In House Shipping:
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 1st Generation
Serial Number: 298952
Year of Manufacture: 1907 (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 “298952”. The butt of the grip frame is marked “298/ 952”. The rear of the loading gate has assembly number “562”. The left of the trigger guard has “VP” in triangle and “6”.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4”
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 moderate handling wear with strongest checkering above the rampant colts. There are some scattered nicks and scratches, most notable at the butt. There are no external chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in aboutVery Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion in the bore. The bore rates a 7/10 in this writer's opinion.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its metal finish. There is a little bit of bluing at the right-rear of the barrel, the top corner of the backstrap, and at the top of the trigger guard. Some case color can be seen on the rear of the hammer, in the rear sight groove and some corners of the frame. The other exposed surfaces have worn to white or gone to a light patina. The portions of the grip frame concealed by the grips have some bluing remaining. There is some scattered surface erosion, most notable on the front face of the cylinder. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches with more notable nicks on the bottom of the barrel above the cylinder pin and notable horizontal lines on the barrel. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. 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 Archives letter indicating it shipped in its current configuration on August 30, 1907 to Townley Metal & Hardware Company in Kansas City, Missouri as one of 5 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 1907. It is in about Good condition, retaining a little of its original finish and strong mechanics, though it shows its age. Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this early 20th Century example with 10% finish and strong mechanics should be no exception.