Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! This remarkably early Colt SAA represents the birth of what would become America’s most iconic handgun. Made in 1873 with serial number 14, it’s among the first commercial production Colts ever assembled, predating even the famous U.S. military contracts. What makes this revolver extraordinary beyond its early serial number is the “pinched frame” rear sight – a feature found on fewer than 100 guns, mostly below serial number 200. Colt expert Ron Graham called this gun “the Single Action Army discovery of the decade” when it emerged in 1991. Unlike the standardized .45 Long Colt caliber most SAAs used, this revolver is chambered for .44 S&W American – a transitional cartridge that shows Colt was still figuring out their design. The barrel features “gain twist” rifling (a carryover from percussion revolver days) and a flawless roll-die stamped address. The two-line patent marking on the frame appears on fewer than 25 known SAAs. The ejector housing uses an early design without the strengthening stud that would soon become standard. Even the loading gate shows first-style production with only slight beveling. Perhaps most remarkable is the included bullet mold – a factory-modified .36 caliber percussion mold rechambered for .44 S&W American. According to expert Robin Rapley, this is the only known example of this specific mold. The revolver traces back to John Francis Ahern who died in 1924, passing through several generations of his family in Utah before emerging at a gun show in 1991. Family lore suggests Ahern may have acquired it through a “bar debt” – a fitting origin story for a piece of the American West’s most legendary firearm.
“Colt Pinched Frame Single Action Army .44 S&W American Revolver.” Rock Island Auction Company, https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4094/1089/colt-pinched-frame-single-action-army-44-sw-american-revolver. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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