Factory-original smoothbore Colt Single Action Army revolvers are among the rarest caliber and special-order variants produced during the legendary 1st Generation SAA run (1873–1941), which totaled 357,859 total guns manufactured. In David Brown’s seminal work “The 36 Calibers of the Colt Single Action Army” he indicates that only FOUR .45 caliber smoothbore Colt SAA’s appear in the records and while fifteen were produced in .44 caliber smoothbore. All of these smoothbore Colt Single Actions are closely tied to the famous Wild West shows of the late 19th century and early 20th century. Brown noted regarding the .45 caliber smoothbores: “These were made on special order for Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill, and were used in their Wild West Shows for the breaking of aerial targets (glass balls) tossed into the air and smashed in flight when hit by the tiny shot pellets with which these cartridges were loaded. Smoothbore rifles were used in the same way." This revolver from 1919 is documented as shipped to a friend of both Buffalo Bill Cody and Pawnee Bill as well as the Miller Bros.: Emil W. Lenders, a talented painter who continued the tradition of cowboy and western artists before him like Frederic Remington, capturing beautiful scenes of life and wildlife in the American West as it was unfolding. While Lenders is most widely remembered today for his art, he was also a Wild West performer for many years even after his old friends' shows ended. The revolver’s smoothbore barrel is marked with the one-line Hartford address on top and "45 COLT" on the left side. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent date markings followed by a Rampant Colt. The left side of the trigger guard has the factory triangle proof and a "1" Colt inspection marking. Matching visible serial numbers are on the frame, trigger guard, and back strap. The assembly number "124" is on the loading gate. The revolver has larger than standard cylinder stop approaches. On pages 179-180 of "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolver" by Graham, Kopec, and Moore, the authors identified two late manufacture .44-40 WCF smoothbore Single Action Army revolvers that left the Colt factory between 1923 and 1931, both with blue/casehardened finishes, and 354096 had "the unusually large cylinder stop approaches.” Number 354096 is also mentioned as being "the finest condition .44-40 smoothbore known." That revolver was previously sold by Rock Island Auction Company for $152,750 in August of 2022 (Auction 86, Lot 131), and this outstanding .45 caliber example is even rarer and is arguably the finest known surviving nickel plated smoothbore Colt Single Action Army revolver extant! The included January 6, 2025, dated ATF letter confirms this revolver has been exempted from the NFA and classified as a curio or relic firearm. The factory letter states lists this revolver in its current configuration: .45 caliber, 7 1/2 inch barrel, nickel finish, and type of grips not listed, with the further remark: "Records also indicate this revolver leaving with a Smooth Bore." It was shipped on May 13, 1919, to E. W. Lenders, address unlisted. Another included Colt factory archives letter indicates that unsuccessful searches were made in an attempt to locate information on the shipping destination, but the letter mentions that this individual was identified as the western artist Emil William Lenders by author Keith Cochran in "Colt Peacemaker Encyclopedia, Volume 2", and the revolver is listed by serial number on page 414 of Cochran's book where he states: "shipped in 1919 to E(mil) W(William) Lenders Western artist, wife was a trick shot." Lenders's revolver appears to have been one of his most beloved mementos of his colorful life in the American West. According to the article "Sentiment Enters Will of Collector on Eve of Death" in the Wednesday, May 9, 1934, issue of The McAlester News-Capital: "Emil W. Lenders, even in death, would not part with the saddle given him by Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody), the artist's will disclosed today when it was filed for probate in the county's court. A phrase bequeathing the saddle, with its accompanying spurs, bridle, quirt, rifle and pearl handled revolver to Frank Phillips, Bartlesville oil man, was crossed out shakily with an indelible pencil. In the margin was written 'Cancelled.' The date was March 5, a month before death." This revolver certainly matches the description. The saddle referenced is inscribed “To E.W, Lenders, the best painter of buffalo in the world. From his admiring friend William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill)," and this revolver may have also been purchased as a gift for Lenders, perhaps from his old friend Pawnee Bill. In 1919, Lenders was still performing and was also the manager of “Princess Wenona’s Western Show” starring his romantic partner Lillian Smith as Princess Wenona. Smith was a rival of Annie Oakley and set many of her own records shooting hundreds of glass target balls with .22 caliber rifles. Like Lenders, Smith had also previously performed in the Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, and 101 Ranch Wild West shows. Advertisements in August 1919 list "Princess Wenona's Wild West Show" with "Princess Wenona Herself" and "Col. Jack Lenders (Buffalo Jack)." The Expositor of Brantford, Canada, on August 6, 1919, stated that Col. Jack Lenders was "a life-long friend and companion of the late Colonel W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), and one of the few old-timers of the west, still left. Buffalo Bill thought so much of Col. Lenders that he bequeathed to him his old war horse 'Cody,' with saddle, the same charger which Buffalo Jack still rides in the arena." The Buffalo Times on September 7, 1919, noted "The days of the famous Buffalo Bill Shows are recalled by the appearance of Colonel Lenders (Buffalo Jack) and Princess Wenona, world's champion lady crack shot. In this wild west exhibition cowboys bring to light fancy and trick riding upon horses, rope spinning, revolver and rifle shooting, lassoing, and in fact the sports of the early frontier days." The couple briefly lived together on the Thunderbird Ranch on land mortgaged to them by the 101 Ranch Trust until they separated around 1926. Like many western legends, Lenders was not born and raised in the West in. In fact, he was born in London and grew up and studied art in Germany. His fascination with Native Americans and the allure of the American West drew him across the Pacific in 1906, and he lived in Philadelphia. By 1910, he had already formed a noteworthy collection of Native American artifacts from his travels. The collection was purchased by J. P. Morgan and donated to the American Museum of Natural History. Other pieces from his collection are now in the Smithsonian. He became a friend of Buffalo Bill Cody, Pawnee Bill, and the Miller Bros and worked as a performer in their Wild West shows and also appeared in at least one of the Miller Bros. films. In 1911, he is noted as having been one of the participants in a buffalo hunt with Buffalo Bill, the Miller Bros., Major John M. Burke, and others. Like Buffalo Bill and other western characters, he sported long flowing hair. Michael Wallis in “The Real Wild West” indicated Lenders found a home at the 101 Ranch where he drew inspiration for his art from the cowboys and cowgirls of the ranch, the nearby Indian tribes, and the bison, cattle, horses, and game of the West. His real life experiences as a working cowboy, bronco buster, and showman give authenticity to his works, and he painted absolutely breathtaking scenes of cowboys, horses, buffalo, various animals, and Indians. His works can be found in notable museums, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Provenance: Wild West Showman and Artist Emil W. Lenders; The Gateway Collection