Manufactured in 1909 and chambered in the rare and desirable .44 Russian cartridge. Only an estimated 154 standard frame Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured for the .44 Russian cartridge upon which the .44 Special was based (see David Brown's "The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver," page 112). Brown explained the rarity of the .44 Russian Single Action Army as, "The .44 Russian cartridge had become popular in several competitive revolvers, so Colt made it also in the Single Action. They were not mass produced, were made on special orders only, so this caliber also is considered rare." The included 1970 dated factory letter signed by R.H. Wagner confirms the rare caliber and current configuration, grips not listed, and shipment to Supplee Hardware Co. in Philadelphia on 27 January 1910, as the lone gun in the shipment. The top of the barrel is marked with the standard one-line address while the left side has the rare caliber marking "44 RUSSIAN CTG." The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates followed by the circled Rampant Colt, and the left of the trigger guard is marked with the "VP" proof and "W". It is fitted with standard blade front and groove rear sights, and a pair of checkered hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts at the tops. The revolver was formerly of the famous Mel Guy collection and is pictured and identified in "A Study of the Colt Single Acton Army Revolver" on page 155. Provenance: The Mel Guy Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Fine, retains 70% of the original blue finish and 50% of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina and a few patches of scattered light pitting. There is a light ding in the right side of the front sight blade. The grips are also fine with a few scattered light handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.