Colt 1st Gen Early Smokeless SAA Engraved 1904 C&R Blue & Case Single Action Army Revolver, .45 Colt

SOLD FOR: $2,900.00
LSB#: 
180918JR21

Make:Colt

Model:1873 Single Action Army 1st Generation, Early Smokeless Powder

Serial Number: 253763

Year of Manufacture:1904

Caliber:.45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “45 COLT. 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 top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. The underside of the frame at the trigger guard and the trigger guard are marked “253763”. The bottom of the backstrap is marked with “253 / 763”. The top rear of the loading gate is marked with an assembly number “4510”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with “5”. The back of the frame under the hammer and above the cylinder pin hole is marked “A” and “W”. The front face of the cylinder is marked “K” and the rear face with “24”.

Barrel Length: 7 ½”

Sights / Optics: This revolver is mounted with a “V” groove in the top strap for a rear sight and a tall quarter-round blade front sight fixed to the barrel. .

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth bone with light grain patterns in the sides of the grip and a few dark lines in the bottom surfaces of the grip. There are a few very light handling marks in the left side of the grip. The grip is slightly loose on the grip frame. The grip rates in about Fine Plus overall condition, and would be Excellent if it fit the frame better.

Type of Finish: The finish is blued with a case colored frame. There is scrolling engraving on the sides of the barrel, the underside of the trigger guard, the backstrap, and the circumference of the cylinder with border engraving on the ejector rod housing, the sides of the trigger guard and at the rear of the cylinder. There is also a gold-filled band at the rear of the cylinder, one at the front of the barrel and another at the back of the barrel.

Finish Originality:The finish on the frame is original, but the bluing on the other parts was applied after the surfaces were engraved.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 95% of its current metal finish. There are tiny spots of pinprick surface erosion in the left side of the frame with a small spot on the circumference of the cylinder. There are two tiny dings in the top of the barrel, thinning at the front edge of the ejector rod housing, mild muting in the frame’s case coloring and a few light handling marks scattered over the surfaces. The cylinder also has a light drag line. The grip screw is distressed, but the remaining screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. The revolver is in about Fine Plus condition as refinished.

Mechanics: The cylinder lockup shows a small amount of play. The trigger pull is crisp. The hammer has 1/8 and ½ cock safety positions. The action functions correctly. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Colt SAA revolver and Winchester Model 1873 rifle were two guns that helped tame the Wild West of the United States in the last quarter of the 19th Century.This is a nearly one hundred and fifteen year-old Colt SAA 1st Generation revolver made in the Early Smokeless Powder period with a blued finish and a case colored frame. The revolver has a 7 ½” barrel, bone grips, and is chambered in .45 Colt. The barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and backstrap are scroll engraved while the sides of the trigger guard and the ejector rod housing are border engraved, with the metal re-blued after the engraving was performed. The revolver is in about Fine Plus condition with about 95% of its current finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. All of the Colt 1st Generation revolvers are heavily collected, and we expect this one to be as well. The bone grips really set off the dark engraved surfaces, so please see our pictures.

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible single action revolver CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN 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 1st Gen Early Smokeless SAA Engraved 1904 C&R Blue & Case Single Action Army Revolver, .45 Colt
Colt 1st Gen Early Smokeless SAA Engraved 1904 C&R
Blue & Case Single Action Army Revolver, .45 Colt