{"product_id":"original-u-s-colt-frontier-six-shooter-44-40-saa-revolver-made-in-1879-with-7-1-2-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-51241","title":"Original U.S. Colt Frontier Six Shooter .44-40 SAA Revolver Made in 1879 with 7 1\/2\" Barrel and Factory Letter - Serial 51241","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Set Available. This is it! Every young \"Old West\" fans dream: A real Colt Cowboy Six-shooter! This very nice Colt Frontier Six Shooter SAA (Single Action Army) Revolver has a full length 7 1\/2\" barrel, with a lovely worn gray patina on the metalwork and \"frontier worn\" walnut grip. This definitely looks to be an example that saw long use on the frontier, giving it an impossible to duplicate look!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver's serial number is \u003cstrong\u003e51241\u003c\/strong\u003e, which dates production to \u003cstrong\u003e1879\u003c\/strong\u003e. It has the serial number on the frame, trigger guard, grip frame, and side of the cylinder, though the latter two are relatively worn and hard to see. We checked under the ejector, and there was not any number present due to wear. In 1883, Colt would stop marking the cylinders and barrels until 1912, making this a very nice \"Mostly Matching\" revolver, and we do not see any signs that the barrel has been swapped out in the past. There is also assembly number \u003cstrong\u003e681\u003c\/strong\u003e marked on the loading gate. It is in full working order and condition, with a great honest used 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 in the lower left corner. The paper used has the correct Colt Letterhead and bears a raised \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eColt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e seal stamp over the signature. It is dated \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFebruary 26, 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, and indicates it is a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.44\/40\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e caliber, also known as a \u003cem\u003eFrontier Six Shooter\u003c\/em\u003e. The gun was made with a \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e finish, and the barrel length and type of stocks are both \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot Listed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, which the letter indicates for this period indicates the standard 7 ½\" barrel and walnut grip. This means that the gun is still in the original sold configuration. The gun was shipped on \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarch 29, 1879\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e as part of a shipment of \u003cstrong\u003e25\u003c\/strong\u003e similar guns to \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinchester Repeating Arms Co.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e in New Haven, Connecticut. We have never had a revolver previously shipped to Winchester, but can see why they would want some on hand to pair with their Model 1873 rifles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver is in full working Order and Condition, showing a gorgeous worn gray patina, with the single line Colt address marking on the barrel still clear:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the frame has the Colt patent dates still partly legible:-\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT. SEPT. 19. 1871.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"    JULY. 2. --72.\u003cbr\u003e\"   JAN. 19. --75\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe trigger guard is faintly stamped \u003cstrong\u003e44.CF.\u003c\/strong\u003e on the side, indicating the .44-40 WCF caliber. The \"Frontier Six Shooter\" model was almost identical to the .45 \"Long Colt\" chambered Single Action Army model, except that it was designed for Winchester .44-40 ammunition, also called .44 W.C.F., which was and is a popular \"cowboy\" ammunition. While some may question why colt made guns chambered for a competitor's cartridge, having a repeating rifle and revolver that took the same ammunition was a big selling point. We have checked the cylinder with a real cartridge and confirmed the caliber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs this revolver was manufactured in 1878, it originally had an etched panel that read \"Colt Frontier Six Shooter\", as the serial number range for such marked revolvers was between 45000 and 65000. Revolvers like this were marketed to the civilian frontier market, as the U.S. Cavalry issued the identical model finished in blue. Unfortunately the etched panel is completely worn away now, and there is a good amount of oxidation on that side of the barrel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver presents beautifully, and really has the look of a sidearm that was \"really there\" in the old west, with the finish worn overall. The gray patina is lovely, showing use, servicing, and cleaning during its life. There is however some more advanced oxidation on the barrel, particularly the left and bottom, which look to probably have been in contact with a leather holster for a long period of time. The tanning agents used are corrosive, and also the leather draws water to the metal, causing oxidation. The walnut grip shows a good amount of wear, with the corners worn or chipped off, but showing no major cracks. There is just a bit of wood filler on the left side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, the action is smooth, with a relatively good cylinder lock up, accurate indexing, and strong main spring. The action has all four clicks, with a functional loading position, though if it is cycled to fast it can overshoot. As with all revolvers of this age we recommend being very gentle with cycling it, so we do not recommend \"fanning\" or \"fan firing\". The bore on this revolver is in fair condition, and looks to have seen extensive use, along with a lack of cleaning. We can still see some rifling in areas, but also peppering and past pit rusting, resulting in erosion of the rifling. The ejector door swings open easily, and the ejector itself works great, with a fully functional spring. Overall this is a great pistol with loads of patina and history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePistols such as this are extremely difficult to find today at any reasonable price. This example is just ideal for any Wild West Collection. A great collector's revolver, ready to display along with the original Colt Letter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1879\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .44-40 Winchester\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 7 1\/2 inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 13 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":45193289072709,"sku":"ONSV26GTGS028","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26GTGS028.jpg?v=1782158691","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-colt-frontier-six-shooter-44-40-saa-revolver-made-in-1879-with-7-1-2-barrel-and-factory-letter-serial-51241","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}