Finally got a 1st Generation Colt SAA with…..

[lestert357]

factory original carved ivory grips…..

The gun is a 4-3/4” Colt Frontier Six Shooter .44-40 originally shipped as a 1 gun special order to Abercrombie & Fitch Company on November 8, 1926…..

A fairly nice, rugged, and well built holster and belt rig came with the gun.

The belt is marked “HAMLEY & CO. PENDLETON, ORE.”….

The holster is marked “COLLINS SADDLERY CO. MAKERS CISCO, TEX.”….

Based on quick research both Hamley and Collins were in business during the early 1900’s so the rig could be period correct for the gun….

I plan on shooting the gun occasionally, but not with the ivory grips. Even though ivory is a very tough material, I do not want to chance damaging the right side interior grip screw retainer. I have some 1st generation hard rubber grips to put on the gun for the range.

There was some discussion on the Colt Forum regarding the caliber .44/c listed on the factory letter rather than it being listed as .44-40. Having dabbled in Colt Single Actions for over 30 years that did not concern me , and I believe the .44/c merely means .44 caliber. For further due diligence I noted that the cylinder is correctly marked with the last 2 digits of the serial number (14)…..

that the cylinder correctly chambers a .44-40 cartridge…..

and the cylinder will not chamber a .44 Special cartridge…..

Even though I am getting near the end of my gun collecting days, I could not resist this opportunity to snag a 1st Generation Colt Single Action still wearing the factory original ivory grips with carved steer head motif after almost 100 years! I believe you can click on all of the pictures for a closer look.

 

[CajunBass]

WOW! Just beautiful.

 

[Mblhopo]

Very,Very,.....Nice I have been collecting SAA for over 40+ years as well as Smiths, and you found a nice one. Those grips are the icing on the cake. You don't see factory carved Ivory very often................................M*

 

[6GUNSONLY]

That is fabulous! I can't imagine a SAA that I'd rather have if (a) I could afford one and (b) could choose any configuration I wanted. The period leather just makes it near-perfect. Congratulations!

 

[kennethg]

What a great find. That is a fantastic revolver and leather combination

 

[mauser9]

A real beauty of a First Generation!! Did Colt guarantee the use of smokeless rounds for first Generation SAA around 1906-or 1907? Seems I heard something to that effect. Priceless piece you have there and a pleasure to see. thanks for sharing!

 

[boykinlp]

Terry, it just doesn’t get any better than that! Nice shooter grade first generation SAA is great, but for it to come with Factory Carved Ivory grips is awesome! And to top it off with a period correct rig is just amazing to me. I definitely wouldn’t have turned that jewel down.

I am not familiar with HAMLEY & CO. PENDLETON, OREGON or the
COLLINS SADDLERY CO. MAKERS CISCO, TEXAS, but maybe turnerriver or RED can shed some light on those makers. Thanks for sharing.
Larry

 

[lestert357]

Did Colt guarantee the use of smokeless rounds for first Generation SAA around 1906-or 1907? Seems I heard something to that effect.

According to the well known Colt SAA historian John Kopec, Colt began to guarantee their revolvers for use with smokeless powder cartridges in catalogs and other forms of advertising in 1898 (which began at approximately serial number 175000). However he further states that there is a notation in Colt’s shipping records which specifically states that Single Actions between serial number 175000 and serial number 180000 are NOT guaranteed for smokeless powder use.

I have also noted in the Colt’s Dates of Manufacture booklet by R. L. Wilson that it states “Revolvers built to handle smokeless powders” beginning in 1900 with serial number 192000.

Colt began consistently stamping the Single Action front trigger guard bows with the factory verified proof (VP marking enclosed in a triangle pictured below) for smokeless powder in 1905 near serial number 269000.

So the published information along with the physical marking on the guns gives quite a range for when the SAA became guaranteed for smokeless powder.

 

[Dvus]

Absolutely beautiful Colt! I would love to get a first gen with Ivory, factory or not. I have a 3rd gen John Wayne with Ivory, but I prefer first gens. For now, I will have to make due with Stags and engraving.

 

[mauser9]

Thanks for clearing that subject up lestert357. Nice to get a straight answer on the SAA beginning smokeless rounds. Will make a note of it.

 

[local_dirt]

Incredible. Congratulations.

 

[Rudi]

FANTASTIC!! A beautiful little pony. Nice rig.

 

[444 Magnum]

Very nice. Great caliber and barrel length. Grips are fantastic. That rig has it all. Congrats.

 

[kmyers]

That is wonderful, great looking old Colt.

 

[chief38]

Beautiful - ad the grips are GORG!

 

[bill-in-texas]

Congratulations on a real show stopper!
Beautiful 1st Gen with the letter to boot.

-Bill

 

[2152hq]

Great looking SAA & Rig.
Those Ivory grips really cap it off.

Isn't the '44c' marking on the caliber designation in the letter just the older way the 44-40 was noted when Colt was chambering the SAA for
just the 2 .... the 44-40 (44c (centerfire) & 44r (rimfire).

Seems like I read that in some book I have stacked away somewhere.

Someone wrote the caliber the old style way in the ledger would be the way I would see it.

There is still a 'Hamleys' in Pendelton, OR
It's a Western Store now and resturant.
But it plays off of the orig Saddle and Leather works business of the early 1900's.

Here's link to their web page and the 'About Us' info.
About | Hamley Western Store & Saddle Shop | Steakhouse | Cafe | Slickfork Saloon in Pendleton, Oregon

 

[swagmeister]

Outstanding example!! One of the best I have ever seen. Lucky man. Enjoy it in good health.

 

[lestert357]

Someone wrote the caliber the old style way in the ledger would be the way I would see it.

Sure, I have seen multiple examples of factory letters (which are taken from the shipping ledgers) showing either “.44/c” or “.44-40” for standard Single Actions and Bisleys chambered for the .44-40 cartridge.

Also, thank you 2152hq for the link to the Hamley Website.

So far the only thing found (by turnerriver - thanks John) on Collins Saddlery Co. is the below advertisement in the July 4, 1913 edition of The Cisco Round-Up newspaper…..

 

[Onomea]

Absolutely gorgeous, Lester! Wow!