Make: Colt

Model: Second Generation Buntline Special

Serial Number: 18051SA

Year of Manufacture: 1957

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Side Loading Gate Revolver

Barrel Length: 12"

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

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth ivory. There is a crack in the bottom on the right. Otherwise, the grip shows only light handling marks. Overall, the grip is in Very Good condition as replaced.

Type of Finish: Nickel

Finish Originality: Original to engraving by George Spring, numbers match except replaced barrel, custom hammer screw for stock mounting, possibly factory refinished, see Our Assessment.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 98% of its current metal finish. The action shows minor operational wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent condition.

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: This revolver comes with an alloy stock assembly, Colt Archives letter, and a series of documentation from previous owners. The letter indicates this revolver originally shipped December 5, 1957 to Jack's and Ed's Sporting Goods in Redondo Beach as a blued Buntline Special with wood stocks and BB470 numbered barrel.

Our Assessment: Manufactured in 1957, this revolver is a Buntline Special chambered in the classic .45 Colt cartridge, the original chambering for the SAA and with a 12" barrel. The Buntline designation originally referred to any SAA with a barrel longer than the longest standard length of 7 1/2" and were only available by special order with the pre-war guns being quite rare. When the Buntline Special was reintroduced as a standard configuration in 1957, starting in the 12400SA range, the barrels were marked with a "Buntline Barrel" number starting with BB 100 to prevent nefarious characters from pulling the barrels and installing them on 1st generation guns to pass them off as pre-war buntlines. Colt would eventually sell BB marked barrels separately, making this example even more of a mystery.

In the known-known category, we know that after leaving the factory in 1957, the revolver was engraved, refinished, fit with new grips and a new barrel, as well as a new hammer screw for mounting a detachable stock. The engraving is signed "G. SPRING - COLT ENG.", the signature of George Spring who was an engraver at Colt for some 24 years. Colt Archives does not have extensive records about revolvers returned for custom work and cannot confirm this, but other Spring pieces were simply marked "ENGR" when he was not working for Colt. This strongly suggests the revolver was returned to Colt during Spring's career there, where it had the barrel exchanged, engraved, and new finish applied, maybe even the grip and stock mounting screw.

One more twist in the story was that the revolver was previously sold as purportedly belonging to Clayton Moore, the Lone Ranger, but this is not well documented and never confirmed. In any case, this beautiful piece is going to be popular with collectors and engraving aficionados alike. Please see our photos and good luck!