Make: Colt

Model: 1873, Single Action Army, "Artillery" Model

Serial Number: 48408

Year of Manufacture: 1878

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading-Gate Cylinder

Barrel Length: 5 1/2”

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

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grip is one-piece smooth walnut. The grip has scattered light marks and even handling wear. There are losses at the bottom corners and a few other tiny losses around the edges. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good-plus condition as not original to the gun.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Refinished, likely after at least two arsenal refurbishments (see Kopec Letter).

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright. The rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is scattered light erosion and pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 6/10.

Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 35% of its current metal finish. Most finish remains in protected areas or around raised features. Much of the exposed surface has muted or gone to a light patina. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches, most notable on the left of the barrel. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to disfigured with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn and incomplete. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition as refinished Antique.

Mechanics: The hammer does not catch at the safety notch and has excessive over-travel at full-cock. Otherwise, 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: This revolver comes with a Colt Archives letter and a John Kopec letter. The Colt letter indicate that this revolver's frame was originally assembled for a Cavalry revolver shipped July 20, 1878 in a shipment of 100 guns of the same type. The Kopec letter will be discussed further in Our Assessment.

Our Assessment: This revolver started out life in 1878 as a Model 1873 Cavalry revolver and likely saw some use in the Indian Wars of the late 19th Century. It has since been assembled as an "Artillery Model". Between 1900 and 1903, Colt altered and refinished 5,444 revolvers into “Artillery” models (5 1/2” barrel) while there were S. Per Kopec and Fenn, “A single Artillery revolver often will have parts from three or four different Cavalry revolvers”. Early refurbishments, ca. 1896, would force-match replacement parts. The “Artillery” moniker is a collector’s term, as the modified revolvers were most notable for their issue to U.S. Artillery units in the Spanish-American war.

While the mixed parts of these "Artillery" models can cause no end of confusion among collectors, this example was inspected by noted author, historian and collectors, John A. Kopec, one of if not the most respected authority on the Single Action Army. According to Kopec, National Archives records were not available for the frame serial number, but the two closest, 48523 and 48528, were both issued to Companay F, 6th U.S. Cavalry as of 1888. The triggerguard is from an 1883 Cavalry model and the backstrap was matched to the trigger guard during an early refurbishment, ca. 1896. The serial number on the barrel is missing entirely and the cylinder's R.A.C. inspection mark indicates a replacement cylinder, both consistent with the revolver going through a second refurbishment, most likely in 1903. Indeed, the Colt Archives letter indicates that this frame was returned to Colt for refurbishment and shipped back out to Springfield Armory on July 14, 1903.

This revolver must have a very interesting history, if only it could be told, but the included documentation tells us a lot. All of the Colt 1st Generation revolvers are heavily collected, and this example has quite an interesting mix of parts, so it could serve as a source of parts for other SAAs, as well as displaying well as an "Artillery" model that has been inspected by Kopec. Please see our photos and good luck!