6/2/20 - This is a beautiful and very hard to find Colt New Service Shooting Master revolver. There were only approximately 3,500 of this revolver produced, with five different caliber variants involved, likely meaning there are only <1000 of this particular variation. The Colt Shooting Master revolver was introduced as a .38 Special target revolver for NRA match competition, and was one of the finest revolvers on the market at the time. It was shown privately to the top marksmen at the August 1931 National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio and was unveiled to the public with the Colt Ace .22 LR model in a 1931 issued of American Rifleman magazine. The Shooting Master uses the Colt New Service Target frame except the Shooting Master has a slightly narrower and rounded butt and a parkerized finish is used on the top of the frame and extended to the grip just above the checking on the rear grip. The top of the hammer is also parkerized, but the rear of the hammer is blue. This particular revolver shows some minor thinning on the cylinder and barrel/muzzle, as well as an area of wear on the trigger guard. Terrific bore and proper timing/action. The original wood grips are minty. The gun has a six inch barrel and comes with Colt factory letter. Was one of the first to be delivered in .357 Mag.
