Colt Early Smokeless Powder 1st Generation .38-40 Single Action Army SAA Revolver, MFD 1902 C&R

SOLD FOR $2,242.00
LSB#: 
180411JI41

Make: Colt

Model: SAA – Early Smokeless Powder 1st Generation

Serial Number: 234461

Year of Manufacture: 1902

Caliber: .38-40 Win. (.38 WCF)

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “38 W.C.F.”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871. / JULY 2.72. JAN.19.75.” and with a Rampant Colt logo. The bottom of the frame at the trigger guard and the trigger guard are marked “234461”. The bottom of the backstrap is marked “234 / 461”. The inside face of the loading gate is marked with the assembly number “965”. The back of the frame in front of the hammer is marked “W”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”.

Barrel Length: 4 ¾”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tall quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are black checkered hard rubber with Rampant Colt logos in an oval at the tops of the grips. The grips show a few small marks in the smooth borders with a flat bruise at the bottom edge of the left grip and a few tiny dings in the bottom edge of the right. The checkering shows light wear with two marred spots below the grip screw in the left grip. The grips rate in about Fine condition.

Type of Finish: The revolver is blued with a case colored frame and hammer.

Finish Originality: The finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with light wear in the rifling. There are spots of light erosion scattered throughout the bore.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 22% of its metal finish. There is a spot of pinprick surface erosion on the left side of the frame above the trigger, a few spots in the cylinder flutes, and spots at the front of the trigger guard. There is thinned bluing remaining on the barrel, cylinder and the front underside of the trigger guard. The front strap and backstrap show finish loss and are developing a plum colored patina. The sides of the frame and the top strap are covered with light surface frosting, but there is still vivid case coloring visible in the sides of the frame in front of the cylinder. The outside of the ejector rod housing shows finish loss with thinning along its top surface. There are several dings in the top and right side of the ejector rod housing, a few dings in the top and right side of the barrel, several dings in the underside of the barrel along with scratches through the finish in the underside of the barrel and the ejector rod housing. There are few small bruises and light scratches in the top strap, and light handling marks on the cylinder and the sides of the frame. The cylinder also has a drag line.  There is a ding in the cylinder pin serrations, and light wear in the hammer knurling. The screw heads are sharp, but a few show light marks from a screwdriver. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions properly, and the cylinder lockup shows very little play. The trigger pull is crisp. The hammer has ¼ and ½ cock positions. We did not fire this revolver. Overall, this revolver rates in about Good condition. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: This is a Colt 1st Gen. Early Smokeless Powder SAA revolver in .38-40 Win. with a 4 ¾” barrel that was made in 1902. The .38-40 Win. was a necked-down version of the .44-40 Win. cartridge, and both were popular with those in the frontier because the Colt SAA revolver and Winchester’s Model 1873 rifle were both chambered in these rounds, allowing the use of only one kind of ammunition in both pistol and rifle. The revolver is in about Good overall condition with about 22% of its original finish remaining. The bore is mostly bright with light wear in the rifling, and light erosion scattered throughout the bore. The frame, trigger guard and backstrap all have identical serial numbers. This pistol shows handling wear, but is very clean, and still in great mechanical condition, so should be of interest to the collectors.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible single action revolver CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California but CANNOT be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s and antiques) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.

Colt Early Smokeless Powder 1st Generation .38-40 Single Action Army SAA Revolver, MFD 1902 C&R
Colt Early Smokeless Powder 1st Generation .38-40
Single Action Army SAA Revolver, MFD 1902 C&R