Replica Item: Only One Available. This is a 1980s era 47% scale non-firing miniature replica of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, manufactured by A. Uberti in Italy. It reproduces the familiar 4 3/4" barrel configuration at approximately half scale, with a scaled barrel length of about 2 1/4", walnut grip, color case style frame finish, blued components, and a mechanically functioning action.

The Uberti company in Italy has long made high quality replicas of "classic" revolver designs, and began making these 47% miniature versions in the 1980s to satisfy demand for non-firing collector items. They were made in many different configurations, sometimes marketed with scaled down custom cases, and are a great way to have a lovely display piece that is smaller than then original, and also not considered a firearm due to being inert, whereas a full size functional replica Colt SAA would definitely require registration.

Few firearms are as closely associated with the American West as the Colt Single Action Army. Its distinctive profile, short barrel, exposed hammer, and one-piece grip became the familiar sidearm of ranchers, lawmen, soldiers, and armed travelers during the closing decades of the frontier era. That image later became inseparable from Western films and television, but surviving period revolvers such as this example show the practical, hard-used character behind the legend.

This example is in fantastic condition, with the case colored and blued finish retained almost completely. The barrel is a "gunfighter friendly" short 4 3/4", scaled down to about 2 1/4". It has the correct walnut grip, and is marked with serial number 1895 on the frame and trigger guard, while the grip frame has shortened number 895. There are no markings on the barrel, but there is a 45CAL on the trigger guard. It is also correctly marked A UBERTI - ITALY on the bottom of the barrel, which is correctly plugged to ensure that no one would try to make it function.

The action remains mechanically functional and produces the characteristic four clicks when the hammer is drawn back. The cylinder indexes with operation of the action, making this an especially satisfying display miniature despite its permanently non-firing construction.

Overall condition is excellent, with only minimal evidence of handling or age. The strongest collector features are the 47% scale construction, Uberti manufacture, serial number 1895, matching abbreviated grip frame number 895, 45CAL marking, plugged barrel, walnut grip, strong original finish, and functioning four click action. It would display especially well in a Colt Single Action Army, miniature firearm replica, Uberti, Old West, or non-firing display collection.

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.