{"product_id":"original-u-s-colt-nickel-plated-45cal-single-action-army-revolver-made-in-1876-with-cut-4-3-4-barrel-factory-letter-and-period-holster-serial-23773","title":"Original U.S. Colt Nickel Plated .45cal Single Action Army Revolver Made in 1876 with Cut 4 3\/4\" Barrel, Factory Letter, and Period Holster - Serial 23773","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-worn Single Action Army Revolver in .45cal has a \"gunfighter friendly\" shortened 4 ¾\" barrel and a lovely worn walnut grip. Blued from the factory, it was later nickel plated, most likely when the barrel was shortened, and that finish has now worn as well, allowing the steel to oxidize. This has given it a fantastic \"Frontier Worn look\" that is simply impossible to duplicate. It also comes with a beautiful open top \"two loop\" period tooled leather holster, showing some designs on the front, and looking to have seen just as much use as the revolver!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver's serial number is \u003cstrong\u003e23773\u003c\/strong\u003e, which dates production to \u003cstrong\u003e1876\u003c\/strong\u003e. It has the serial number on the frame, trigger guard, grip frame, and even \u003cstrong\u003e3773\u003c\/strong\u003e on the barrel under the ejector. We were not able to find any trace of the cylinder serial number, most likely worn away before or after the nickel plating. In 1883, Colt would stop marking the cylinders until 1912, mostly due to how often they wore away, and they did not start these markings again until 1912. We checked the loading gate, and the assembly marking usually there is missing as well. It is in full working order and condition, showing a gorgeous worn patina of age, sure to delight any \"Old West\" Americana collector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver came to us with a Colt Factory letter from the office of the Colt Historian \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeverly Jean Haynes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The paper used has the correct Colt Letterhead and bears a raised stamp. It is dated \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNovember 8, 2023\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, with the caliber listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.45\/c\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e and finish listed as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. The barrel length and type stocks are \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot Listed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, which indicates the standard 7 ½\" barrel and walnut stocks during this time period. The gun was shipped on \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMarch 27, 1876\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e with 50 other guns of the same type to H \u0026amp; D Folsom Arms Company in New York, New York. This company was mostly known as an importer of firearms from Europe, which it sold under its own brand, but they also definitely retailed large numbers of domestic guns as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis definitely indicates that the barrel was shortened, as it is serial matched and should be a long barrel. The nickel plating is also definitely post manufacture, and we would wager not done by the original retailer. The top of the barrel still shows a partial single line address, correct for the long barrel version of the SAA:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e[COLT'S PT. F. A. MF]\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eG. CO. \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 fully legible:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT. SEPT.19.1871.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAT. JULY. 2. 1872.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are the first pattern markings with only two lines, used until about 1877, after which there were three lines. Later around 1891 the iconic \"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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe revolver has the great worn look that only use in service can give, with the nickel plated finish showing some lovely wear. It definitely looks to have been carried for decades, most likely in the original holster, which most likely accelerated the plating loss. The walnut grip shows marks and some initials carved in, and the usual wear around the bottom. There is also a sizeable chunk missing on the left front toe, which looks to have been lost somewhat recently.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMechanically, the action is smooth, with a good cylinder lock up, and a strong mainspring. The action has all four clicks, and cycles correctly, however it does hang up at some times. The lock screw for the cylinder base pin is worn, and the base pin bushing is seized in the cylinder, so the base pin rotates in the frame during cycling.  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 is in very good condition, showing clear lands and grooves, but also some overall wear and light oxidation and fouling from use. The ejector door swings open easily, and the ejector itself works great. Overall this is a lovely service used pistol!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePistols such as this are extremely difficult to find today at any reasonable price. This honest worn example is just ideal for any Wild West Collection, especially with the original holster. A great collector's revolver that has led an interesting life, ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1876\u003cbr\u003eCaliber: .45 \"Long\" Colt\u003cbr\u003eAmmunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge\u003cbr\u003eBarrel Length: 4 ¾ inches\u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 10 ¼ 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":42807026909253,"sku":"ONSV25TGA045","price":3995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25TGA045__01MAIN.jpg?v=1748624823","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-colt-nickel-plated-45cal-single-action-army-revolver-made-in-1876-with-cut-4-3-4-barrel-factory-letter-and-period-holster-serial-23773","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}