Rock Island Auction Company proudly presents this historic and fresh offering: The last of a generation, the last of an icon, the last factory engraved, 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army revolver. To quote Wilson in his seminal work "The Book of Colt Firearms," "Colt factory records indicate the highest number produced (1st Gen. Colt SAA's prior to the end of production 1941) was serial number 357,869"…while also noting "some numbers were never made". He also later states "approximately 75 pre-war frames were used by the Custom Repair Department as replacements on revolvers sent for repair by customers". For decades serial number 357600, previously sold by RIAC, was thought to be the last factory engraved 1st Generation SAA until the discovery of this magnificent specimen, 357689, 89 numbers later. When considering true 1st Generation, pre-war Colt Single Actions and the last production figure quoted as number "357,869," its imperative to note the 300 pre-war/post-war models that were assembled from parts beginning in 1947. For further perspective, RIAC alone has sold SEVEN, with a higher serial number than this revolver, 357689, that were assembled after the war. In fact this, is the highest serial number pre-war Single Action we have ever sold. Considering its place in history, this revolver was shipped only 47 days prior to the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered the war a day later on December 8th, 1941. Its no secret that war was imminent, as the U.S. began tooling up as early as 1939, the lend lease of March 1941 and less we forget the 163 Colt 1st Generation SAA's purchased by the British government in June of 1940, commonly referred to as "Battle of Britain SAA's", of which we have two in this auction. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 7 1/2 inch barrel in .38 Special, nickel finish, grip material, steer head carved grip, and factory level "C" engraving. The revolver was shipped on October 21, 1941 and delivered to Rohrer's Gun Store of New Castle, Pennsylvania. The fabulous factory "C" engraving consists of floral scrollwork on a stippled background. The engraving is the work of Colt Master Engraver Wilbur A. Glahn. Using the most liberal statistics only 2,500 1st Generation Colt SAAs of the 357,869 manufactured were factory engraved. The barrel has "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL" stamped on the left side and the one-line Hartford address stamped on top. The left side of the frame is stamped with the two-line patent date marking followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard is stamped with the number "4" and the Colt factory triangle proof. The right side of the trigger guard has a Colt factory ampersand ("&") substantiated by Wilson above. Matching serial numbers are on the frame and on the right side of both grip straps. The matching assembly number is on the loading gate and on the rear of the frame. The silver Rampant Colt medallion grips feature the highly desirable factory documented relief carved steer head on the right panel. As Colt historian and author R.L. Wilson noted, only "a few" SAAs had factory hand carved steer head motif grips. Comes with a floral tooled leather holster rig by S.D. Myres of El Paso, Texas.