COLT 6 gun what is it?
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pantannojack
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SnidelyWhiplash
Member
It's a Single Action Army. Be aware that it's one of the most faked and counterfeited guns out there. It takes a real expert to tell whether it's genuine...and they have been fooled on occasion.
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pantannojack
US Veteran
That's a genuine Colt Single Action Army made on a black powder frame (early gun). The barrel has been shortened and a replacement front sight was dovetailed into the barrel. It's rough, but it's no reproduction.
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According to the handy Colt serial number online database, an SAA of this serial number was made in 1880. It could have started out as a 7 1/2, 5 1/2 or 4 3/4" barrel but the muzzle crown and front sight are definitely altered, and not very nicely. 
Any interesting back story with the gun?
Any interesting back story with the gun?
An Etched Panel Colt Frontier Six Shooter
The caliber is marked on the front of the trigger guard bow and looks like 44 CF which is the .44 WCF or .44-40 caliber; the barrel would have been etched on the left side with "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" but now with the wear, buffing, and refinishing is almost assuredly gone. The grips, if original Colt grips, are replaced and at least 15 years later than the gun. The barrel was very likely 7-1/2" before it was cut. Some of the pictures appear to show traces of nickel, but the gun could have originally been either blue or nickel. If original parts the last 4 digits of the serial number should be on the side of the cylinder and on the barrel under the ejector housing.
If the gun was originally blue the below pictures can give you an idea of what it looked like during it's early period of use before parts were replaced, the barrel cut, and refinished…..
And this is about what it looked like when it was new in 1880. Note this gun is from 1878 and so the "44 CF" caliber stamp is on the rear trigger guard flat rather the the front trigger guard bow…..
Photo Credit - Rock Island Auction
Click on the pictures for a closer look.
The caliber is marked on the front of the trigger guard bow and looks like 44 CF which is the .44 WCF or .44-40 caliber; the barrel would have been etched on the left side with "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" but now with the wear, buffing, and refinishing is almost assuredly gone. The grips, if original Colt grips, are replaced and at least 15 years later than the gun. The barrel was very likely 7-1/2" before it was cut. Some of the pictures appear to show traces of nickel, but the gun could have originally been either blue or nickel. If original parts the last 4 digits of the serial number should be on the side of the cylinder and on the barrel under the ejector housing.
If the gun was originally blue the below pictures can give you an idea of what it looked like during it's early period of use before parts were replaced, the barrel cut, and refinished…..
And this is about what it looked like when it was new in 1880. Note this gun is from 1878 and so the "44 CF" caliber stamp is on the rear trigger guard flat rather the the front trigger guard bow…..
Photo Credit - Rock Island Auction
Click on the pictures for a closer look.
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At first glance I thought it was a Sheriff's model of the Peacemaker because
of the shortened barrel.
of the shortened barrel.
Buick
Member
That gun still has substantial value
Fishinfool
Member
Just to note, being a 1880 gun, it is safe with black powder loads only. Colt did not certify its SAA for smokeless powder until about 1900, I believe.
Larry
Larry
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
In 1923 it was just an old gun and the new owner wanted it the way he wanted it.
I found a 1876 production Military SAA that was altered in 1940 to fire .22 Rimfire. The 7 1/2 inch barrel was cut to 4 inches and had a .22 caliber liner. That revolver survived the Indian Wars just to be chopped up so the owner can shoot .22s.
SnidelyWhiplash
Member
Never try and replicate low pressure black powder loads with smokeless...a recipe for disaster. For one...you don't know the round count or how much internal stresses the gun has experienced in over a hundred years...plus smokeless has a different pressure curve than black powder even if not loaded to a nominal high pressure.
Black powder is black powder...smokeless is smokeless...never try and replicate one with the other. It's simply not safe for the gun or the shooter or those around him.
While I've seen several opinions on when Colt started certifying their handguns for smokeless powder...by year or a serial number guesstimate...the most commonly agreed upon point is when Colt started apply the "Verified Proof" final inspection stamp...the "VP" in a triangle where the trigger guard meets the frame. Even then it's not for sure of that.
Black powder is black powder...smokeless is smokeless...never try and replicate one with the other. It's simply not safe for the gun or the shooter or those around him.
While I've seen several opinions on when Colt started certifying their handguns for smokeless powder...by year or a serial number guesstimate...the most commonly agreed upon point is when Colt started apply the "Verified Proof" final inspection stamp...the "VP" in a triangle where the trigger guard meets the frame. Even then it's not for sure of that.
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