Description from HiBid
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Nickel 7 1/2" .45 Revolver and Letter, 1881 Antique. Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 1st Generation
Serial Number: 71754
Year of Manufacture: 1881
Caliber: .45 Colt, Black Powder
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 7 1/2"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch integral to the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered light nicks and scratches. There is some finish wear, most notable at the bottom edges and along the rear on the right. There are tiny losses at the bottom corners. There are no cracks. Overall, the grip is in Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Nickel
Finish Originality: Original. Numbered parts match. The barrel and cylinder are not serial-marked.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is erosion and light pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 40% of its metal finish. Most finish loss is on and around the cylinder which retains infrquent nickel finish. There is some other scattered finish loss with flaking at most edges. Areas of finish loss have gone to a dark patina with surface erosion and some pitting. The remaining finish shows scattered light nicks, scratches, and some bubbling. The action shows operational wear including turn-wear on the cylinder. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. We were not able to remove the bushing from the cylinder. Overall, this revolver is in Good condition as Antique (see Mechanics).
Mechanics: The hammer does not catch at the safety notch and can be dropped from half-cock by pulling the trigger. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. 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 Archives letter which indicates that the gun shipped September 12, 1881 to Solomon Goetz & Company in New York, New York as one of six guns of the same type in the shipment.
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 1881. The revolver is chambered for the original .45 Colt cartridge, which would make it a nice companion for a lever action carbine chambered for the same round. The revolver retains some of its original nickel finish, decent mechanics, and a fair bore. Overall, it's in better shape than any of us will be at more than 140 years old! Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this late 19th Century example should be no exception. The included letter is nice as it shows that this revolver was originally produced with its nickel finish. Please see our photos and good luck!
