Having its serial number factory applied in 1940, this is an excellent example of a scarce pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army revolver that was later assembled and finished after the war and kept at the factory. The pre-war/post-war SAAs are found in the 356,000 and 357,000 serial number range, many were used by Colt for advertising and public relations purposes, and they have been thoroughly discussed in several of the Colt Single Action books. The most noteworthy studies are by John Kopec and the other by Don Wilkerson. The accompanying factory letter confirms the 5 1/2 inch barrel in .38 Special and blue finish as well as being part of a 5 gun shipment on March 28, 1958, to Joseph A. Lourch of Washington, D.C. This five gun shipment is noted in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" on page 193. Joseph A. Lurch was a Washington, D.C., area Colt representative "for many years." It is not out of the realm of possibility that this revolver was presented to a high ranking U.S. government official. It was not uncommon for these pre-war/post-war SAAs to be presented to influential individuals. Take, for instance, no. 357766 that was presented to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, which happens to also be in this auction. “Many officials and dignitaries from business and government were presented ‘pre-war, post-war’ SAs, and in some instances (because of not traveling through normal shipping room channels), those revolvers went unrecorded in Colt’s ledgers,” noted the authors of “A Study of Colt Single Action Army Revolver” (page 193). The barrel has the one-line Hartford address on top and "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY 38 SPECIAL" on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking followed by a Rampant Colt, and the trigger guard has the Colt factory triangle proof and "F". Matching full serial numbers are on the frame, both grip panels, and both grip straps under the right grip panel. Includes a Colt black box (unnumbered) and the original test target numbered to gun. Anohter Colt SAA revolver, serial number 357253, two digits away, is featured in the previous lot!

Excellent, retaining 99% plus original blue and casehardened finishes with limited handling marks, barely noticeable cylinder drag line, and crisp grip checkering. Box is fair. Mechanically excellent.