Colt produced approximately 11,500 revolvers in 1874 (serial numbers 3500-15,000) of which approximately 1,552 went to the U.S. Civilian market. Thus, this 1874 Colt.45 is one of those guns. The gun shipped to H & D Folsom Arms Co. On August 3, 1874, serial #10598.
Colt reintroduced the removable base pin bushing in March 2003 at serial number S3439Xa so the others posters are right, the gun you're looking at will have the pressed in bushing. These new SAAs with the removable bushing are still considered 3rd generation guns.
'Artillery Model' - Colt.45 Single Action Army made from 1874 US Cavalry marked “A” COLT-4. Colt Single Action Army ‘Artillery Model’ Revolver serial # 347/541 & 4758, with mixed serial numbers as it was rebuilt from the Colt SAA with 7 1/2 “barrels that had been recalled by the US Army in 1895 and sent to the Colt factory to be converted into a short barreled “Artillery” pistol.
Enter the serial number, without spaces or dashes, to search the database. If multiple models appear for your serial number simply match the date with the appropriate model, as certain vintage firearms can share serial numbers between different models.
Duplicate Serial Numbers: Colt manufactured 60,000 pistols in the Ithaca serial number range (804), 41,696 in the Remington Rand serial number range (900), and 4,171 in the US&S serial number range (10896).
WHEN WAS MY COLT MADE?
WHAT COLT MODEL DO I HAVE?
A common first question for a Colt owner is 'When wasmy Colt made'.The second questionis often 'What Colt do I have'?
And therein lies a real can of worms.
Before you can determine when a Colt was made, you firsthave to determine WHAT Colt model you have.
This can be a most difficult question to answer.
First, identifying a Colt revolver can be frustratingbecause beginning in 1840 Colt always started each new model at serial number'1', and progressed upward until the model was discontinued, OR untilthe mid-1960's when the serial number system changed to meet Federal law.
Since all Colt's started off at number '1' it'spossible to have a number of older Colt firearms all with the same serialnumber.
In 1968 the Gun Control of 1968 was passed.This law mandated that from then on all newfirearms had to have a serial number and that number had to be unique.
Colt Saa Serial Number Identification
To comply with the law, Colt began adding letters to theserial numbers as prefixes and suffixes to make each firearm have a uniquenumber.
An added issue is Colt's often confusing serial numbersystem.Colt often mixed several modelsin the same serial number ranges or split models out by caliber.
During the mid-1950's the serial number data is so mixed asto be almost incomprehensible.
As example you may have a model of revolver made in .22 andin .38 Special, with the .22 revolver serial numbers mixed with a differentmodel Colt, and the .38 caliber version of that model in yet a different modelrange.
Even after Colt began using unique serial numbers in the1960's, Colt often combined a number of models into one serial number range.
As example in the late 1960's Colt started combining allsmall 'D' frame models like the Detective Special, Cobra, Agent,Diamondback, Viper, Police Positive Special, etc in the same serial numberranges.
Because of Colt's serial number systems it may not bepossible to identify what model a Colt is based on just the number.
Since many of these guns used the exact same barrel exceptfor the model name stamped on it, we have situations where an owner isconvinced he has a rare, unknown model of aluminum frame DetectiveSpecial.
Colt Saa Dates Of Manufacture
In fact, he doesn't. What he has is an aluminum frame Cobrasomeone installed a Detective Special barrel on.
When he attempts to determine when his Colt was made, itcomes back as a totally different model than what is stamped on the barrel.
Since these guns shared the same serial number ranges, itcan be quite confusing as to just what you have.
The problem with identifying a Colt is that Colt onlystamped the model name on the barrel.Most Colt revolvers had the same thread size and it was often possibleto install a barrel from a totally different model on a frame.
Since the frame had no identifying name and often sharedserial numbers with a totally different model, identifying what Colt model youhave can be almost impossible in some cases.
Years ago gun parts were terribly expensive and often almostimpossible to obtain.A gun owner or evengunsmith couldn't just log on or call up a big parts house and order the partshe needed.
