Original Item: Only One Available. This is every School boy's dream, as well as many adults! A real Cowboy six gun! Not only that, one that is in the VERY desirable "Custer Serial Number Range", for revolvers possibly issued to the 7th Cavalry prior to the battle of Little Bighorn. We have never had a Colt Single Action Army this early, or within the Custer Range!

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.

This fantastic Colt SAA (Single Action Army) Revolver is one that has definitely had a long and interesting service life life! Normally, mismatched serial numbers on a Colt pistol are a reason to look away, however the U.S. stamped on the left side of the frame indicates that this is in fact an "Artillery Model", officially known as an "Altered Model" by the U.S. War department. In 1895–1896, the U.S. federal government returned 2000 SAA revolvers to Colt to be refurbished; 800 were issued to the New York Militia with the 7 1⁄2-inch barrel and 1,200 were altered to a barrel length of 5 1⁄2 inches. In 1898, 14,900 of the SAA revolvers were altered the same way by Springfield Armory, with 5 1⁄2 inch barrels.

This was all done because it was felt that the standard issue .38 caliber Colt M 1892 double-action revolver lacked in stopping power. The "Altered" Artillery Model Colt SAA in .45LC was the answer, and had PLENTY of power. The first units to receive these were the Light Artillery, which is probably how the model got its name. They were also received by Infantry, Volunteer Cavalry, and other troops, and would be used in the upcoming conflicts. The .45 Artillery SAA Revolvers were used successfully by front troops in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill wielding the .45 caliber Artillery Model.

The revolver is marked with VERY early serial number 4661 on the frame, which dates production to 1874, the SECOND year of production! This also means that it is part of the very desirable "LOT FIVE" of production received by the U.S. Ordnance Dept., which ran from serial numbers 4500-5504. This is THE PRIME LOT for Single Action Army revolvers for those that were issued to the 7th Cavalry prior to The Battle of Little Bighorn. At this time the sub-inspector for Single Action Army revolvers was Orville W. Ainsworth, who would continue until about serial number 14,343 in November 1874, when he retired due to failing health.

The serial numbers of the revolvers issued to the 7th Cavalry were all within the 4500-6559 range in Colt production Lots Five, Six, and Seven. On page 281 of "Colt Cavalry & Artillery Revolvers...a Continuing Study” by Kopec and Sterling Fenn, it is indicated that 600 of the 7th Cavalry Revolvers are estimated to have come from Lot Five, 300 came from the Lot Six, and just 39 came from Lot Seven. The authors also noted that “Serial numbers 4507, 4553, 4597, 4949, 4955, 5100, 5128, 5133, 5153, 5147, 5180, and 5416 all have either documented Seventh Cavalry history, or some lesser degree of Seventh Cavalry history or battle association. All of these revolvers are from Lot Five.” Thus, Lot Five revolvers are particularly desirable as they are significantly more likely to have been issued to the 7th Cavalry, with just under 50% of the total coming from that lot. That also means that about 60% of Lot Five were issued to the 7th Cavalry, making this revolver highly likely to have been issued to the unit. Then later in approximately 1898, it was recalled to Springfield arsenal to be reworked into an "Artillery Model", and there are several known examples in the 4600 serial range noted in the National Archives, per Kopec.

The Battle of Little Bighorn, fought on June 25-26, 1876, was a major confrontation between the combined forces of Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry Regiment, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, resulting in a decisive Native American victory and the death of Custer and all his men near the Little Bighorn River in Montana; the battle is often referred to as "Custer's Last Stand" and is considered a significant event in the Great Sioux War, symbolizing the clash between Native American culture and the encroaching American settlers.

The cylinder is serial number marked 2425, indicating it is early production (after 1883 cylinders were not marked), and the barrel is marked with serial number 9254. We do not know if this is a shortened serial number, or the full serial number, however as the "script" address on the top indicates a serial below 22,000, it is either 9254 for 1874 manufacture, or 19254 for 1875. The trigger guard is marked with 119161, made in 1887, while the grip frame marking is worn, but looks to be 49?64, for manufacture in 1879. There is also assembly number 38 marked on the loading gate.

The revolver is in full working order and condition, showing a lovely aged patina from long use in service, sure to delight any Americana collector with an interest in the Spanish-American War. The top of the barrel has the very early style italicized or "Script" address, only seen up to around serial number 22,000:-

+ COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A. +

The left side of the frame has the Colt patent dates still mostly legible:

These are the correct earliest first pattern markings, and next to them is a large U.S. surcharge, indicating U.S. Army acceptance. There is no "A" inspector stamp next to the serial on the frame, however this is correct for Ainsworth inspected Single Action Army revolvers. We did notice a P proof and two C proofs on the bottom of the barrel, for A.P. Casey, the inspector who worked with military SAA revolvers after Ainsworth left in November 1874. This also means that the serial number for the barrel is almost certainly 19254.

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.

The revolver really looks great, having that great "salty" patina that is impossible to duplicate. Only long years of service give this look, and there is no major damage visible from misuse or overly aggressive cleaning. The grip is in lovely condition, showing the great red-brown color of aged and oiled American black walnut. There are some small chunks missing and overall wear, but they really look quite nice. We cannot see any trace of the original grip cartouches.

Mechanically, the action is smooth, with a good cylinder lock up, and strong mainspring. The action has all four clicks, 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 gentle with cycling it, so we do not recommend "fanning" or "fan firing". The bore is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There are a few areas of past fouling and oxidation, but considering the age and amount o service it saw, that it still looks this good is amazing! The ejector door swings open easily, and the ejector itself works great. Overall this is a great pistol, with a fantastic look!

Pistols such as this are extremely difficult to find today at any reasonable price, especially one with the historical significance of the frame on this example. A classic Artillery model Colt single action army, made in 1874 for the "U.S." Military and very possibly issued to the 7th Cavalry prior to the Battle of Little Bighorn, and then recalled to arsenal and reissued. Very rare and ready to be a part of any well-curated arms collection!

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: 1874 - Arsenal reworked in 1898
Caliber: .45 "Long" Colt
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 ½ inches
Overall Length: 11 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

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.

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