Factory ‘C’ Engraved Colt SAA .45 LC 1873 Custom Shop Single Action Army & Case

SOLD FOR: $3,301
Make: 
Colt
Model: Single Action Army
Serial Number: SA02310
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Caliber: .45 Colt (.45 Long Colt)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading-Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “Colt Single Action Army .45”. The top of the barrel is marked “Colt’s Pt. F. A. Mfg. Co. Hartford, CT. U.S.A.” The left side of the frame is marked “Pat. Sept. 19, 1871 / July 2,72 Jan. 19,75” and with the Rampant Colt logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame, the left side of the backstrap and the left side of the grip frame are marked “SA02310”. The left side of the grip frame is also marked “COLT ENG.” The front of the cylinder is marked “2310”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and the left rear with “R”. The right front of the trigger guard is marked “7”.
Barrel Length: 4 ¾”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips appear to be genuine tusk with gold colored medallions on each side. The left grip is light but shows dark marks along the grain and the right grip also shows small dark marks near the bottom of the grip. The presence of a grain in the grips is about the only indication that these are real tusk. The right grip also shows a very light handling mark near the bottom of the grip. The grips are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: The barrel, cylinder, grip frame and the top and back of the hammer are a high luster blue. The frame is case colored. All parts with the exception of the hammer, trigger and front strap are Class C scroll engraved prior to the finish being applied.
Finish Originality: All Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright; the rifling is sharp and deep and there is no erosion. There are no indications in the bore, in the cylinder chambers or on the recoil shield that this revolver was ever fired outside the factory.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 99+% of its metal finish. No marks were visible. The cylinder does not have a drag line or other marks. The screw heads are sharp but the grip screw shows marks of a screwdriver. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions normally. The cylinder lock-up is SOLID. The trigger pull is crisp. We did not fire this revolver.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in the original factory case. The case has a thin cardboard “outer” box with an end panel marked “Colt Custom Gun Shop” and with the correct model and serial number of this revolver. It also describes the revolver as “S.A. Army – Engraved Class-C”. The corners show light fraying and several are torn. The surface has areas of surface loss where tape was applied and then removed. The case has a reddish brown vinyl covering with a Rampant Colt over a shield with a banner marked “VINCIT QUI PATITUR”. The case has a brass button latch at the front and twin piano hinges at the rear. The only marks on the outside of the case are light scratches on the front latch. The inside of the lid is lined with dark brown vinyl covering, and marked “Colts Patent Repeating Pistols. / Harford, Conn. / Beware of Counterfeits & Patent Infringements” and with Sam Colt’s signature. The bottom of the case is lined with a burnt orange velvet material fitted for this revolver. It shows no mark. Overall, the case is in Excellent condition. Included in the case is a small card marked “From The Colt Custom Gun Shop”.
Our Assessment: This is a beautiful Colt 3rd Gen. SAA revolver in .45 Colt that comes in a vinyl covered Colt case. The revolver has a bright blue and case colored finish with tusk grips. The looks are further enhanced with Colt Custom Shop Class C scroll engraving on just about all parts of the finish but the front strap. The revolver is in Excellent condition, no marks in the metal that we could find and only a very faint mark on the right grip. The barrel, cylinder and firewall show no indication that this revolver was fired outside the factory. This revolver looks just like the engraved guns John Wayne used in “The Shootist”, even though they weren’t Colts. This beautiful revolver should be a must have for any Colt collection.

Factory 'C' Engraved Colt SAA .45 LC 1873 Custom Shop Single Action Army & Case
Factory ‘C’ Engraved Colt SAA .45 LC 1873 Custom Shop Single Action Army & Case