Make: Colt

Model: Frontier Six Shooter, Single Action Army

Serial Number: 176273

Year of Manufacture: 1898

Caliber: .44-40 Winchester

Action Type: Single Action Revolver

Barrel Length: The barrel has been cut to 4 3/4″.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a replacement blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a "V"-notch integral to the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top. The grips have even light wear with some light nicks and scratches, mostly on the bottom face. The checkering is well defined with decent detail in the colts. There are no external chips or cracks, the inside of the right panel has cracking at the screw bolster. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-Fine condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is worn, but visible. There is erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its metal finish. Finish remains only in well protected areas such as under the ejector housing and in the hammer slot. Exposed surfaces have mostly gone to a moderate patina or worn to white. There is some light surface oxidation and infrequent minor erosion. There are scattered nicks and scratches with a cluster of nicks on the ejector housing toward the rear. There are moderate-heavy tool marks on the head of the cylinder pin. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Good-Very Good condition as altered Antique.

Mechanics: 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: None.

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 Frontier Six Shooter made in 1898. The Frontier Six Shooter was the designation for SAA revolvers chambered for Winchester's .44-40 cartridge, making it popular for those who owned Winchester rifles chambered for the same caliber.

This example shows its age at more than 125 years old, having had a longer barrel cut back to 4 3/4" and a new front sight dovetailed to the barrel. This will make a neat addition to a Colt or early American cartridge handgun collection and will display well with its "been there, done that appearance". It would also be a worthwhile restoration project. Please see our photos and good luck!