Make: Colt
Model: Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army
Serial Number: 105704
Year of Manufacture: 1884 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is etched “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER”, the top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. / HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”, and the bottom of the barrel is marked “44” in front of the cylinder pin head. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / ” JULY 2,-72. / ” JAN. 19,-75.”, and the left-front trigger guard bow is marked “44.C.F.”. The underside of the frame at the grip frame and the bottom of the front trigger guard are marked “105704”. The butt is marked “105 / 704”. The outside of the cylinder is marked “5704” behind one flute. The hammer slot is marked “H”. The rear face of the loading gate has assembly number “3494”.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches, with a more notable ding on the left above three notches at the bottom edge that were undoubtedly cut intentionally. There are small losses at the bottom corners. There are no cracks. Overall, the grip is in Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: No finish remains.
Finish Originality: No finish remains.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling shows wear, but is generally well defined. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 4 or 5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 0% of its metal finish. The surfaces have mostly gone to a fairly uniform moderate patina. There is handling wear in the grip areas and the barrel is worn to a little lighter shade than the frame. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is scattered minor surface erosion. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete, most notably the contents of the etched panel have all but faded away. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup has light play on all chambers including a little end-shake. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this handgun. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The expiration of Smith & Wesson's patent on the bored-through cylinder in 1869 led Colt to design the revolutionary M-1873 Single Action Army, which soon earned the moniker the "Peacemaker", "Equalizer", and "gun that won the West". Carried by soldiers, cowboys, lawmen and outlaws alike, the Colt SAA quickly became synonymous with the untamed wilds of the American West. Originally introduced in Colt's .45 LC caliber, the demand for a revolver compatible with Winchester's new .44-40 cartridge for their Model 1873 led to the introduction of the Frontier Six Shooter in ca. 1878, essentially a Colt SAA chambered in .44 WCF. This allowed a westering man to carry a Colt SAA revolver and a Winchester ‘73 rifle chambered in the same powerful cartridge.
This Antique Colt 1st Generation Frontier Six Shooter was made in 1884 and is in Very Good condition. It’s chambered in .44-40 WCF, and features the classic 4 3/4" etched panel barrel, one-piece smooth walnut grip, and black powder frame with the cylinder pin retained by a screw. The etched panel on the barrel was changed to the more commonly encountered roll-die marking in ca. 1890. The revolver shows its age; the metal surfaces have gone to patina, the contents of the etched panel have all but faded away, and the bore shows the erosion typical of a 140 year old gun that likely saw exclusive use with black powder. This old "hog leg" looks like it was someone's trusty companion for many years, and will make a wonderful addition to any Colt revolver collection.
Pistol