{"product_id":"original-u-s-colt-32-20-w-cf-single-action-army-revolver-made-in-1891-with-4-3-4-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-141352","title":"Original U.S. Colt .32-20 W.CF. Single Action Army Revolver Made in 1891 with 4 3\/4\" Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial 141352","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is every School boy's dream! A real Cowboy six gun! The Colt Single Action Army Revolver, often referred to as the SAA or M1873, was the first Colt cartridge revolver to see wide acceptance and use, having been developed to meet the needs of the U.S. Government. Dubbed the \"Peacemaker\", the design is a famous piece of Americana and the American Wild West era, due to its popularity with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. While Colt has fielded many other designs since its introduction, none have been able to capture the same type of romance, resulting in the design being reissued several times since originally being discontinued.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis great frontier-used Single Action Army Revolver in .32-30 Winchester has a \"gunfighter friendly\" original 4 3\/4\" barrel and lovely worn Colt hard rubber grips, bearing the iconic Colt \"Prancing Pony\" on top and a Federal Eagle on the bottom. Blued from the factory, it has seen decades of use and cleaning, and now displays a lovely gray patina overall, with the original bluing still preserved in some more protected areas. The revolver's serial number is \u003cstrong\u003e141352\u003c\/strong\u003e, which dates production to \u003cstrong\u003e1891\u003c\/strong\u003e. It has the serial number on the frame, trigger guard, and grip frame, making this a very nice \u003cstrong\u003e\"ALL MATCHING\"\u003c\/strong\u003e example, without any parts swapped out over the years. As this revolver was made after 1883, the cylinder and barrel on this example were never marked with a serial number. There is also assembly number \u003cstrong\u003e1195\u003c\/strong\u003e marked on the loading gate. It is in full working order and condition, with a great lightly patinated look, sure to delight any \"Old West\" Americana collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver came to us with an original Colt Factory letter from the office of the Colt Historian \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeverly Jean Haynes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, which has her signature and correct raised seal applied in the lower left corner. The paper used is the correct Colt Letterhead and is dated \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecember 19, 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, indicating it is a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, with the caliber listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.32\/20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and finish listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The barrel is listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e4 ¾\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, while the stocks are \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot Listed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The standard grip material for this time period was hard rubber, so this revolver is still completely in the original configuration as shipped from Colt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gun was shipped on \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eJune 16, 1891\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e ;as part of a shipment containing of \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e5\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e guns of this type to the \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSimmons Hardware Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSt. Louis, Missouri\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning this was definitely a \"Special Order\" revolver. The dealer was a well-known retailer and hardware manufacturer founded in 1874, which at its peak had 6 locations, and usually would order in volume. They often would buy up their suppliers to ensure the best quality merchandise, and purchased the \u003cem\u003eWalden Knife\u003c\/em\u003e company based in Walden New York. The company actually merged with \u003cem\u003eWinchester Repeating Arms Co.\u003c\/em\u003e in the early 20th century for a time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original double line address marking on the top of the barrel, correct for the shorter length barrel, is still clear:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHARTFORD. CT. U. S. A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the frame has the Colt patent dates still fully legible:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT. SEPT. 19. 1871.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJULY. 2.72. JAN. 19.75\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are the correct later pattern markings, and to the right is the correct Colt \u003cstrong\u003e\"Prancing Pony in a Circle\"\u003c\/strong\u003e logo on the frame, introduced in 1891, though it is a bit faint. The markings are all relatively clear, so this revolver does not look to have been refurbished at any time, which would have worn down the markings during refinishing. The left side of the barrel is marked \u003cstrong\u003e32 W.C.F.\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating that it is chambered for Winchester .32-20, a popular small game cartridge of the time. While some may question why Colt would make a revolver chambered for a competitor's cartridge, having a rifle and revolver that took the same ammunition was a big selling point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver has the great worn look that only use in service can give. The original Colt hard rubber \"gutta percha\" grips have a fantastic \"broken-in\" look, with the original checkering and logos still clearly visible, but worn in areas, and there is a bit of the brown color that the grips acquire over long periods of time. There are a few scratches and the usual wear around the bottom of the grips, but no cracks or large chunks missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, the action is smooth, with a solid cylinder lock up, crisp dry fire, and just a bit of slop in the mechanics. The action has all four clicks with a functional loading position, and cycles correctly, without any of the finicky behavior we often see on revolvers of this age. As with all revolvers of this age we recommend being relatively gentle with cycling it, so we do not recommend \"fanning\" or \"fan firing\". The bore is in very good condition, showing a mostly bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is just a bit of wear to the lands, as well as a few small areas of oxidation, so it did see some use, but looks to have been well cared for. The ejector door swings open easily, and the ejector itself works great, with no sticking or other issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePistols such as this are extremely difficult to find today at any reasonable price. This honest used example is just ideal for any Wild West Collection! A great collector's revolver, complete with a Colt factory letter and ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1891\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .32-20 W.C.F.\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 4 3\/4 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 10 1\/4 inches\u003cbr\u003eAction: Single Action\u003cbr\u003eFeed System: 6 Shot Revolver\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the Colt Single Single Action Army\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith \u0026amp; 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\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith \u0026amp; Wesson Model 3 \"Schofield\" revolver, replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion revolver. The Colt quickly gained favor over the S\u0026amp;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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45234255986757,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS026","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26GTGS026.jpg?v=1782767715","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-colt-32-20-w-cf-single-action-army-revolver-made-in-1891-with-4-3-4-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-141352","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}