Colt 1st Generation Frontier Six Shooter Intermediate Black Powder SAA, Blue & Case 7 ½” Single Action Army Revolver, MFD 1889 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,980.00
LSB#: 160630HC02
Make: Colt
Model: Frontier Six Shooter 1st Generation Intermediate Black Powder SAA
Serial Number: 129121
Year of Manufacture: 1889
Caliber: .44-40 Win. (.44 W.C.F.)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871. / “ JULY.2.-72. / “ JAN. 19.-75.”. The underside of the frame at the grip frame and the grip frame just behind it are marked “129191”. The underside of the backstrap is marked “129 / 191”. The inside rear face of the loading gate is marked with the assembly number “997”. The rear of the frame under the hammer is marked “G”. The rear face of the cylinder has a partial mark, but there isn’t enough to identify it – possibly a “7” or a “3”. The inside surfaces of the grip panels are unmarked.
Barrel Length: 7 ½”
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 checkered black hard rubber with a Rampant Colt logo in an oval at the top of each grip. The grips are starting to develop a brown patina with age. There are a few small dings in the bottom edges of the grips. The checkering shows moderate even wear in the right grip and moderate to heavy wear in the left grip. There is a shallow bruise in the bottom half of the left grip with a few tiny dings and a sharp ding in the upper half. There are three light scratches behind the grip screw in the right grip. The grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: The revolver is blued with a case colored frame.
Finish Originality: The finishes on the barrel and frame are original, but we are not sure the barrel is original to the gun. The backstrap, cylinder, ejector rod housing and trigger guard have been re-blued.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 70% of its current metal finish. There are a few light marks in the left side of the barrel just in front of the frame and on the underside of the barrel in front of the ejector rod. The ejector rod shows surface loss on its front edge, a strip of thinning along its length and a few scratches. Most of the case coloring is worn from the frame, but there is still coloring visible on the sides of the hammer. There are light swirl marks from polishing on the back surfaces of the recoil shield. The cylinder shows thinning on is front edge, several tiny dings under its finish, rounding of the rear edges of the flutes, a drag line and spots of thinning between the flutes. The backstrap and front strap show thinning, a few light handling marks and surface loss on their edges. The trigger guard shows a few light handling marks and light scratches and spots of light pitting under its finish. The hammer knurling shows light wear and the cylinder pin is disfigured. The screw heads are sharp but the grip screw shows marks of a screwdriver. The markings on the barrel are sharp with raised edges, those on the frame are clear, and the serial numbers on the trigger guard and backstrap have been partially ground-off but are still readable. Overall, this revolver rates in about Very Good condition as re-finished.
Mechanics: The action functions properly. The cylinder lock-up shows a tiny amount of play on all six chambers. The hammer has ¼ and ½ cock safety positions. We did not fire this revolver.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: Winchester developed the .44-40 W.C.F. round for their Model 1873 rifle, and Colt offered in their Model 1873 pistols starting in1878, giving them the designation “Frontier Six Shooter”. From Wikipedia: “Settlers, cowboys and lawmen appreciated the convenience of being able to carry a single caliber of ammunition which they could fire in both pistol and rifle. In both law enforcement and hunting usage, the .44-40 became the most popular cartridge in the United States and to this day has the reputation of killing more deer than any other save the .30-30 Winchester. This is an Intermediate Black Powder Colt 1st Generation Frontier Six Shooter in .44-40 Win. with a 7 ½” barrel. The barrel appears to have been replaced with a correctly marked barrel, and the backstrap, trigger guard, cylinder and ejector rod housing have been refinished. The serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard and backstrap are matching. The revolver is in about Very Good condition with about 70% of its current finish remaining. This is a really nice looking pistol with a fantastic bore, and you really have to look close to see that some parts were refinished. The blackpowder framed Colts are very collectible, and this one isn’t going to be an exception. There are dozens of variations of Colt SAA revolvers to collect between the three generations, blackpowder vs. smokeless frames, army marked vs. civilian, etc. making it almost impossible for the collector to obtain one of each, and making all of them desirable.
