Make: Colt

Model: 1878 Double Action Frontier

Serial Number: 13963

Year of Manufacture: Shipped January 21-22, 1885

Caliber: .44-40 WCF, Black Powder

Action Type: Single or Double Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Barrel Length: 5 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The rear sight is a “V” notch integral to the top strap. The front sight is a tapered blade fixed to the barrel.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth pearl panels. The left panel has a small loss on the rear edge at the indexing stud. There are some other tiny losses around the edges. There are a few nicks and minor scratches. There is some discoloration, but much of the pearl still shows significant pearlescence. Overall, the grips are in Very Good condition as Antique.

Type of Finish: Nickel

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion and pitting scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 5 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 5% of its metal finish. Finish remains in some well protected areas or around raised features. Most surfaces have worn to white with some areas going to a light patina. The rear face of the cylinder has deep firing pin marks between each chamber. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is some minor surface erosion with a spot of more notable erosion on the right of the hammer. The loading gate stud has been repaired or replaced. The cylinder pin retainer appears to be a replacement. 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 as Antique (see Mechanics).

Mechanics: The hammer does not catch the sear at full-cock, preventing operation in single-action. The cylinder advances and the hammer drops in double-action, but the cylinder has notable play. When the hammer is down, the cylinder turns freely. We have not fired 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 that this revolver was produced as a .44 caliber with 5 1/2" barrel, nickel finish, pearl grips and factory engraving, shipped January 21-22, 1885 to Pittsburgh Firearms Company in Pennsylvania as the only gun of its type in the shipment.

Our Assessment: The Colt DA Frontier Revolver, Model of 1878 was made until 1905, when swing-out cylinder double-action revolvers started to push loading gate revolvers out of the market. About 51,210 of these revolvers were made, with about 41,000 produced prior to 1899. This model had the same sharp knuckle at the top of the backstrap used on the Model 1877 “Lightning” but has a flat loading gate instead of the SAA style rounded loading gate. Otherwise, it still loosely resembled the SAA revolver with a side loading gate cylinder, and remained in production after the Model 1889 was produced with its swing-out cylinder.

This is a very interesting example, made in 1885 and chambered for the classic .44-40 WCF cartridge. The included Colt Archives letter confirms its factory engraving, pearl grips and nickel finish, making for a very desirable revolver. There are a few mechanical issues, but it is well worth restoring to working order. As-is, it will make a great display in a Colt revolver collection. Please see our photos and good luck!