Original Item: Only One Available. This is an iconic original First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver, one of the most legendary firearms ever produced and a true symbol of the American frontier. Known worldwide as the SAA, Model 1873, or simply the “Peacemaker,” Colt’s famous six-shooter became forever associated with the American West, carried by ranchers, settlers, lawmen, soldiers, and outlaws alike.

Developed originally to meet the requirements of the U.S. military, the Single Action Army quickly became much more than a service revolver. Its reliability, balance, and timeless design made it one of the defining firearms of the late 19th century. Although Colt has introduced many revolvers since, no design has captured the imagination of collectors quite like the original First Generation Single Action Army.

This wonderful frontier-era example was manufactured in 1896 and is chambered in the very desirable .38-40 Winchester Center Fire (.38 W.C.F.) cartridge. It also features the highly sought-after 4 3/4" “gunfighter” barrel length, the shortest standard production barrel offered by Colt and a configuration strongly associated with civilian carry during the Old West period.

The .38-40 W.C.F. chambering was introduced by Colt to allow owners to carry a revolver and lever-action rifle using the same ammunition, a major advantage on the frontier. Although originally developed by Winchester, the cartridge became one of Colt’s most popular chamberings, second only to the legendary .44-40 among many Western users.

The revolver displays exactly the type of honest, aged appearance collectors love to see on a true 19th-century working Colt. Originally factory blued, decades of use and handling have aged the finish into an attractive gray patina, with areas of past oxidation peppering visible on the barrel and other components. It has the unmistakable look of a revolver that was carried and used during the era that made the Colt Single Action Army famous.

The serial number is 133458, dating production to 1896. The number is correctly stamped on the frame, trigger guard, and grip frame, making this an all matching example. Colt had discontinued numbering cylinders in 1883 and did not resume the practice until 1912, so the unnumbered cylinder is completely correct for this production period. The loading gate is marked with assembly number 747.

As a post-1895 production example, this revolver also features the later and improved transverse “push button” cylinder base pin release rather than the earlier retaining screw design.

The original two-line Colt barrel address, correct for the shorter barrel configuration, remains mostly visible on top of the barrel:

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

The left side of the frame retains the Colt patent markings:

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

These are the correct later style markings, accompanied by the Colt “Prancing Pony” trademark on the frame, which was introduced in 1891. The marking is partially worn from years of handling, further reflecting the revolver’s long service life.

The left side of the barrel retains a faint but visible:

38 W.C.F.

marking, confirming the original Winchester .38-40 chambering.

The original Colt hard rubber grips remain installed and have the fantastic aged character collectors associate with authentic frontier-era Colts. These grips display the famous Colt “Prancing Pony” at the top and Federal Eagle motif at the bottom. The checkering and designs remain visible, with the natural smoothing and slight brown coloration that develops on original hard rubber grips after more than a century. They show normal handling wear and a few scratches, including what appear to be lightly scratched initials or letters on the bottom of the left panel, but remain free of major cracks or missing sections.

Mechanically, this Single Action Army remains very strong. The action produces all four classic Colt clicks, cycles correctly, indexes properly, and locks up securely. The loading position functions as intended, and the action avoids many of the timing issues commonly encountered on heavily used examples. There is a small amount of expected play from age and use, and as with all original antique Colts, careful handling is recommended. We do not recommend “fanning” or “fan firing” any original 19th-century revolver.

The bore is in very good condition, retaining a partially bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is wear to the rifling along with evidence of past oxidation and fouling that has since been cleaned away, consistent with a revolver that saw genuine use during its lifetime. The loading gate opens smoothly, and the ejector assembly functions correctly.

Authentic First Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers from the actual Old West era continue to become increasingly difficult to locate, especially examples retaining matching serial numbers, original grips, a desirable short barrel configuration, and true frontier character.

This is exactly the type of honest, well-used Colt that collectors appreciate: not restored, not refinished, but a genuine 1890s Peacemaker with the history and appearance that made these revolvers legendary. A fantastic addition to any Colt, Western Americana, or antique firearms collection.

Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Caliber: .38-40 W.C.F. (Winchester Center Fire)
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 4 3/4 Inches
Overall Length: 10 1/4 Inches
Action: Single Action Revolver
Feed System: 6-Shot Cylinder

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.