Matched Set of Commemorative Colt SAA & Frontier 45 Colt, 22LR Revolver C&R

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SOLD FOR: $3,075.00

LSB#: LSB251213BG012 & LSB251213BG013

Make: Colt

Model: Joaquin Murrieta 1 of 100 Commemorative SAA & Frontier Scout (Set #4 of 100)

Serial Numbers: SAA: 004JMP, Frontier Scout: 004JMK

Year of Manufacture: 1965 / C&R

Caliber: .45 Colt & .22 LR

Action Type: Both revolvers are 6-Shot Single Action Revolvers with Side Loading Gates and Non-fluted cylinders.

Markings:

SAA: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.” The left side of the barrel is marked in “JOAQUIN MURRIETA 1 of 100”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45” The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / “” JULY 2. 72 / “” JAN 19. 75” with the Rampant Colt logo next to the lettering. The underside of the frame is marked with the serial number “004JMP”. The left side of both grip frames are marked with the serial number. The face of the cylinder is marked with a partial serial number “004”. The grip panels are NOT marked but the grips match what was original to the set. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “V”.

Frontier Scout: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel is marked “JOAQUIN MURRIETA 1 of 100”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION FRONTIER SCOUT .22 L.R” The left side of the frame is marked with the Rampant Colt logo. The underside of the frame is marked with the serial number “004JMK”. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “S”. The grips are not marked on the Frontier Scout but the grips match what was included with the original set.

Barrel Lengths: SAA 5.5″, Frontier Scout: 4.75″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth Colt Pearl-Lite with gold-colored Colt medallions. The stocks show minimal signs of handling and storage wear. The grips rate in about Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Both revolvers have Royal blued frames and barrels with gold plated cylinders, trigger guards, backstraps and hammer & trigger.

Finish Originality: Original.

Bore Condition: The bores are bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion or fouling present. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: These revolvers retain about 96% of their metal finish. The only finish wear is that some of the gold plating has thinned from storage in the case on both guns. Thinning is present mostly on one side of the cylinders, triggers, trigger guards and appears to be from storage and old oil residue that has solidified. Neither revolver shows a turn line through the finish. The balance shows very minimal wear both handling and storage. There are no carbon rings on the face of the cylinder and only minor smudge marks from storage can be seen. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, both of these revolvers rate in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The actions function correctly. We did not fire these revolvers. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The revolver set comes in a blue felt-lined wood presentation case with its cardboard protective sleeve. The case is marked with a caricature of a masked cowboy on a horse (Joaquin Murrieta) and the Colt logo.

Our Assessment: The Colt Single Action Army is one of the most recognizable revolvers ever produced and has been closely tied to the mythology and history of the American frontier since its introduction in 1873. Chambered in .45 Colt and known for its rugged single action design, the revolver became a symbol of the Old West and has remained a popular platform for limited commemorative editions. Colt produced a number of special commemorative revolvers during the mid twentieth century, often pairing a full size Single Action Army with a smaller Frontier Scout revolver to create matched presentation sets intended for collectors.

This matched set was produced in 1965 to commemorate Joaquin Murrieta, a legendary figure associated with the California Gold Rush era. Murrieta was a Mexican born outlaw who reportedly operated in California during the early 1850s, and his story evolved into frontier folklore through dime novels and later Western literature. Sometimes described as a bandit and other times portrayed as a folk hero resisting discrimination during the Gold Rush, Murrieta became known as the “Robin Hood of El Dorado.” Colt honored this colorful piece of Western legend with a limited commemorative set pairing a .45 Colt Single Action Army with a .22 LR Frontier Scout, both bearing gold commemorative barrel markings and gold plated accents.

Only 100 pairs of these Joaquin Murrieta commemorative sets were produced, making them among the scarcer Colt commemorative issues of the period. This example is set number 4 of 100 and features blued frames and barrels accented by gold plated non-fluted cylinders, triggers, hammers, trigger guards, and backstraps along with Pearl Lite grips bearing Colt medallions. Both revolvers retain about 96 percent of their original finish with only some thinning of the gold plating from long term storage in the case. The bores are bright with sharp rifling and the revolvers include their original blue felt lined presentation case marked with the Murrieta figure on horseback. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids!