American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1981 - Jeffersonian

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THE \NDF!lL.I::::I·. _ICCE.T 62 By George E. Virgines The new Colt Sheriff's Model .44/40 with extra .44 Special cylinder in shiny nickel ,finish and in Royal Blue. THE WORLD'S BIGGEST POCKET PISTOL, has once again, made its debut. This newest Colt Single Action is introduced as the "Colt Sheriff's Model 44/40." It is the ever-popular short barrel, ejectorless model that has a heritage going back as far as the 1870's and 1880's and has continued right on to the present. Also it continues to provide all the unique variations to satisfy every Colt Single Action collector's whim and fancy. Even the nick-names attached to this short barrel Colt constitute a variety such as custom model, Storekeepers and/or Sheriff's Model, hide-a-way gun, snubbie, pocket-pistol, and commemorative. An extremely scarce version of the Sheriff's Model of the pre-World War II era is the Bisley Single Action short barrel model. After World War II Colt experimented with the idea of a Frontier Scout Single Action .22 with a 3-Y2 inch barrel, however the idea fell thru. Two very custom special Sheriff's Models were created from New Frontier Single Action Flat-tops with Serial numbers 5410 NF and 5411-NF, both in.45 Long Colt caliber and .45 ACp, and profusely engraved by the master engraver Alvin A. White. This newest addition to the Colt family will certainly not lack in any way for uniqueness or variety. Even in the 1870's and early 1880's there is evidence that these ejectorless models were supplied on special order basis long before they were listed in Colt's catalogs. In over a century this practice has not changed. Today, this new Colt Sheriff's Model, 44/40 is being offered in four variations, which should please the most exacting collector. This was not too much the case in 1960 when the first new Colt Sheriff's Model was reintroduced in .45 caliber and with a 3 inch barrel. Production was limited to only 503 pieces, 25 ofthese nickel plated, and the balance blued with case-hardened frames and equipped with two piece wood grips. Only two of these 1960 models were factory engraved and on the butts only. However some of the 1960 models have been engraved by other than factory engravers. To later enhance these 1960 Sheriff's Models, blond wood cases were made available by Charles Kidwell, noted collector and dealer of Wichita, Kansas. There were 52 single and 11 double presentation cases made up with the lids branded "Sheriff's Model" and the same imprinted on the inside of the cover lining. The interior is lined with yellow gold velvet in the bottom and yellow satin in the lid. This is one of the few and rare examples in which a nonfactory case has become a rarity and collector's item. Actually about the first time that the Sheriff's Model was brought to the public's attention was the advertisement in Colt's 1888 catalog which listed barrel lengths of 3-Y2 inch and 4 inch without ejectors for their Colt Single Action models. The actual count of how many Colt Sheriff Models produced between 1870's to 1940 has not been determined. AMERICAN HANDGUNNER· JULY IAUGUST 1981
J960 Colt SheriH's Model .45 caliber revolver. The non-factory engraving was created by Lynton McKenzie. But according to the scarcity of these unique models they certainly were and still are a limited production model. The new 44/40 Sheriff's Model should prove to become a most desirable collector's item. Becaus.e of its limited production number it's most doubtful if any of these pocket pistols will be used as shooters. In fact the statement "Warning: Do Not Shoot This Gun" has become a golden rule for collectors of commemoratives and limited edition guns. If possible in order to keep these very "Special" firearms in mint condition, handling is kept to a bare minimum, thus assure future increases in value. This new abbreviated barrel piece should fit into this category very appealingly. To initiate the appeal for this new 44/40 Sheriff's Model are the many variations it has to offer. Starting first, four different limited model variations are being made available. First is Model P1932, Sheriff's Model, Standard, quantity: 1000, caliber .44-40, 3-inch barrel, blued with case hardened frame, standard SSA composite stocks with rampant colt and eagle. 