Antique Colt 1873 Single Action Army SAA .41 Colt 4 3/4″ Revolver 1898
SOLD FOR: $2,625.00
LSB#: LSB260406DM002
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army SAA
Serial Number: 181088
Year of Manufacture: 1898 / Antique
Caliber: .41 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “41 Colt.” The top of the barrel is marked “COLT”S PATENT. 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” and the Rampant Colt logo. The bottom of the frame, trigger guard, and frame butt are all marked with the serial number. The loading gate is marked with “234”. The interior of the left grip is marked with a non matching number of “3337”.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade at the muzzle. The rear sight is a ‘V’ notch on the top strap. Visible when the hammer is cocked.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two piece checkered hard rubber with Rampant Colt molded at the top. There are heavy scratches and handling wear. The checkering is defined, but has mostly smoothed from handling. There is slight discoloration from age. There are no cracks. There is a chip out of the left grip at the bottom. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued and case colored
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is defined. There is some fouling and erosion pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its finish. The finish has almost completely worn away. There are scratches and dings throughout the metal surface. There are areas of corrosion pitting and staining. The barrel pin head is slightly marred. The cylinder has a removable bushing. The screw heads are mostly sharp, with a couple screws with heavier tooling. Overall, this revolver is in Good condition for its age.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lockup is tight with no perceptible play. There is minimal end shake. 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: Colt Letter of Authenticity
Our Assessment: This 1898 Colt Single Action Army is an authentic frontier-era revolver chambered in the comparatively scarce .41 Colt cartridge and accompanied by a Colt Letter of Authenticity. Introduced in 1873, the Colt SAA became one of the defining handguns of the American West, carried by soldiers, lawmen, ranchers, outlaws, and civilians alike. While .45 Colt remains the most famous chambering, the .41 Colt gained popularity as a lighter-recoiling alternative and saw use in both civilian and law-enforcement circles during the late 19th century. This example features the desirable 4 3/4″ barrel configuration often associated with fast-handling civilian and packing guns, along with the classic blue and case-colored finish, side-loading gate, and hard rubber Rampant Colt grips.
This revolver rates in about Good condition for its age, retaining only traces of its original finish with most surfaces worn to bare metal and patina. The revolver shows scratches, dings, corrosion staining, pitting, and handling wear throughout, while the screw heads remain mostly sharp aside from a few more heavily tooled examples. The bore is semi-bright with defined rifling, fouling, and erosion pitting, rating 6/10 in this writer’s opinion. The hard rubber grips rate Good, showing heavy handling wear, smoothed checkering, age discoloration, and a chip at the bottom of the left panel, but no cracks. Mechanically, the action functions correctly, the lockup is tight with no perceptible play, and end shake is minimal, all positive signs for a revolver of this age. With its antique status, Colt factory letter, .41 Colt chambering, and unmistakable Old West character, this Single Action Army should appeal strongly to Colt collectors and frontier-era firearms enthusiasts. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! -MY