Are there any Colt single action experts here? I looked at an old Colt today but don't know much about them. It had Colt's PT F.A. MFG CO Hartford Conn on the top of a 4" or 5" barrel. Serial number 65556 was on the frame in 2 places and on the cylinder and under the barrel. It had plain smooth wooden grips, no Colt emblem. On the left side of the frame was Patented Sept 19,1871 then July2,72 and then Jan.19,73. It also had 45 Cal. stamped on the left side where the trigger gaurd meets the frame, I think. The finish (if blue) was about all gone but there was no rust on it and it was very smooth all over. The gun looked old. I was wondering if anyone on this site could tell me anything about it. How old? Possible value? That might be hard without more info or pictures but appreciate any info.

A buddy of mine was going to go big time into Colts until he got seriously burned on a fake.
Caveat Emptor

Accoring to my Colts book, your S.A. was made in 1881.

At a very recent local gun auction (2 weeks ago) there were a couple dozen black powder era colts and the worst one brought $1700, majority brought around $2100, and a couple over $5000.

That's the reason I try to not get interested in them.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I wish it was mine. Esp. after reading H Richard's post. My friend put it on lay away at a local pawn shop today, total price $400 OTD.

As above, Parson's indicates SN's 62001 - 73000 were manufactured in 1881 with a total of about 11000 produced in that year.

Colt SAA's are a very deep subject and to even try and determine originality or value w/o a very professional opinion(s) is nothing more than speculation and guesswork. As already pointed out,,it is very easy to get burned on SAA's when buying and there is probably no other firearm that has been worked over, faked, upgraded, numbers changed, rebarreled, etc than these.

All that being said, I can say that the serial number you give puts the gun in the area of about 1875/1880 for manufacture. Without looking it up I'm confident that's fairly close but may be off by a year or two either way. An original would have either a 4 3/4,,5 1/2,, or 7 1/2 inch barrel. The 4 3/4" was introduced in this time period around the 53,000 ser# range IIRC. 45Colt caliber was common as was the 44-40. Some made in English caliber 45 Boxer(?) and a smattering of a few special orders.
The caliber should be marked on the left side of the trigger guard bow,,,but,, I don't recall if it is to the front or the rear of the left side of the bow. It does make a difference as there was a change in the location of the stamping somewhere in the ser# range and this shows how intricate it gets when determining originality.

The last pat date on the left side of the frame should read Jan 19.-75. Not 73.

Ser# should show on the bottom of the frame, on the trigger guard just to the rear of the frame #, bottom of the grip frame. Also the last 4 of the ser# stamped on the cylinder & bottom of the barrel.

One piece walnut grips would have been proper for the gun & I think these are pencil numbered w/ the last 4 digits in the backstrap groove only seen when dismounted of course.

There is a definite correct style of hammer checkering that must be there to be considered original, inspectors letters, etc.
There's even serveral small changes in the same roll die stampings of the same barrel address within certain serial number ranges. As the dies wore, were recut or replaced, minute changes occured in the stamping and collectors have identified them.

There are some quite famous early LEO plus folks on the other side of the law that ordered SAA's in this range and a Colt letter will sometimes bring a nice suprise. I think a couple of the Masterson Colts are in this range along w/ Wyatt Earp, etc.

Originality is everything with these and someone well qualified to inspect it first hand to determine originality plus a Colt letter to determine how it left the factory will then bring about a true value on it..

Thank you for the info. I called my friend and he is going to carry it to next months Al. Gun Collectors show and see what he can find out.

It should have the black powder frame too, with the cylinder pin removal by a screw in the front of the frame angled up towards the pin. I've seen a few fakes, otherwise pretty good replicas, which curiously omitted this feature. The cross-pin retainer for the cylinder did not begin until just before the turn of 1900, forgot the exact year right now. Also, the Rampant Colt was not incorporated until the mid 1890s IIRC.

About 10 years ago, I was confronted with a most excellent Buntline 45 Nickle 12" barrel and a 1958 serial #.... It was simply TOO good a deal, and in way too good condition (looked virtually unfired)....and getting together all the various 'how do you tell' stuff....there were a bunch of errors that lead me away from purchase.....although I STILL wish I'd bought it anyway....

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I "think" the military guns had "45" on the trigger guard. Or no markings at all. 1882 was first year of hard rubber grips. Those might be original one piece grips worth the price of the gun maybe. Your friend was practically given that gun. Get a picture if you can.

This morning when I told him the info posted here he went and got the money out of the bank and now has the gun in his possesion. I do not have my camera with me today but will get pics tommorrow. It does have the screw on the front of the frame that holds the cylinder pin in. I believe it is the real deal.