Original Item: Only One Available. This is a handsome original Colt Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army revolver chambered in .44-40 W.C.F., serial number 137856, manufactured in 1891. It retains the classic full length 7 1/2" barrel, clearly roll marked COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER, matching numbered frame, trigger guard, and backstrap, and period replacement Colt hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt and Federal Eagle motifs. At some point in its history the revolver was carefully refinished in a deep blue, and it has seen relatively little wear to that later finish.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Few American firearms are as closely associated with the late 19th century West as the Colt Single Action Army. Introduced in 1873 and commonly known today as the SAA or Peacemaker, Colt's single action quickly moved beyond its original military role to become a favorite with ranchers, lawmen, hunters, travelers, and civilians throughout the expanding West.

Colt added the Winchester .44-40 cartridge to the Single Action Army line in 1878. The chambering was a natural commercial success because a shooter could carry a Winchester rifle or carbine and a Colt revolver using the same cartridge. Colt marketed these .44-40 revolvers under the memorable name Frontier Six Shooter, first applying the designation as an etched barrel panel and later changing to a more durable roll stamped marking.

This example bears the later roll stamped barrel legend appropriate to its 1891 manufacture:

COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER

The marking remains clear overall, although the final R nearest the frame is quite faint.

The left side of the trigger guard is caliber marked:

44CAL

and the cylinder chambers have also been checked with an actual .44-40 cartridge, confirming the chambering.

The revolver's serial number is:

137856

and is present on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. This serial number falls within 1891 production. Colt factory records from the same serial range confirm production and shipment during that year.

The cylinder and barrel do not presently show serial numbers. That is not unusual for a Colt Single Action Army of this period and should not by itself be taken as evidence that either component has been replaced. Because those parts are unnumbered, however, we cannot independently establish that they were originally assembled with serial number 137856 without a Colt factory archive letter.

The loading gate carries assembly number:

906

Such internal assembly numbers were used during manufacture to keep fitted components together during finishing and assembly and are separate from the revolver's primary serial number.

The top of the 7 1/2" barrel retains the early single line Colt address:

COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U. S. A.

The left side of the frame retains the familiar Colt patent dates:

PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871.
JULY. 2.72. JAN. 19.75

A Rampant Colt trademark is also present on the frame adjacent to the patent marking, another desirable period feature.

The revolver retains the earlier screw retained cylinder base pin arrangement. Colt began transitioning to the spring loaded cross pin system around 1892, so the screw retained base pin is entirely appropriate for an 1891 revolver.

The grips are period Colt hard rubber replacements rather than the original grips fitted when the revolver left the factory. They remain particularly attractive, with crisp molded checkering and the familiar Colt motifs. The upper portions display the Rampant Colt, while the lower portions carry the Federal Eagle with the:

E PLURIBUS UNUM

banner still clearly defined.

Colt had adopted black hard rubber stocks for standard Single Action Army production during the 1880s, making these replacement grips entirely appropriate to the revolver's period even though they are not represented as factory original to this serial number.

The revolver was refinished at some point in the past with a deep blue finish. The work was performed carefully, and the revolver presents extremely well. The later blue remains strong across the barrel, cylinder, frame, and associated components, with only limited wear near the muzzle and ejector housing.

Some scattered underlying peppering can still be seen beneath the refinish, indicating oxidation was present before the surfaces were polished and reblued. We do not see evidence of major prior rust damage.

Originally, a standard blued Colt Single Action Army of this period would generally have had a blued barrel, cylinder, grip straps, and ejector housing combined with a case hardened frame and hammer. The current uniform deep blue appearance is therefore part of the later restoration rather than the original factory finish.

Mechanically, the action operates smoothly during careful manual inspection. The hammer produces the expected four distinct clicks, the mainspring remains strong, and cylinder lockup is positive. We did not encounter the inconsistent timing or hesitant operation sometimes found on heavily worn First Generation revolvers.

As with any antique single action revolver, the mechanism should be operated gently. Rapid “fanning” or forceful manipulation places unnecessary stress on nearly 135 year old internal components and is not recommended.

The cylinder base pin retaining screw remains present and can be removed normally, allowing the base pin and cylinder to be withdrawn.

The loading gate opens and closes correctly, and the ejector rod operates smoothly.

The bore is in very good condition, retaining crisp rifling and a mostly bright interior. There is some light evidence of old oxidation and black powder fouling toward the upper portion of the bore, now cleaned, but overall the bore remains exceptionally respectable for an 1891 black powder era revolver.

With its 1891 production date, desirable .44-40 W.C.F. chambering, full length 7 1/2" barrel, clear COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER roll mark, matching numbered frame and grip straps, period Colt hard rubber grips, very good bore, and attractive professionally executed older refinish, this is a particularly appealing First Generation Colt for the collector who wants the classic Old West configuration without the price commanded by a high condition untouched example. It would be a strong addition to a Colt Single Action Army collection, a Winchester and Colt .44-40 display, or any collection devoted to authentic firearms of the American frontier era.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1891
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Single Action Army / Frontier Six Shooter
Serial Number: 137856
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 7 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 13 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

History of the Colt Single Single Action Army

Bound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869. For the design, Colt turned to two of its best engineers: William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards who had developed a number of revolvers and black powder conversions for the company. Their effort was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver. Production began in 1873 with the Single Action Army model 1873, also referred to as the "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol".

The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production, was found in a barn in Nashua, New Hampshire in the early 1900s. It was chambered in .45 Colt, a centerfire design containing charges of up to 40 grains (2.6 g) of fine-grained black powder and a 255-grain (16.5 g) blunt roundnosed bullet. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading.

The Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith & Wesson Model 3 "Schofield" revolver, replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. The Colt quickly gained favor over the S&W and remained the primary US military sidearm until 1892 when it was replaced by the .38 Long Colt caliber Colt Model 1892, a double-action revolver with swing-out cylinder. By the end of 1874, serial no. 16,000 was reached; 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the .45 Colt cartridge had entered service and the remaining revolvers were sold in the civilian market.

The Colt .45 is a famous piece of American history, known as "The Gun That Won the West". The Single Action army is a very popular firearm, even today, and it continues to be produced in various configurations.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.