shadez1460 Posted January 13, 2020 Share #1 Posted January 13, 2020 Hello everyone, Can anyone help me identify this revolver?Everything matches including the grips except the shell extractor, pin, and a couple screws.Any help would be appreciated. I purchased this for $500. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72psb Posted January 13, 2020 Share #2 Posted January 13, 2020 Contact Colt. They can send you the history on the revolver. When manufactured,finishes and ultimate destination.There is a fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 13, 2020 Share #3 Posted January 13, 2020 Looks like a Colt 1873 Single Action Army with a 7 1/2" barrel. Has a "pre-war" model (1896-1940) half-moon ejector, but that looks to be a replacement as the frame is the "old model" 1873-1896. Hard to see any markings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 13, 2020 Share #4 Posted January 13, 2020 Hello, actually the half-moon ejector head came into use for the SAA about mid-1881 around s/n #65,000 - the two features ('old model' frame + 'new model' ejector head) stayed together through fifteen years, mid-1881 to mid-1896. Ejector is indeed a replacement in this instance though - with a s/n #15,434 this SAA is from about January-February 1875, at wich time there could be only the round head type available. Cylinder is correct as for this range/timeframe - beveling just at flutes' very corners, and very small approaches for stop notches. I've got an all-matching SAA around s/n #23,220 (circa February 1876) and stop approaches just start becoming only slightly larger. We must wait until around #24,000 - 24,200 to have the standardized notches of the ultimate size. Hope this could help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 13, 2020 Share #5 Posted January 13, 2020 Hello, actually the half-moon ejector head came into use for the SAA about mid-1881 around s/n #65,000 - the two features ('old model' frame + 'new model' ejector head) stayed together through fifteen years, mid-1881 to mid-1896. Ejector is indeed a replacement in this instance though - with a s/n #15,434 this SAA is from about January-February 1875, at wich time there could be only the round head type available. Cylinder is correct as for this range/timeframe - beveling just at flutes' very corners, and very small approaches for stop notches. I've got an all-matching SAA around s/n #23,220 (circa February 1876) and stop approaches just start becoming only slightly larger. We must wait until around #24,000 - 24,200 to have the standardized notches of the ultimate size. Hope this could help. Learned something new, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 13, 2020 Share #6 Posted January 13, 2020 ... you're welcomed! I learn still today, by reading here and there... in recent times more 'discoveries' have surfaced and in turn make older ones be not longer correct. An endless subject, fascinating no doubts. Greetings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodymyster Posted January 13, 2020 Share #7 Posted January 13, 2020 Could you show pictures of the barrel between the sight and the beginning of the ejector rod. In your pic, it looks like a rust spot. Also, if you look down the barrel, does the rifling change at that location inside the barrel? If I had to guess, I would say that "rust spot" is 5.5 inches from the breech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 13, 2020 Share #8 Posted January 13, 2020 btw - it's just me or, sight looks to be decidedly 'rotated' toward right side in relation to frame's longitudinal axis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ludwigh1980 Posted January 13, 2020 Share #9 Posted January 13, 2020 Smoking deal for $500. Those are worshiped like gods here out west. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytiger Posted January 13, 2020 Share #10 Posted January 13, 2020 1880s gun with original wood grips a plus condition is NRA Good ( no original finish) 2-3K with a factory letter ( I think that runs about 3-400 now) Good bargain Amigo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 13, 2020 Share #11 Posted January 13, 2020 Smoking deal for $500. Those are worshiped like gods here out west. My Dad had a gun shop in AZ in the 80s and Colt SAAs were expensive (comparatively) back then, I can only imagine what they bring now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flytiger Posted January 13, 2020 Share #12 Posted January 13, 2020 3-400 was for the factory letter worth the price as a plus with the gun and sometimes has a very good shipping address collectors want ie. Texas OK NV UT etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 13, 2020 Share #13 Posted January 13, 2020 My Dad had a gun shop in AZ in the 80s and Colt SAAs were expensive (comparatively) back then, I can only imagine what they bring now. SAAs are bloody expensive here as well, unless you're happy (or, pretend to be) getting one decidedly ugly, or somehow messed up, or mechanically in bad shape. Or, the three issues at once. My 'dream' was getting at least one sporting the "Pall Mall Depot 14" address of London Colt's agency on the barrel. Now I've got two such, through five years, one gorgeous and the other still very nice - this latter has had its barrel cut from 7,5" to 6.25" in order to fit into a British holster for Webley revolvers, and the front sight replaced with a 'custom' one. Sometimes I like imagining who was the soldier back then, who had been issued with it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadez1460 Posted January 17, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted January 17, 2020 Thank you all for the replies. I will answer some of the questions that came up. The bore is not counter bored and is original to the gun, there is patina on the barrel but I wouldnt say it is rusted. There is no hint at adding to a 5.5 barrel. It looks to be an original 7.5 barrel. The markings finish and wear are identical the frame. The underside of the barrel is marked with a p The ejector rod housing, rod and cylinder pin are replacements and not correct to the gun. I am searching for originals currently. The top strap is fluted, the grips are walnut and numbered to the gun from the inside , the cylinder is numbered to the gun and marked with L I was told it was an actual cavalry weapon, and hasnt been altered. I need to send it to John moped and see what he comes up with from my research the first 24,000 are military contract especially with the 7.5 barrel. The sight is steel and is midline to the barrel. Ill try and upload more photos soon thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 17, 2020 Share #15 Posted January 17, 2020 hello, if you do mean the first 24,000 SAA are ALL military contracts (i.e. from #1 to #24,000) actually it is not so. #24,000 would be circa late February 1876 (one of mine is around #23,300) and by then - August 1873 to February 1876 - many thousands were sold to civilian market, or sent to Colt's agency at London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted January 17, 2020 Share #16 Posted January 17, 2020 Did the early cavalry 1873s have "US" stamps on the frame below the cylinder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBookGuy Posted January 17, 2020 Share #17 Posted January 17, 2020 yes, all the martial SAAs had that stamp since the very earliest one (most likely, s/n #179). As a curiosity, the first 1,000 military revolvers were manyfactured through 41 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted February 17, 2020 Share #18 Posted February 17, 2020 This post combined with watching a lot of cavalry movies directly influenced my purchase of a modern Ruger Vaquero in 45 Colt with a 7.5" barrel this weekend. May not be exactly correct, but it was much more affordable! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warroom1 Posted February 17, 2020 Share #19 Posted February 17, 2020 rugers are great and safe firearms, they last for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted March 8, 2020 Share #20 Posted March 8, 2020 rugers are great and safe firearms, they last for ever. True, but apropos of.....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted March 9, 2020 Share #21 Posted March 9, 2020 True, but apropos of.....? In reply to my post. Ruger Vaquero is a cheap modern alternative to the SAA Colt posted here, in case anyone (like me) wanted to actual shoot one but couldn't afford an original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spathologist Posted March 15, 2020 Share #22 Posted March 15, 2020 In reply to my post. Ruger Vaquero is a cheap modern alternative to the SAA Colt posted here, in case anyone (like me) wanted to actual shoot one but couldn't afford an original. Ok, I thought you were talking about the original Vaqueros. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted March 15, 2020 Share #23 Posted March 15, 2020 Ok, I thought you were talking about the original Vaqueros. I wanted a shooter, so I bought a Ruger! I already had the repro cavalryman's belt and holster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warroom1 Posted March 15, 2020 Share #24 Posted March 15, 2020 you did well , enjoy i love mine, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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