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VERY EARLY 1873 U.S. COLT SAA SINGLE ACTION ARMY 1st GEN 45 X 7-1/2” BBL CAVALRY SERIAL NUMBER 216
Guns International #: 101110230 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Colt Revolvers - Single Action Army - 1st Gen - Colt Revolvers - Antique
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: victorio1sw
Member Since: 8/4/13
State: Texas
Country: United States
Fax:
Number of Active Listings: 4
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Bank Cashier’s Checks and Postal Money Orders.
Description:
Description:
One of the earliest U.S. Colt Single Actions, probably manufactured, inspected, and turned over to the government in 1873. Like all U.S. Colt SAA’s up through about serial number 11000, Colt has no record of #216 being shipped. The reason is simple: As the in-house government inspectors completed favorable inspection, the guns were released straight to government possession. By combining the number of guns released to the government with those few that were sold commercially, we know that about 3450 Colt SAA’s were completed in 1873.
Colt SAA’s bearing nearby serial numbers 214 and 215 are also known, and were U.S. inspected. Number 214 had a replaced italic barrel with non-matching serial number, and the “U.S.” was mostly removed.
This Colt has matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder and barrel. The gate has no number, and may have been a field replacement. However, it should be noted that U.S. guns #166 and #240 also have un-numbered gates. This was an Ainesworth inspected gun, and his “A” appears on the backstrap behind the hammer, on the trigger guard, and on barrel and cylinder. Also a “P” inspection letter is seen on the barrel and cylinder.
The unusually-nice grips fit perfectly as apparently original, with the left side showing a trace of final inspection cartouche. I don’t risk the removal of one-piece grips from tight backstraps. Losing a chip of walnut over a possibly-unreadable serial number inside the backstrap groove is not worth the risk. There is only one tiny chip out on the right grip panel, right behind the trigger guard (see picture).
As pictured, the ejector is the first type with a locator pin, rather than the later design that positions over a threaded barrel boss. This early design included a large milled-out rectangular window where the rod head could be inserted and threaded onto the rod. At some time, this housing was “updated” by adding a slot from that window back towards the frame. This slot then allowed the pre-assembled rod head, rod, and spring to be inserted into the rear of housing, rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise, and run all the way forward. This “updating” provided the improved features as found on the 2nd and 3rd type ejector housings. The rod head itself is the early round type, which was used on all U.S. Single Actions up through about serial number 114,000.
The cylinder is the early type with small locking notches and minimal beveling at the front of each flute. As mentioned earlier, it bears the number 216, and inspector’s stamps “A” and “P”. The cylinder pin, while quite old and in nice unmolested (with plyers) condition, is likely an early replacement.
The hammer is also the early style with long knurling and conical firing pin. The gun cocks crisply and locks up with reasonable tightness for a well-used Colt SAA. Both the safety and half cock notches are functional (not broken) and in the correct places, so hammer needs no re-building. You can bet that at least 90% of Colt SAA’s offered on this forum have hammer notch problems, but they will almost never mention this flaw. The cylinder locking bolt currently drops at a proper advance to the cylinder lock notches, but this was not always the case (see the light drag line on cylinder).
This gun’s surfaces are gray to dark-gray overall and generally smooth. The cylinder does show some pitting from long use of corrosive mercury fulminate primers and black powder. All six cylinder panels are illustrated on one of my pictures, so that every cylinder surface is available to view. Chambers are reasonably smooth but a bit dirty (see pictures).
The barrel has the early rolled italic Hartford address with the plus mark (+) at each end. Some letters are weak, but the entire address is fully readable. The bore has wide grooves and very narrow lands, which is typical of early Colt SAA’s. The bore is dark and includes some scattered pitting. On close inspection with a bright bore light it can be seen that this barrel was restored to 7-1/2” by adding about 2-1/2” from another barrel. The lands and grooves align perfectly, indicating that the restorer had proper tooling, experience, and skill for this procedure. The front sight and barrel crown look proper on this restored barrel. Amazingly no one beat up the bottom of the barrel in trying to pull the cylinder pin with a pair of plyers!
All screws in this gun are old originals, retaining above-average slots, free of previous screw-driver damage.
By serial number, being made/shipped in 1873, this Colt is classified as “Curio & Relic”, and can be mailed directly to the purchaser. No FFL involved.
Initial contact should be sent by email. We can then schedule a phone call during which all details of this gun can be discussed.
Terms:
No International sales. Not being sold as a shooter, but as a functional collector’s Colt SAA. If you want to shoot any older Colt, first take it to a gunsmith and have it checked out.
Three day inspection period, but ask questions prior to buying (see additional notes on returns at bottom). Additional pictures sent on request.
I accept Bank Cashier’s Checks and Postal Money Orders. No personal checks or Western Union MO’s. Payment must be received within seven days after sale date, and sent by Priority Mail with Tracking Number provided by buyer. Shipping by USPS Registered Mail, fully insured for $50.00 (and tracking number provided to buyer). Usually shipping occurs within 3 days after payment received.
Three (3) day Inspection and Return Policy: Only if returned Exactly as Received - Not Disassembled for Inspection, Not Tampered, Not Broken/Chipped/Scratched/Dented/Scuffed, or any Parts Switched. Any Original Documentation sent Must Be Returned with item.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Antique: Yes