Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Colt Single Action Army revolver chambered in .41 Colt, with a 4 3/4" barrel and serial number 181845, dating manufacture to 1898. It is a very attractive first generation example retaining substantial original blue finish, matching frame, trigger guard, and grip frame serial numbers, period Colt hard rubber grips, and a strong mechanically functioning action.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The Colt Single Action Army Revolver — often referred to as the SAA or M1873 — was the first Colt cartridge revolver to achieve widespread acceptance and use, having been developed to meet the needs of the U.S. Government. Famously dubbed the “Peacemaker,” this iconic design is a cornerstone of Americana and the American Wild West, renowned for its popularity with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike. Although Colt has introduced many designs since its debut, none have captured the same romance, leading to multiple reissues after the original production was discontinued.

This Colt SAA features a desirable and “gunfighter-friendly” 4¾" barrel and retains its original Colt hard rubber grips, bearing the iconic Colt “Prancing Pony” at the top. These do look to be replacements, but thorough examination by experts has confirmed that they are from the original period. The revolver was blued from the factory, and still retains that finish at bout 85%, with some parts showing areas that have faded over time due to exposure.

The revolver bears serial number 181845, dating production to 1898. The serial number is present on the frame, trigger guard, and grip frame, making this an ALL MATCHING example, with no serialized parts swapped out over the years. As 1883 was the last year Colt stamped serial numbers on the cylinder until 1912, the absence of a cylinder serial number is correct. An assembly number 348 is marked on the loading gate. The revolver is in full working order and presents a wonderful, appearance that will appeal to any Old West or Americana collector.

The original double-line Colt address on the top of the barrel is present, but faint, as it looks to have been lightly struck at the factory:-

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

The left side of the frame retains the Colt patent dates, which remain clearly legible:

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

These are the correct later-pattern markings. The Colt “Prancing Pony” circular logo, introduced on the frame in 1891, is still present and fully visible. As this revolver was manufactured after 1896, it features the correct push-button cylinder base pin release, which replaced the earlier screw-retained system. The right side of the barrel is marked 41 COLT., the correct period marking for the ".41 Long Colt" cartridge, originally introduced in 1877 for Colt's double-action "Thunderer" revolver.

Mechanically, the revolver presently functions very well. The cylinder indexes correctly, lockup is solid, the action produces all four clicks, the loading position functions, and dry fire is crisp. The ejector rod is present and operates correctly without sticking. As with any antique Single Action Army, the mechanism should be handled gently and not subjected to fanning or other abusive operation.

The bore is in very good present condition with a partly bright surface and clearly visible lands and grooves. There is evidence of old fouling and oxidation within portions of the grooves, but the rifling remains well defined. These observations describe only the revolver’s current condition and are not an indication that it is safe to load or fire.

With its 1898 production date, matching principal serial numbers, .41 Colt chambering, 4 3/4" barrel, substantial surviving blue finish, period Colt hard rubber grips, visible patent and Prancing Pony markings, and strong mechanical condition, this is a compelling first generation Colt Single Action Army. The replacement period grips, faint barrel address, localized finish wear, and bore fouling and oxidation are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Colt Single Action Army, .41 Colt, first generation Colt, Old West, or advanced 19th century American firearms collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1898
Manufacturer: Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company
Model: Single Action Army
Serial Number: 181845 - All Matching
Caliber: .41 Long Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 4 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 10 1/4 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

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.