nickel finish with gold plated blade front sight, hammer, trigger, ejector rod head, screw heads, cylinder and cylinder latch. Fitted with smooth bone stag grips with Colt medallions. The deeply chiseled engraving is believed to have been executed by the renowned Southwest artisan, Cole Agee, and features elaborate full coverage on the frame sides. The exquisite scroll work incorporates floral blossoms and a dot border. The same engraved pattern is also featured on the front sight. The left side of the frame (ahead of the trigger) has the bold monogram: "TBB." This revolver was ordered for and purchased by, just prior to a legendary gangland shootout, Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff, Thomas B. Bash. As Sheriff, Bash was involved in a shootout during which mob machine gunner’s in the act of murdered gangster Ferris Anthon on the early morning of August 12, 1933. Bash killed two of the assassins and arrested a third assassin. The arrested gunman was Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast’s enforcer, Charles Gargotta. “Boss Tom” Pendergast was a patron of the early political career of Harry S. Truman who, as County Judge, in the aftermath of Gargotta’s arrest, cut the sheriff's budget. Bash had earned the national reputation as being a fearsome law enforcer. In fact, Bash was only a few miles behind in the chase with the FBI agents who confronted and killed Pretty Boy Floyd. The royal purple velvet lined case holds the revolver, bore brush, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Genuine Oil and cleaning patches. In addition to the Colt factory letter, an extensive document file accompanies this revolver. Included is the newspaper article on the Gargotta shootout as well as other articles, a number of photos of Sheriff Bash, President Truman and other Kansas City political and government leaders of the 1902-‘s-1930’s and various other research documents

Very fine as period decorated and embellished. The revolver retains 98% nickel finish showing a spot of gray on the trigger guard and some minor handling marks overall. The front sight, ejector head, cylinder, cylinder latch, hammer and trigger retain much of the gold plating (mostly of the loss contained to the cylinder). The lanyard swivel hole has been uniquely plugged with a .22 caliber cartridge case (head visible), surely a creative touch from Sheriff Bash himself. The grips are very fine with a few hairline age cracks and a small chip missing from the bottom (right panel), the color and grain pattern are very attractive. The engraving is very crisp and sharp. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine showing light wear to the exterior and a few high spot tears on the lining. A dual tone, Cole Agee attributed engraved Colt New Service .44 Russian/.44 S&W Special revolver belonging to a noted public enemy number one era Sheriff that would be a great addition to even the most advanced Colt collection.