Colt 1st Gen SAA Exquisitely Engraved .44 Special & .44-40 Texas Gun 1931
Description:
This Colt’s story begins when it was shipped from Hartford, CT on March 20, 1931 during the heart of the Great Depression. According to the factory letter, this pistol was was ordered by a W.M. Hudson, a well respected Texas editor from San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Hudson was a longtime friend of western folk novelist Andy Adams who had published numerous novels about living in the Old West that you can still find in bookshops today. It’s no surprise that an author would have wanted a gun like this, because there are many artistic elements that make this gun very special. From the deep velvet blueing, to the rich color case hardened finishes, to the gold inlayed accents on the barrel, and the hand engraved steer head ivory grips, this gun is truly special to look at and photos do not capture the true richness of it’s natural beauty. The color case hardening on the top strap looks like the milky way galaxy and when decorated by the snake and dot engraving pattern, the dots look like stars illuminating the sky. Obviously this gun was engraved by a master reminiciant of Old World skills, characterized by the level of refinement and sophistication this entire package describes. In addition, the gun is configured with options that make it special, such as the caliber.
The .44 Special was one of the rarest chamber offerings for the Single Action Army by Colt. I have found reports that out of all 1st Generation guns, only 506 of these were chambered in the caliber or 0.14% of total production numbers. This gun also comes with a separate matching cylinder, that is engraved and gold inlaid just as the primary and is chambered in 44-40 WCF. It’s interesting to note that legendary firearms enthusiast Elmer Keith had popularized the .44 Special cartridge when he wrote a column in the American Rifleman magazine in April 1929 titled “The Last Word” where he praised this cartridge. It’s possible that this article inspired W.M. Hudson to want this caliber since the article was published just a couple years before he ordered it.
The firearm comes cased in a beautiful antique walnut and velvet lined presentation case by the legendary outfitter Abercrombie & Fitch that references the original order number under the lid. Also included with the pistol is an original Abercrombie & Fitch catalog from 1931 that shows their price list for engraved Colts and grip options, a factory Colt brochure that lists their engraving options and information from the same year, a box of antique 44-40 ammunition, and a Colt factory letter.
In the Abercrombie & Fitch catalog, they offered “C” style engraving would cost an additional $45.00 premium plus an additional 10% Government excise tax when done on new arms. With all the features and options this weapon has, it would have cost over $100 to purchase at this time. This is a significant amount of money at this time in America. Considering that in 1929, just after the stock market crashed, there is a famous photograph showing a stock trader offering to sell his 1928 Chrysler Imperial 75 Roadster for $100!
This gun was featured at a Rock Island in 2009 where it has an estimate of $18,000-30,000. This was before the big gun price boom!
Firearms have always served as a interesting art medium, and each facet of this gun paints a colorful image coming from a period in America seeping with history. This pistol is a masterpiece of workmanship and was created with an eye for quality and detail that is unparalleled from any other example I have owned. This Colt is your opportunity to own one of the "Guns that Won the West", a true American success story that you can hold in the palm of your hand. What better version of this iconic firearm could you find than such a fine masterpiece of quality, skill, and craftsmanship that is rare or non-existant with any modern workmanship. If you want the best quality and investment potential in a firearm, there is no better period of time than 1st Generation Colts. As a gun for your collection, this would be the envy from everyone, and as an investment I can’t think of anything more beautiful that you would want to own.
I do not need help selling this gun. But If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. Looking to sell or possibly trade depending on what you have.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer:
Colt
Model:
Single Action Army
Serial Number:
353,224
Caliber Info:
.44 Special
Bore:
.44
Chambers:
.44 Special & .44-40 WCF
Condition:
Excellent
Metal Condition:
Excellent
Wood Condition:
n/a
Bore Condition:
Excellent
Barrels:
7 1/2
Action:
Single Action
Case:
Antique Walnut Case