Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt 5 1/2” Revolver w/ Extra Grips 1902 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,801.00

LSB#: LSB250601SP036

Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 1st Generation

Serial Number: 230251

Year of Manufacture: 1902 (C&R)

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate and Six-Shot Fluted Cylinder

Barrel Length: 5 1/2″

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “45 COLT”. The left side of the frame is marked with patent dates “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871 / JULY. 2. 72 / JAN. 19. 75” followed by the Rampant Colt logo. The top of the barrel is marked with the single-line address “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The underside of the frame, trigger guard, and butt are each marked with the serial number “230251”. The loading gate is marked “385”. The rear face of the cylinder is unmarked.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a V-notch integral to the topstrap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The revolver is currently fitted with black checkered Colt hard rubber grips featuring the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top of each panel. These grips are not original to the revolver but fit well and remain in fine condition with sharp checkering and only light handling wear. Also included is a second set of Colt hard rubber grips featuring the Rampant Colt in an oval over an eagle & shield motif. The inside of each panel from this second set is hand-scribed “5925”. Both sets of grips are later production and neither is original to the revolver as shipped.

Type of Finish: Originally blue and color case-hardened. The revolver has been refinished with a full blue finish.

Finish Originality: Refinished

Finish Condition: The revolver retains over 90% of its current blue finish. There is minor muzzle wear, light thinning at some high edges, and a thin, light turn line on the cylinder. The screw heads are lightly worn, and there are a few small handling marks scattered throughout. The markings remain clear.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with strong rifling. There is scattered erosion throughout, more noticeable in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up with light side-play in full lockup. The trigger pull is crisp. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Colt Archive letter confirming this revolver shipped on July 30, 1902, to Moultrie Hardware Company, Moultrie, Georgia, as part of a 20-gun shipment with a 5 1/2” barrel, blue finish, and rubber stocks. Also included is the second set of Colt hard rubber grips described above.

Our Assessment:
This is a 1st Generation Colt Single Action Army revolver, factory-produced in 1902 and confirmed by its Colt Archive letter. Originally finished in blue and color case-hardening with hard rubber stocks, this revolver has since been refinished in a uniform blue, presenting attractively with crisp markings and solid mechanics. The barrel bears the desirable single-line Hartford address, a feature appreciated by collectors of early SAA revolvers.

While the loading gate is a non-matching replacement, and neither set of included Colt grips are original to the gun, both grip sets present well. The installed grips are classic black checkered panels with Rampant Colt ovals, while the included spare set features the Colt oval over the eagle & shield design, hand-scribed with an internal assembly number. The revolver retains over 90% of its refinished blue, and the bore, while showing scattered erosion, still has bright lands and strong rifling.

For the Colt collector, this revolver offers a well-documented piece of early 20th-century production history, shipped to a Georgia hardware store at a time when the Single Action Army was transitioning from a working gun to a true American icon. For shooters, it remains a functional .45 Colt SAA with the added interest of two sets of authentic Colt grips. It’s a solid example of Colt’s most famous revolver with documented provenance. So bid high and bid firm. I encourage you to look at the condition of the item in our high-quality photos. Good luck with your bid. -K.F.