1980 retail price $399.95. Second Model PI934 is Sheriff's Model with dual cylinder and case. Quantity: 1,150, caliber .44-40, .44 Special, 3-inch barrel, Royal Blue with case-hardened frame. Grips are Standard SAA wood with no medallion, all in a French fitted walnut presentation case with glass top. 1980 retail price $680.95. Third Model P1933, quantity: 600, caliber .44-40 and .44 Special, is similar to Model 1934 except it comes in all-nickel plate and similar walnut presentation case. 1980 retail price: $680.95. A fourth variation is offered on a price on request basis AMERICAN HANDGUNNER • JULY I AUGUST 1981 and that is a factory engraved Sheriff's Model, .44-40 and .44 Special, 3-inch barrel, cased with extra cylinder and gold inlaid to customer's specifications. The Royal Blued and nickle-plated models marked on the left side ofthe barrel "Colt Sheriff's Model;' and on the right side ofthe barrel marked "Colt SAA.44 CAL." The standard model is marked "Colt SAA .44-40." Also all models are numbered in the standard Colt Single Action Army serial number range. In this day and age in wh.ich much concern is generated by interest in trivia perhaps the following might be ofinterest in~relation to this latest Colt Sheriff's Model. Noted in all ofthe recent ads pertaining to this new model is a "Deputy United States Marshal" badge which somehow does not r~late to a gun marked "Sheriff's Model;' the reason for the use ofthi.s badge is that it was borrowed from the author by Colt in 1979 when the Colt Company was seriously contemplating a new Sheriff's Model but was going to be known as the "U.S. Marshal" Commemorative, and so marked. As a commemorative this would have been a most unique piece but according to Colt has been shelved for the time being. Last but not least and certainly not trivia is the latest announcement by the Colt Firearms Division that on or about December 1981 the Colt Single Action Army models will all be discontinued. the phase-out will occurmodel by model each month throughout 1981. So with this ominous news facing the Colt SAA collector this new and exclusive Sheriff's Model should IIIIIII!IIIdefinitely become a classic in its own time. ~ 63
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AMERICAII JULY/ AUGUST 1981, Vol. 6
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MO~~~Rlp· • S & W: SQUARE BUTT K
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I The Magnificent Beretta MINX .22
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INDUSTRY INSIDER JERRY RAKUSAN the
Page 12 and 13: SILUETAS PHILIP C. BRIGGS NRA SILHO
Page 14 and 15: COMBAT SHOOTERS now have a low cost
Page 17 and 18: , . Wh~n you go to pick a firearm,
Page 19 and 20: 397••ON. The Colt Trooper MKII!
Page 21 and 22: Making a high performance optical s
Page 23 and 24: Complet .45 Combat Modifications Sp
Page 25 and 26: BULLSEYE BANDGUN ACCESSORIES .The C
Page 27 and 28: Not Eve!)' La"" OHicer Qualifies In
Page 29 and 30: ise, and found himselflooking down
Page 31 and 32: for comfort-the seeds ofhis gun wer
Page 33 and 34: EVERY POSTER A COLLECTOR'S ITEM HUR
Page 35 and 36: Model 25 wouldn't be quite as simpl
Page 37 and 38: B. WITT GUN WORKS (Carl Witt), 4020
Page 39 and 40: Ikey's trigger jobs are among the b
Page 41 and 42: tions had to be exactly right, it w
Page 43 and 44: Your Initiation To The Big Boomers
Page 47 and 48: .. 47
Page 49 and 50: OM H-S PRECISION The first time tha
Page 51 and 52: A new dimension to the study oftoda
Page 53 and 54: .22 SILHOUEnES THE .22 PISTOL A wor
Page 55 and 56: good clean IV2 pounds and still pro
Page 57 and 58: SIGHT SETTINGS (Continued from page
Page 59 and 60: HANDLOADING (Continued from page 22
Page 61: Can you imagine what happens when t
Page 65 and 66: ASP (Armament Systems & The Carpent
Page 67 and 68: HANDLOADING (Continued from page 59
Page 69 and 70: Buy One IfJBl1 Book, Get One Free!
Page 71 and 72: loosened, the bottom end of the wel
Page 73 and 74: this assignment, of course. The ind
Page 75 and 76: lose velocity potential because of
Page 77 and 78: ngton 2112 primer, as will17.5/Blue
Page 79 and 80: into Open standing class (legal und
Page 81 and 82: All the big shots read GUNS. it off
Page 83 and 84: sure that the barrel lugs mate perf
Page 85 and 86: HANDGUN HUNTING (Continued from pag
Page 87 and 88: only 5000 rounds through either P9S
Page 89 and 90: NEW S&W GUNS (Continued from page 4
Page 91 and 92: REDHAWK VS M29 (Continued from page
Page 93 and 94: Customize your own gun with the lam
Page 96: ·ous. That's the best word to escr
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American Handgunner Jul/Aug 1981 - Jeffersonian

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