Page 148 - 4094-BOOK2

LOT 1146
Exceptional “U.S.” Frame
Marked Commercial
First Year Production
Black Powder Colt Single
Action Army Revolver
with Factory Letter and
John Kopec Gold Seal
Letter - Serial no. 1221,
45 Long Colt cal., 7 1/2
inch round bbl., blue/
casehardened finish,
walnut grips. In
his gold seal letter
of authentication
renowned Colt
expert and author
John Kopec
presented his
observations related
to this revolver. Per
Kopec the frame was
manufactured circa
September 2, 1873,
however, it was not assembled until February
or early March 1874 and was shipped on March 3, 1874.
This type of commercial SAA is known to collectors as “late
assemblies.” This revolver was factory built from components
pulled from U.S. military production within the serial number
range 1200-1236. “There were six revolvers designated as being
‘commercial’ and 31 government inspected revolvers within
this cluster,” wrote Kopec . “Our survey cites the revolvers #1216
(commercial), #1222 (commercial), #1224 (military) and #1232 as a
military revolver. The letters ‘U.S.’ were applied to these commercial
frames while in the ‘soft’ state by the Colt workman in anticipation
of the revolver being ordnance inspected as a military example.”
The barrel was manufactured prior to the frame. Based on the barrel
address not exhibiting a broken “o” in “Co.”, Kopec theorized that the barrel
many have received the address marking during the first week of production in
1873. The broken “o” in the die is not observed until around serial number 350. In closing, Kopec
observed that the revolver “remains today in remarkable original condition.” Other features of the
revolver include the two-line patent dates followed by the aforementioned “U.S.” marking on the
left side of the frame, matching serial numbers on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, cylinder,
and barrel, and fitted with a varnished walnut grip. The accompanying factory letter states that the
revolver was shipped on March 3, 1874 and delivered to J.P. Moores Sons of New York City in .45
chambering and blue finish with the barrel length and type of stocks not listed, a common indication
of 7 1/2 inches and wood respectively. This was a 5 gun shipment.
146