Colt 1st Generation Etched-Panel Frontier Six Shooter SAA Single Action Army .44-40 WCF Revolver, MFD 1884 Antique
SOLD FOR $8,500
LSB#: 200115LL36
Make: Colt
Model: Frontier Six Shooter
Serial Number: 105668
Year of Manufacture: 1884 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup), Shipped April 1885
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is etched “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”, the top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, the bottom of the barrel is marked “44” in front of the cylinder pin head, the bottom-right, under the ejector rod housing, is marked “5668”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / ” JULY 2,-72. / ” JAN. 19,-75.”, the left-front trigger guard bow is marked “44.C.F.”. The underside of the frame at the grip frame and the bottom of the trigger guard at the front are marked “105668”. The butt is marked “105 / 668”. The outside of the cylinder is marked “5668” behind one flute, the rear face is marked “L”. The hammer slot is marked “H”. The rear face of the loading gate has assembly number “3466”.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops and American eagle at their bottoms. The grips show minor handling wear wtih only a few scattered light nicks and scuffs. The checkering is well defined and there is good detail on the colts and eagles. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 25% of its metal finish. The barrel has finish wear scattered throughout with scattered light nicks and scratches. The frame’s case color has mostly gone to gray with some muted figuring still visible in protected areas such as at the front and to each side of the hammer. The grip frame has finish remaining at the top of the backstrap, on the butt and around the top of the trigger guard with handling wear, in the grip straps, scattered nicks, scratches and scrapes. The cylinder has finish remaining mostly in the flutes with turn-wear and scattered light marks. The worn areas show minor discoloration from oxidation and there is infrequent faint surface erosion, most notable on the muzzle. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with a useable slot. The markings are generally clear with some wear in the patent dates and barrel address. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The timing is correct and the cylinder locks up with almost no movement on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a pair of Colt Historian letters confirming the original configuration. This revolver was shipped April 21, 1885 to E.C. Meacham Arms Co. in St. Louis, Missouri in a shipment of 50 guns of the same type. The letters show minor storage wear with hand-written notes about the etched panel.
Our Assessment: Colt’s Single Action Army revolver is the iconic sidearm of the cowboy, lawman, and outlaw. Originally introduced in Colt’s .45 caliber, the demand for a revolver compatible with Winchester’s cartridges for their 1873 led to the introduction of the Frontier Six Shooter, essentially just a SAA chambered for the Winchester cartridge. This example is a 1st generation Frontier Six Shooter produced in 1884. It has the popular 4 3/4″ barrel, black-powder style frame with the cylinder pin retained by a screw, and etched-panel barrel. With a Colt factory letter, in Very Good condition with really great mechanics for a 135 year old revolver, this will make a fine addition to any Colt revolver collection. Please see our photos and good luck!