John Taffin Great Western Arms Custom .45 Colt Single Action Revolver C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,775.00

LSB#: LSB260521SS100

Make: Great Western Arms 

Model: Single Action Army

Serial#: GW3224

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1954-1955 / C&R

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single-Action Revolver with a Side Gate loaded 6-Chamber Cylinder

Markings:  The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co HARTFORD, CT U.S.A.”. The bottom of the receiver, interior of the front and back strap, face of the loading gate, and the rear face of the cylinder are marked with the serial number.

Barrel Length: 4 3/4″

Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a quarter-moon blade fixed at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch milled into the topstrap and is visible when fully cocked. The topstrap has a matte finish for glare reduction. 

Stock Configuration & Condition:  The grips are two piece smooth stag panels with brass escutcheons. There are minor handling scratches. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.  

Type of Finish: Chrome-plated with a Nickel-plated barrel

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition:  The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is minor fouling in the grooves. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

Overall Condition: The revolver retains about 98% of its metal refinish. There are minor scratches at the muzzle and along the barrel. Under the chrome finish, there is minor pitting prior to refinish. There are minor scratches and compression dents. There is a turn line on the cylinder and carbon ring on the face. The screw heads have been tooled but retain strong slots. Overall, the revolver is in Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork, and Accessories: John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity.

Our Assessment:  Great Western Arms entered the single-action revolver market during the 1950s, producing American-made Single Action Army-pattern revolvers at a time when interest in Western firearms was rapidly expanding. These revolvers closely followed the traditional Colt pattern and were offered in familiar chamberings and barrel lengths for shooters, collectors, and the fast-draw market. John Taffin became one of the foremost modern writers and historians on sixguns and traditional single-action revolvers, and documented provenance to his collection adds meaningful collector interest. This example has been customized with a Colt-marked barrel, stag stocks, and a contrasting chrome and nickel refinish while retaining the classic 4 3/4″ .45 Colt configuration.

This Great Western retains approximately 98% of its current refinish, with minor scratches at the muzzle and along the barrel, scattered compression marks, a cylinder turn line, carbon residue on the cylinder face, and some underlying pitting visible beneath the applied finish. The smooth stag stocks remain in Excellent condition, while the bright 9/10 bore has sharp rifling with only minor fouling and no visible erosion. The action functions correctly, and the included John Taffin Collection Certificate of Authenticity provides desirable provenance connecting this customized .45 Colt sixgun to a noted authority on the American single-action revolver. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY