End of Trail EOT 1995 Colt Single Action Army .44-40 Cased Revolver & Knife
SOLD FOR: $8,325.00
WOA#: WY240530MD001
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 3rd Generation, End of Trail 1995
Serial Number: EOT95
Year of Manufacture: 1995, ATF C&R
Caliber: .44-40 WCF (Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44-40”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. 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 with the “Rampant Colt” logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame is marked “EOT / 95” in gold. The front and back strap are both marked “S0632SA” on the left side. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “0”. The rear of the cylinder is marked “44-40”. The rear of the loading gate is marked “829”. The inside of each grip panel has “E.O.T. 95” hand-written with a red stamp reading “HAND MADE BY / D.C.” (Dan Chesiak). The right panel has a relief-carved longhorn skull (End of Trail logo). The revolver has class “C” scroll engraving, one thin and one wide gold band at each and of the barrel and the rear of the cylinder. There is a horsehead incorporated into the scroll on the left of the frame, the right has a lionshead. The top of the backstrap is engraved with an End of Trail logo over Colt’s serpent logo with “of” engraved on a molded gold sheriff’s badge. The topstrap has eagles to each side of the sighting groove. The right of the fronstrap is engraved “Engr. Jan G.” (Colt Expert Engraver Jan Gwinnell).
The left of the knife’s ricasso is marked “JOSEPH SZILASKI” with a Colt serpent logo and “EOT95”, the right has a striking snake (Szilaski’s logo). The left scale is carved with a matching longhorn skull.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
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 and Condition: The grips are factory two-piece ivory panels made by Dan Chesiak, the left panel has a relief-carved longhorn skull. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.
The knife scales are matching ivory, also having no notable wear or damage in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: Given the gun’s condition, we have elected not to test the action. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in an oak case with green velvet interior French fitted for the revolver and knife, keys for the case and a Colt pin. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt Archives letter confirming the gun’s condition and accessories, shipped April 12, 1995 to Dave Briton [sic] (Dave Britton, SASS #3, alias “R.J. Poteet”) for End of Trail-1995.
Our Assessment: In 1974, Colt quietly discontinued production of the single Action Army; this would be the second time they discontinued production of this glorious revolver. Luckily, the loyal fans of the SAA would not need to wait long as colt would bring back the SAA in 1976 as the “3rd Generation”. Changes were made but the basic SAA was the same, i.e. three standard barrel lengths of 4 3/4”, 5 1/2” and 7 1/2”, finishes of full nickel or blue, with color case hardened frame, and grips of hard rubber.
Shortly after the Single Action Army was reintroduced, a group of shooters at the Coto de Caza shooting range in Orange County, California decided that they wanted to shoot an action match with cowboy guns and started Cowboy Action Shooting. The founders, known as the “Wild Bunch” would go on to found the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and the first End of Trail was hosted in April, 1982. The sport would go on to see great success, issuing over 113,000 memberships all across the world with individual events having upward of 1,000 participants. This gorgeous Single Action Army was produced by Colt for the 1995 End of Trail, during the dominant reign of five-time world champion Dennis “China Camp” Ming. Given the strictly amateur nature of SASS, it is likely that the revolver was donated as a draw-prize or for a fundraising raffle.
Colt Expert Engraver Jan Gwinnell really outdid himself. The Class “C” engraving incorporates eagles on the topstrap, a horse on the left of the frame and a lion on the right, with gold bands on the barrel and cylinder. The custom serial number EOT95 is in in gold and the End of Trail logo features on the top of the backstrap. The revolver has gorgeous factory ivory stocks carved with the EOT longhorn skull, found again on the included matching bowie knife made by American Bladesmith Society Master Smith Joseph Szilaski. The whole set is housed in a factory oak case and a Colt Archives letter is included to confirm the revolver’s authenticity.
Being a Cowboy Action Shooter is not necessary to appreciate this gorgeous revolver, but it wouldn’t hurt! If you were one of the participants in End of Trail 1995, maybe you remember this revolver and wish you could get another shot at it. Well, now you can. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
