Offered here is a striking and extraordinary master engraved SAA honoring U.S. President James Polk. Relatively unknown outside the circle of political historians, Polk is remembered as the dark horse candidate who won the 1844 presidential election and led the nation through great territorial expansion. For the first time the United States stretched to the Pacific coastline. The accompanying letter on Martin B. Retting, Inc. letterhead indicates that this revolver was embellished by Colt Master Engraver Howard Dove for M&N Distributors, Torrance, California, as part of a never completed Presidential Edition line of SAAs. A factory letter was unavailable to the writer. However, a factory documented Howard Dove embellished James Monroe Presidential Special edition (serial number 1JM) is in this auction, which displays embellishments consist with the patterns found on this revolver. The main engraving is traditional scrollwork with punch dot backgrounds. The barrel has two thin gold bands at the muzzle, "James Polk" in script with a decorative border and three stars before and after, a wider gold band at the breech, and the one-line address on top. The unfluted cylinder has the White House and the stars and stripes in relief gold, and thirteen flush gold inlaid stars at the rear. The frame has gold inlaid borders, the standard patent marking, and a special gold inlaid "JKP1" serial number. The recoil shield was reshaped and has a bust of Polk with a gold border. The top of the back strap is inscribed "1845/1849" (the years of Polk's presidency), and the back has, and the back has "11th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." The ejector head, cylinder arbor pin, hammer, trigger, and grip straps are all also gold-plated. The grips are numbered to a different gun. The grip straps are numbered "SA06216" indicating manufacture in 1978.

Excellent overall. 99% plus of the original finishes remaining showing a cylinder drag line, some minor scratches on the barrel and sharp checkering. Mechanically excellent.