Original Item: Only One Available. This is every School boy's dream! A real Cowboy six gun! This very nice Colt SAA (Single Action Army) Revolver is one that has definitely had an interesting life! Normally, mismatched serial numbers on a Colt pistol are a reason to look away, however this is in fact an "Artillery Model", officially known as an "Altered Model" by the U.S. War department. In 1895–1896, the U.S. federal government returned 2000 SAA revolvers to Colt to be refurbished; 800 were issued to the New York Militia with the 7 1⁄2-inch barrel and 1,200 were altered to a barrel length of 5 1⁄2 inches. In 1898, 14,900 of the SAA revolvers were altered the same way by Springfield Armory, with 5 1⁄2 inch barrels.

This was all done because it was felt that the standard issue .38 caliber Colt M 1892 double-action revolver lacked in stopping power. The "Altered" Artillery Model Colt SAA in .45LC was the answer, and had PLENTY of power. The first units to receive these were the Light Artillery, which is probably how the model got its name. They were also received by Infantry, Volunteer Cavalry, and other troops, and would be used in the upcoming conflicts. The .45 Artillery SAA Revolvers were used successfully by front troops in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill wielding the .45 caliber Artillery Model.

This lovely "Artillery Model" revolver is marked with serial number 7524 on the trigger guard and shortened number 8500 on the bottom of the barrel, however the frame is actually a very rare "No-Number" example. The revolver came to us with research done by John A. Kopec, an expert on the Colt Single Action Army revolvers, indicating that this is one of only TWENTY-THREE known examples of "No-Number" frames from the 1873-1891 production period used in Artillery Model Revolvers, out of only 171 made during the same time. The letter, dated April 4, 2012, details every aspect of the revolver in detail, including the probable origin of each numbered component based on the serial number. Kopec is also the author of the seminal work A Study of the Colt Single Action Revolver, along with co-authors Ron Graham and C. Kenneth Moore, where this very revolver is discussed on page 260.

The "No-Number" frame, while it does not have a serial number, can still be relatively accurately dated to production in the 1880s, due to "Three-date-in-three-line" patent date, which in 1891 would become two lines. It also does not have the push button release for the cylinder base pin that was introduced in the mid 1890s. However, the Single Action army was made well into the 20th Century, and reissued once. To forestall any issues in the future, on Aug. 13, 1974 John A. Kopec wrote a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms, asking for a Curio & Relic Determination on the revolver so it would not be considered 'modern". The response from the BATF however was even better, and their response, dated SEP 30 1974, clearly states that:

Your revolver is classified as an antique firearm under the provisions of Section 921 (a) (16) (A) of Title I of the Gun Control Act of 1968 since it was manufactured prior to December 31, 1898. As such, the provisions of Section 178.11, Title 26, Code of Federal Regulations are not applicable since antique firearms are not considered to be "firearms" as defined in the law. Curio or relic classifications are reserved only for weapons which qualify as "firearms", again as defined in the law.

With this determination, this revolver is indisputably considered a Pre-1899 antique firearm by the BATF. The original research, letter to the BATF, and BATF response letters are all included with this revolver for the future owners records.

The revolver itself is in full working order and condition, showing a lovely aged patina on the metalwork with some great broken in walnut grips, sure to delight any Americana collector with an interest in the Spanish-American War. As noted in the research by Kopec, the revolver was made utilizing various spare parts, and could have been put together at the factory during the original 1895-1896 period or possibly during the 1900-1903 period to make up for a shortfall in a further government contract.

Since that time, it does look like the walnut grip was replaced with another period manufactured example, showing traces of commercial varnish. It was also noted that the grip strap was drilled for a grip-pin, for using aftermarket two part grips, and the hammer is also a 1930s style replacement with fine knurling on the end and a concave firing pin. It's also noted that the cylinder pin does not have centering holes on the ends, which is the later style.

The original single line Colt address marking on the top of the barrel is still fully present and legible, and is correct for one made during 1891.

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

The bottom of the barrel is marked with an R.A.C. on the bottom, for Rinaldo A. Carr, a civilian employee of the War Department who was the sub-inspector on the Double Action Army revolvers and other Colt arms during the 1890s. Kopec indicates that the barrel most likely came from revolver serial number 138500, made in 1891.

The left side of the frame has the Colt patent dates fully legible:

These are the second pattern markings, and this revolver was made before the "Prancing Pony" logo began appearing on the frame. There is no caliber marking on the trigger guard, however we have checked the cylinder and barrel with real cartridges to confirm. This revolver is definitely chambered for .45 Colt, also known as .45 "LONG" Colt, one of the most legendary handgun cartridges of the old west. When you hear people talk of a "Colt 45", this model gun is the reason why.

Mechanically, the action is smooth, with a good cylinder lock up, and strong mainspring. The action has all four clicks, and cycles correctly, though the second (loading) position however is a bit worn, so it is not out far enough to allow the cylinder to move freely. Aside from that we did not notice any of the usual finicky behavior we often see on revolvers of this age. As with all revolvers of this age we recommend being gentle with cycling it, so we do not recommend "fanning" or "fan firing". The bore is in excellent condition, showing crisp lands and grooves and a bright finish. There is just a bit of fouling and oxidation in the grooves, making this one of the best SAA bores we have seen recently. The ejector door swings open easily, and the ejector itself works great. Overall this is a great pistol, with a fantastic honest used look!

This is a fantastically rare example of a factory reworked "Artillery Model" Colt Single Action Army revolver with a "No-Number" frame, one of only 23 known to exist. It's in lovely condition, and with the included research by expert John A. Kopec and other documentation, it is sure to be a fantastic addition to any collection. Ready to display!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1880s - Arsenal reworked in 1898
Caliber: .45 "Long" Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 ½ inches
Overall Length: 11 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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.