Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army
Serial Number: 101903
Year of Manufacture: 1883
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Side Loading Gate Revolver
Barrel Length: 4 3/4"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tapered blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a "V" notch integral to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops and American eagle at their bottoms. The inside of the left panel panel has "TIPS" hand-scribed, the right has a faint scribing that appears to be a non-matching serial number. The grips have fairly even light handling wear. The panels have a little scattered, reddish discoloration. There is a tiny loss at the bottom-rear corner of the left panel. The checkering is generally well defined with decent detail in the colts and eagles. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition as Antique and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Silver
Finish Originality: Refinished, numbers match.
Bore Condition: The bore is gray, the rifling is generally well defined. There is scattered erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 4/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 85% of its current metal finish. The finish is flaking slightly at some leading edges. There is some scattered discoloration, some is slight tarnish from silver and some is dried grease which mostly wiped off easily. There is some scattered minor surface erosion. There are a few light nicks and small scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to slightly disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Colt Archives letter which indicates this revolver was produced as a .45, 4 3/4” barrel, hard rubber grips, nickel finish and factory engraved, shipped December 15, 1883 to J.C. Petmecky in Austin, TX as one of six 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. Produced for more than a century and a half, they are still being made, today!
This example is a 1st Generation Single Action Army made in 1883. It is chambered for .45 Colt with a 4 3/4" barrel, making for a powerful yet handy revolver. The revolver was factory engraved and has since been refinished with silver plate. While we do not know when the new finish was applied, it appears to have been in the distant past, perhaps closer to when the revolver was made than not. The result is a revolver with a distinctive, vintage appearance. Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this late 19th Century example should be no exception. Please see our photos and good luck!