Since parts were so difficult to get, it was common forbarrels from other models to be used as replacements.Most people were happy to get their gun repaired and since thebarrel was entirely usable, most people didn't care that the gun was one modelbut the barrel was marked as something else.
When you have anomalous information and just aren’t surewhat you have, then is when you need the experts and that's the experts on theColt Forum.
In most cases they can help you identify exactly what modelof Colt you have.Then you can proceedto determine when it was made.
This leads us to HOW to determine when your Colt was made.
There are several ways.
The first source is the Colt Firearms Company.
Colt now has a serial number look-up data base on their website.You plug in the serial number andit will give you a list of guns it could be.Since the data base seems to be a work in progress, many newer modelsmay not be listed.
Here is where problems may first appear when the data basedoesn't list what you think your Colt is, or returns no information.
If that doesn't return valid data, you can call Colt duringnormal business hours and they will give you a production date over the phone.
Chk file recovery 1.2 crack. Note that they won't give you any more information.For that you have to buy a Colt ArchiveLetter.
Also note that the people working the phones are rushed, maynot be totally familiar with Colt models and have been known to give outincorrect information.
Colt Saa Serial Number Location
Another source of information online is Proofhouse.com.
This site has a data base that ends in 1979, so any Coltmade after that won't be covered:
Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Form
R.L. Wilson is the last outsider to have access to the ColtArchive, and he has Colt serial number listings in several books andbooklets.His book 'Colt: AnAmerican Legend' has all Colt serial numbers for all models from 1836 into1986 along with magnificent color photos of every Colt firearm model made since1836.
On his web site he sells 'The Blue Book Pocket GuideFor Colt Dates of Manufacture' that goes into 2008.
Last, you can ask for help on the Colt Forum where a gooddeal of data is available from the members.
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The Serial No. 1 Colt Single Action Army Revolver
Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Guide
Group buy anyone? We can take it out for NES shoots and droll over the glass we encase it in..
Colt Year By Serial Number
Colt Saa Serial Numbers List
Serial no. 1. 6-shot fluted cylinder, 7 1/2-inch barrel with slanted barrel address, '+ Colt's Pt. FAA. Mfg. Co., Hartford, Ct. U.S.A. +' on top of barrel. Left side of frame with two-line patent marking, '-Pat. July. 25.1871-/-Pat. July. 2. 1872.-' Serial no. 1 stamped on bottom of frame, on triggerguard strap, buttstrap, bottom of breech of barrel, and in ink on grips inside cutout for backstrap. K inspector initial on back of cylinder. 8 on inside curve of loading gate. Pinched top strap forming rear sight, German silver front sight blade. Round ejector rod head, with bulbous contour to loading gate. Blued finish, with case-hardened frame and hammer. Varnished walnut grips. Condition: Fine. 30% blue, 25% case-hardening. Brown and gray patina with wear. Minor surface pitting. Traces varnish on one-piece walnut grips. Custom-made display case of brown leather, contour-lined in gold velvet, the lid gold-tooled and with gold leaf inscription noting 'The First Production Model of 'The Gun That Won the West' and The Most Famous Handgun in the World.' Case by Arno Werner Bookbinders, c. 1987. Note: Sold by Christie's, May 14, 1987, and pictured on the front cover of the catalogue, featuring firearms 'From the Estate of Charles L. Bricker.' Following the auction, the revolver served as the inspiration for a precise miniature replica by the U.S. Historical Society, Richmond, Virginia, authorized by the Colt company. Each example was stamped 1, as on the full-size original. Provenance: In hands of a retired U.S. Army officer, from 1873 to c. 1920s Brother of P.G. Barnard (Brattleboro VT) acquired from a drugstore employee, name unknown (in trade for a rifle; P.G. Barnard letter enclosed in documentation accompanying revolver) Fred P.L. Mills (purchased May 5, 1925, for $4) John S. duMont (May 4, 1948 to 1955, acquired in trade with Mills, of a Colt Double Barrel