Colt Single Action Army First Generation Blackpowder Frame .44-40, 4.75 Inch Barrel (1890) — Antique Revolver
This is a First-Generation Colt Single Action Army manufactured in 1890, built on the desirable blackpowder frame with a screw-retained base pin. It is chambered in .44-40 WCF with a 4.75 inch barrel marked "SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44-40." Notable period features include the three-line 1871/1872/1875 patent legend on the left side of the frame and a later crescent-shaped ejector rod head. Matching serial numbers are present on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The revolver is structurally solid. There are scratches, blemishes, and overall finish wear across the metal surfaces. The frame has been reblued over areas of prior pitting. The upper frame shows a gray tone with scattered rust freckling. The ejector and its housing are replacements, and the cylinder has been replaced.
The grips are non-original ivory. The barrel does not bear a Colt logo. This is an assembled example built with replacement components.
What’s Included
- Leather holster with retention strap and snap closures
Built during the classic blackpowder-frame era, this SAA retains the screw-retained base pin and the three-line 1871/1872/1875 patent legend on the left side of the frame. The 4.75 inch barrel is marked "SINGLE ACTION ARMY .44-40," and the revolver carries fixed sights with a blade front and an integral topstrap groove rear.
The .44-40 WCF chambering is historically associated with Colt’s "Frontier Six Shooter" designation, and this example uses a six-shot fluted cylinder. A later crescent-shaped ejector rod head is present.
Matching serial numbers are observed on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. Steel construction is used throughout the frame, barrel, and cylinder, and the revolver operates via a single-action mechanism.
Several components have been replaced, including the cylinder and the ejector assembly, and the frame has been reblued over earlier pitting. The grips are non-original ivory panels. The barrel lacks a Colt logo.
Manufactured in the United States in 1890, this antique First-Generation SAA combines cornerstone features of the model and caliber with a 4.75 inch barrel length and a six-round capacity.