Colt 1st Gen Single Action Army SAA 4 3/4″ .32-20 WCF Revolver, 1906 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2175
LSB#: 220109RB321
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 1st Generation
Serial Number: 277294
Year of Manufacture: 1906 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester (W.C.F.)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. / HARTFORD. CT. U.??”, the left is marked “32 W.C.F.”. The left of the frame is marked “PAT SEPT 19 1871. / JULY 2. 72. JAN. 19. 75.” and with a circled rampant colt logo. The bottom of the frame and the bottom of the trigger guard at the front are each marked “277294”. The butt of the grip frame is marked “277 / 294”. The rear of the loading gate has assembly number “877”. The left of the trigger guard has “VP” in triangle and “3”.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch at the rear of a groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. The grips have moderate-heavy handling wear with strongest checkering above the rampant colts. There are some scattered nicks and scratches, most notable at the bottom of the right panel. There are no external chips or cracks, there are cracks at the screw hole in the interior of the grips. Overall, the grips are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its metal finish. There is a little bit of bluing at the right-rear of the barrel, the top corner of the backstrap, and at the top of the trigger guard. Some case color can be seen on the rear of the hammer, in the rear sight groove and some corners of the frame. The other exposed surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. The portions of the grip frame concealed by the grips have some bluing remaining. There is some scattered surface erosion, most notable on the front face of the cylinder. There are some scattered scattered minor nicks and scratches with more notable nicks on the bottom of the barrel above the cylinder pin and notable horizontal lines on the barrel. The cylinder pin head is tool marked. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces little play side-to-side and minor end-shake on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder has a removable bushing. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a scan of a Colt Historian letter which lists this revolver as being shipped May 2, 1906 to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. in Chicago, Illinois. It shipped as one of ten revolvers of the same type in the shipment.
Our Assessment: Colt’s Single Action Army is, perhaps more than any other, an iconic American pistol. It was the U.S. issue sidearm for the last two decades of the 19th century, used by pioneers, outlaws and lawmen across the expanding nation, and captivated audiences on the silver screen and television (and still does, today). Produced for nearly a century and a half, they are still being made, today! This example is a 1st Generation Single Action Army made in 1906. It is in about Good condition, retaining a little of its original finish and strong mechanics, though it shows its age. Shipped to Chicago, Illinois, specifically to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. While this may not be familiar to everyone, it was a very large hardware wholesaler and the company would go on to become True Value, which is fairly well known today. Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this early 20th Century example should be no exception. Please see our photos and good luck!