PRE-WAR / POST WAR .38 SPECIAL COLT SAA REVOLVER WITH LETTER & ORIGINAL BOX. Cal 38 Spl. S# 357514. Bbl. 5 1/2" with blade front sight. Following the United States entrance into WWII in 1941, production of the Colt's 1st Gen SAA revolver ceased. However, some original parts remained and were assembled following the War. "COLT'S SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER PRE-WAR POST-WAR MODEL" by Don Wilkerson states that there were only 338 revolvers assembled between 1947 and 1961. Of those, page 23 indicates only 163 were manufactured in this configuration. Revolver features a case hardened frame with balance of parts blued. Matching numbers appear on right side of grip frame & trigger guard frame. Trigger guard bow lacks inspection proofs, indicating assembly prior to 1955. 2 Piece checkered hard rubber Rampant Colt grips. Provided documents indicate subject revolver was shipped to a Mr. William Thornton, a field Representative of Colt. Page 43 of Wilkerson's book states "Approximately forty (40) revolvers were either presented to Colt employees or purchased by them." UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: matching numbered black factory box containing cleaning brush & warranty information. Colt factory dated April 21, 1960 letter stating the following: Calibre: .38 Special / Barrel length 5 1/2" / Finish Blue / Type of Stocks Not listed / Sold & shipped to: F.W. Thornton, / Address Wheatridge, Colo. / Date of Shipment June 21, 1957". Second letter from Colt dated July 9, 1958 states "Mr. Thornton is one of our Field Representatives, and resides in Wheat Ridge, Colorado". CONDITION. Very fine overall. Blued parts retain 98% original finish with a hint of muzzle wear on left side & bottom sharp edges of grip frame / trigger guard frame. frame retains 98% bright original case colors. All screw slots are crisp. Grips very good to near excellent. Mirror bore with crisp rifling. Mechanically excellent. Remnants of cosmoline remain from prior storage with cyl. still packed full. Easily cleanable. (25-6044/BH). CURIO. $12,000-16,000

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Shipping

19. SHIPPING: Poulins makes every attempt to ship your goods in a timely fashion. Because of the high volume of items being shipped and delays that shipping carriers deal with, please allow 2-3 weeks for your items to be delivered after all paperwork and full payment is received and applied. We do not attempt to make money on shipping but neither do we wish to lose money on shipping. The following is our shipping policy and shipping/handling/box and insurance charges.
SHIPPING CHARGES:
All shipping charges must be charged to a credit card. The shipping cost is calculated at the time the package has been prepared so we have accurate dimensions and weights. This includes the carrier shipping cost, handling insurance. Insurance is required and provided through Poulin's insurance carrier. If you have your own insurance or do not want insurance you will need to fill out a Poulin Insurance Waiver and submit it. Please be aware if you do not utilize Poulin's insurance and decide to self-insure, there is no compensation for any damage or loss.
*ASAP Orders: Are available on small quantities of 10 guns or less, however there is an additional charge of $50.00
*Hard Cases: There is a $20.00 charge for hard cases.
*Handling charges: Handguns are $8.00 per gun. Longarms are $15.00 per gun. Miscellaneous items and larger Class III items will vary depending on material used and time it takes to package. Labor rate is $30.00 an hour on these other items.
*Insurance Charges: A rate of $8 for the first $800 and 95 cents PER each $100.00 after $800. This covers the Hammer & Buyers Premium only. This does not include shipping, nor does it include what you expected to get for the item if resold.
*Shipping cost: Carrier cost plus all firearms (including antiques) are shipped with adult signature required. Any item(s) shipped with a value of $1000.00 and up is shipped with signature required.
*Boxes: $7.50 per box used in your shipment. No charge if it is a free box supplied by the carrier. (We do not carry all box sizes from these carriers, only generally sized ones).
POLICIES:
*Multiple winning bids will be combined to save buyer money.
*We reserve the right to not ship an item if we feel that it is too fragile or bulky to be done safely. (i.e. Bronzes, frames, delicate and/or oversized items, etc.)
*Poulins will not pack or ship anything that consists of a frame with glass or mirror. We recommend using a company that specializes in handling these types of items, such as Sure Express or a similar company. Prior to the release of the items, it is required that a Poulin insurance waiver be signed by the customer and it would be understood that insurance on said shipment is the sole responsibility of the customer and or the specialized company they choose to handle their shipment.
*We are happy to assist you in your shipping needs. Please understand that we will try to expedite your shipment when requested, but we make no guarantee that it can be completed in such a time frame as you may request or in the manner that you may request.
12/18/25

by Poulin Antiques & Auctions
February 28, 2026 10:00 AM EST
199 Skowhegan Road
Fairfield, ME, US 04937

Poulin Antiques & Auctions

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000