Colt New Frontier 12″ .45 Single Action Ned Buntline Commemorative Revolver
SOLD FOR: $1,575.00
LSB#: LSB250811DM004
Make: Colt’s Manufacturing Co.
Model: New Frontier Single Action Army Ned Buntline Commemorative #38 of 3,000.
Serial Number: NB0038 (#38 of 3000)
Year of Manufacture: 1979, ATF C&R
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: 6-Shot Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “NED BUNTLINE COMMEMORATIVE”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT, U.S.A.”. The right side of the barrel is marked “COLT NEW FRONTIER S.A.A. .45”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / JULY 2, 72 JAN. 19, 75”, alongside the rampant Colt logo. The bottom of the frame is marked with the serial number “NB0038”
Barrel Length: 12 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a serrated, ramped blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch adjustable for windage and elevation in a base pinned to the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are a two-piece set of black checkered hard rubber Eagle grips, with rampant colt in oval at the top, and the Colt American Eagle at the bottom. There are no marks, defects, or any signs of use on the grips. All markings and the checkering are well defined. Overall, the grips are in Excellent Like-New condition.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: THIS GUN APPEARS UNFIRED SINCE IT LEFT THE COLT FACTORY IN HARTFORD. The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates a 10/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 99+% of its original nickel finish. The revolver lacks any evidence of being fired outside of factory testing. There is not a drag line on the cylinder, nor are there any notable defects or signs of wear on this revolver. The screw heads are sharp, pins are unmarred, and the markings are clear and legible. Overall, this revolver rates in Excellent to Mint condition.
Mechanics: Due to high condition, we have elected not to operate the action, but will guarantee it functions properly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: THIS REVOLVER IS HOUSED IN ITS ORIGINAL FACTORY PACKAGING AND ORIGINAL SHIPPING CARTON FROM COLT!!! This revolver comes with a red felt-lined display case with a hinged lid over a glass pane that holds the revolver, six silver .45 Colt bullets and the revolver is contained in a fitted drawer. Included is a key for the drawer, and a Ned Buntline aluminum placard sits in the case to identify this exceptional revolver on display. Revolver also comes with the original white gloves from Colt for handling.
Our Assessment: Ned Buntline Commemorative revolvers are rare finds, just as collectable firearms. However, it is highly unlikely that you will EVER find one that has its original Colt box, packing materials and shipping carton from almost 50 years ago. This is an exceptional find for ANY Colt collector!
The Colt Single Action Army (SAA), also known as the Peacemaker, was introduced in 1873 and quickly became one of the most iconic handguns in American history. Designed by William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards under the direction of Samuel Colt’s company, the SAA was Colt’s response to the U.S. Army’s need for a reliable metallic cartridge revolver following the post-Civil War transition away from percussion arms.
The Colt Buntline Special is a 12-inch long barreled variant of the Colt Single Action Army revolver, which was popularized in frontier dime novel history by Stuart N. Lake. The connection between Stuart N. Lake, Ned Buntline, and the “Buntline Special” is primarily based on a fictionalized story popularized by Lake’s 1931 book, “Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal.” Lake claimed that writer Ned Buntline commissioned long-barreled revolvers from Colt and gave them to five infamous lawmen as well as to Buffalo Bill Cody in thanks for their help in contributing local color to his western yarns. Two of the recipients were supposed to be Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, but there is no record of them ever owning such handguns. The “Buntline Special” is now considered a product of fiction created by both Ned Buntline and popularized by Stuart Lake, rather than a real historical artifact. Despite being fictional, the legend became so popular that Colt later manufactured long-barreled revolvers and marketed them as “Buntline Specials”.
This Colt New Frontier Single Action Army Ned Buntline Commemorative revolver is a gleaming tribute to one of the most enduring legends of the American West. A special edition run of 3,000 revolvers manufactured in 1979, this example—number NB0038—is an extraordinarily early production gun from that commemorative series, and it remains in Excellent to Mint condition. The 12-inch barrel and nickel finish immediately evoke the mythical “Buntline Special” configuration, famously associated with lawmen like Wyatt Earp, thanks in no small part to the romanticized writings of dime novelist Ned Buntline himself. Colt leaned into that legacy by offering this historically inspired commemorative under their prestigious New Frontier line.
This revolver is as pristine as its polished finish suggests. The action has no cylinder drag line or evidence of firing outside of factory testing. The checkered black grips are sharply molded and free from any wear, and the sights—especially the fully adjustable rear—add a layer of practical shootability often missing from commemorative arms. Colt clearly viewed this not just as a commemorative, but as a worthy addition to their storied Single Action Army lineage.
Included with the revolver is its factory glass-paneled presentation case, complete with drawer key, “Ned Buntline” commemorative placard, and six polished display “silver bullets.” Whether you are a Colt collector, Western enthusiast, or simply a connoisseur of fine single-action revolvers, this low-serial-number commemorative is a showpiece in every sense—one that bridges myth and metal with craftsmanship and legend. This revolver, in MINT condition and accompanied with ALL of the original packaging from Colt is something that you will likely never see again! Please view our high quality photos for a better understanding of this unique mint-condition Colt and good luck on your bids! –
BF
