Houston TX Colt 1st Gen Single Action Army SAA .32-20 WCF Revolver 1905 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3627.02
LSB#: 220108BV006
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 1st Generation
Serial Number: 271259
Year of Manufacture: 1905 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .32-20 Winchester (W.C.F.)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”, the left is marked “32 W.C.F.”. The left of the frame is marked “PAT SEPT 19 1871. / JULY 2. 72 JAN. 19. 75.” and with a circled rampant colt logo. The bottom of the frame and the bottom of the trigger guard at the front are each marked “271259”. The butt of the grip frame is marked “271 / 259”. On each of these serial markings, the first “2” appears to be stamped over a “1”. The rear of the loading gate has assembly number “7574”. The left of the trigger guard has “VP” in triangle and “5”. The inside of each grip panel has “5410” hand-scribed and crossed out.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch at the rear of a groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. The grips have fairly even light wear, showing some scattered light nicks and scratches, mostly at edges. The checkering and rampant colts are generally well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling ranges from well defined to worn, but visible. There is scattered light erosion in the bore with some spots of more moderate erosion and pitting.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its metal finish. Remaining finish is in protected areas such as the corners formed by the trigger guard where it widens to meet the frame, around the ejector housing, on the front face of the hammer and in the hammer slot. There is a patch of good, strong blue finish under the ejector housing over most of the area covered by the housing. Other surfaces have mostly gone to a light-moderate patina, showing scattered light surface erosion and oxidation. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are more notable marks along the bottom of the barrel and the edge of the tab-slot on the ejector housing. The head of the cylinder pin is tool marked and there are a few notable nicks on the left edge of the trigger guard. The action shows operational wear including a turn-ring on the cylinder. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces little play side-to-side and minor end-shake on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder has a removable bushing. 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: This revolver comes with a Colt Historian letter which lists this revolver as being shipped October 10, 1905 to the Bering Cortes Hardware Co. in Houston, Texas. It shipped as one of two revolvers of the same type in the shipment. The letter is in Excellent condition.
Our Assessment: Colt’s Single Action Army is, perhaps more than any other, an iconic American pistol. It was the U.S. issue sidearm for the last two decades of the 19th century, used by pioneers, outlaws and lawmen across the expanding nation, and captivated audiences on the silver screen and television (and still does, today). Produced for nearly a century and a half, they are still being made, today! This example is a 1st Generation Single Action Army made in 1905. It is in about Good condition, retaining a little of its original finish and strong mechanics, though it shows its age. Shipped to Houston, Texas at a time when the city was exploding in population as it surpassed Galveston in importance as a port city and newly discovered petroleum in nearby Beaumont helped launch the Texas oil industry. Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this early 20th Century example should be no exception. Please see our photos and good luck!