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LOT 129
Exceptional Acid Etched Panel Colt Black
Powder Frontier Six Shooter Single Action Army Revolver - Serial no. 103773, 44-40 WCF cal., 7 1/2 inch
bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut grips. This is an exceptional example of a Colt Single Action Army
revolver that was manufactured in 1884. The revolver is chambered in caliber .44-40 and has the highly
desirable acid etched “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” panel on the left side of the barrel. The revolver has
the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and
loading gate have a color casehardened finish. The one-piece walnut grip is varnished with the high polish
piano finish. The revolver has the oval ejector rod head. The hammer has a knurled bordered spur and cone-
shaped firing pin. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” in a
single line. The caliber designation “44” is stamped on the underside of the barrel just in front of the frame. The
left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three date/three line patent markings. “44 CF” is stamped
on the left front trigger guard bow. The assembly number “1588” is stamped on the inside of the loading gate.
An “O” Colt inspection mark is stamped on the underside of the barrel behind the ejector housing stud, “L”
is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder and “H” is stamped in the hammer slot above the firing pin hole.
The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial
number “3773” is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the
ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. “3773” is written in pencil
in the back strap housing of the grip. All of the visible
serial numbers match.
CONDITION: Extremely fine. The revolver retains 70% plus of the original
blue and color casehardened finish. The blue finish on the barrel, ejector
housing and cylinder has faded and shows holster wear on contact
points. The blue on the grip strap and back strap has thinned slightly from
handling and has a dark blue-gray patina. The frame, hammer and loading
gate retain 90% of the casehardened finish with strong case colors in
protected areas. The grip is very fine, and
most of the original varnish remains.
Wear is limited to some minor handling
marks and two small chips on the lower
right edge of the grip. All of the markings
are crisp including the acid-etched “COLT
FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” panel on the
barrel. Mechanically excellent. This is an
exceptional example of the classic acid
etched panel 44-40 Blackpowder Colt Single
Action Army revolver.
Provenance: The Gateway Collection.
Estimate: 14,000 - 22,500
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