Rifle) Gerald G. Fox (April 6, 1955 to 1961) Gerald G. Fox Charles Landis Bricker (1961 to May 14, 1987) Private Collector in California via Greg Martin and U.S. Historical Society (1987 to 2008) The American Rifleman, 'The First Peacemaker,' F.P.L. Mills, p. 29, September 1936. The Texas Gun Collector magazine, front cover, March 1954 (article on p. 4). John E. Parsons, The Peacemaker and Its Rivals, frontispiece (1950). James E. Serven, Colt Cartridge Pistols, p. 54. James E. Serven, Colt Firearms from 1836, p. 21. Harold L. Peterson, The Treasury of the Gun, p. 214. On front cover, in color, of Christie's East auction catalogue, May 14, 1987, lot 232. R.L. Wilson, The Colt Heritage, p. 176 (color). R.L. Wilson, Colt An American Legend, p. 176 (color), including also French, German and Italian editions. R.L. Wilson, The Colt Engraving Book, volume I, p. 329 (color). R.L. Wilson, The Book of Colt Firearms, 2nd edition (1993), p. VIII (color). R.L. Wilson, The Peacemakers Arms and Adventure in the American West, p. 213, (color), including also French, German and Italian editions. Guns & Ammo, April 1989, pp. 84 -87 (color) with article by Phil Spangenberger, 'Worth Their Weights in Gold' featuring no. 1 with the earliest known engraved Single Action, no. 114. American Rifleman, July 1987, front cover color illustration, with advertisement on p. 11 of 'The No. 1 Colt' miniature. Pp. 15 and 17 with illustrations and article, headlined 'New Handgun Price Records Set,' and noting: ' . . . the historic handgun became the property of San Francisco gun dealer and collector Greg Martin. Martin paid the highest price ever for a firearm at a North American auction - $242,000 - and said, 'I think it's a bargain.' The 1987 catalogue description, in typical low-key English style, noted: 'Of all Colt revolvers none has earned greater fame than the Single Action Army, the 'Peacemaker.' In design and performance, in line and form, no more handsome and practical Colt has been built. From the many makes and types of revolvers which served on the Western Frontier, the Colt Single Action Army emerged as the symbol of the era.' Articles on the sale also appeared in such newspapers as the New York Times, in the antiques column by Rita Reif. Accompanied by 12 1/2- x 14 1/4-inch book of documentation, with gold-tooled brown leather cover, with collection of photographs, clippings from various books in which Serial No. 1 has been featured, Xerox copies of various letters, including from P.G. Barnard (to John S. duMont) regarding early history of revolver before purchase by Fred P.L. Mills, from F.P.L. Mills to Gerald G. Fox (detailing his purchase of revolver), from John S. duMont to Fox (who traded Colt Paterson no. 985, item #1377 from Gimble Bros. sale, New York and received Serial No. 1 plus no. 246520 Single Action Army with extension stock), and from Fox detailing the trade. Also in documenting book, Xerox copy of F.P.L. Mills' article in September 1936 American Rifleman 'The First Peacemaker.' Xerox copies also enclosed of illustrations of Serial No. 1 in books by John E. Parsons, James E. Serven, H.L. Peterson, and R.L. Wilson. Auction house promotional publication on the 1987 sale and its press release on the event is enclosed, as are copies of articles from the New York Post of May 15, 1987, with article and photo of Greg Martin holding prize revolver 'Aw, shoot! Greg's gun cost 242G,' another N.Y. Post edition with large photo and headlined text '242G duel bags peace of history,' Newsday of same date 'Legendary Six-Shooter Is Sold for Six Figures,' and another edition of same paper with picture and article 'A Six-Shooter Goes for Six Figures,' and the New York Daily News same date 'Colt .45 draws 242G. 'The article in The New York Times, May 16, by Rita Reif, was headlined '1873 Colt Revolver Brings Record Price for a Firearm.' The Hartford Courant of May 16 pictured Martin with the revolver, as did the Arizona Republic, Arizona Daily Star, and several other papers - among them trade journals like 'Antiques & The Arts Weekly' and Colt Industries corporate publication, 'Focus.' The Associated Press sent their article out by wire, appearing in numerous papers across the United States. Also enclosed in the documenting book, the marketing brochure of the U.S. Historical Society announcing the miniature series of the No. 1 Colt .45 Peacemaker. Estimate: $500000 - $1000000