The accompanying Colt factory letter lists the 5 1/2 inch barrel in .44 Special caliber, nickel finish and stag stocks. It 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 overall with gold- plated blade front sight, hammer, trigger, ejector rod head, screw heads, cylinder and cylinder latch. 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 scrollwork incorporates floral blossoms and 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. Sheriff Bash was involved in a shootout with mob machine gunners in the act of murdering 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. Included with the lot is consignor research.