This revolver is one of only approximately 525 First Generation Single Action Army revolvers chambered at the factory in .357 Magnum between that cartridge's introduction by Smith & Wesson in 1935 and Colt ending Single Action Army production in 1940 due to World War II. Though many of the late Single Action Army revolvers were held and not shipped until after WWII, this revolver was sold to well-known Texas dealers Wolf & Klar of Fort Worth and shipped in December 1937. Wolf & Klar were famously the source of Machine Gun Kelly's Thompson Submachine Gun and also sold a lot of weapons to law enforcement and others on the right side of the law. The included 1965 dated Colt factory letter addressed to George Lewis Jr. lists this revolver in .357 with a 7 1/2 inch barrel, blue finish, and stocks not listed and identifies it as sold to "Wolf & Klar W.S. Sporting Goods Co." of Fort Worth, Texas, and as shipped to L.J. Wilson of Hoopeston, Illinois, on December 22, 1937, and as the sole gun of this type in the shipment. Hoopeston is in rural eastern Illinois near the Indiana border. The factory box has a proper "7 1/2" and "BLUE." marked end label and the additional "WOOD" and "357" labels and is numbered to the gun on the bottom. The revolver has a lowered blade front sight, the one-line address on top of the barrel, "COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .357" on the left side of the barrel, a top strap groove and square notch rear sight, the two-line patent marking and Rampant Colt trademark on the left side of the frame, "4" and the triangular "VP" proof on the left side of the trigger guard, "06" on the rear of the cylinder, matching serial numbers on the frame and grip straps under the right grip, assembly number "808" on the loading gate and rear of the frame, and checkered walnut grips with silver medallions. Provenance: The Jim Davis Collection; The Alan Kelley Collection; The George S. Lewis Jr. Collection; Property of a Gentleman

Excellent plus in original box with 98% original finish, some light muzzle and cylinder wear from light use, and faint handling and storage marks. The grips are also excellent plus and have crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. The box is fine and has moderate age and storage related wear, including some torn lid edges and corners. This is an absolutely incredible pre-war Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered for the ever popular .357 Magnum cartridge.