Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Colt Single Action Army that belonged to John Wayne, documented by a signed letter from his son Patrick Wayne. According to Patrick, this revolver was part of the rig Duke wore for personal appearances through the 1970s during his final years. The gun itself started life as an 1879 SAA but has been extensively modified over the decades. The barrel’s been cut to 4 3/4 inches, it’s been renumbered, and it shows the kind of wear you’d expect from a working prop that made appearances rather than sat in a display case.
What makes this interesting isn’t the gun’s originality – it’s been through the wringer. What matters is the connection to John Wayne, who became synonymous with the Single Action Army through his film career. Wayne wasn’t just an actor who handled SAAs on screen. He was a shooter who understood the guns and carried them at personal appearances throughout his life.
By the 1970s, Wayne was fighting cancer and making fewer public appearances, but when he did show up, he’d often wear his full western rig. This revolver was part of that presentation – not a film gun, but a personal appearance piece that kept Duke connected to the cowboy image that defined his career. The letter from Patrick Wayne provides the provenance that separates this from just another modified SAA. Without that documentation, this would be a fairly unremarkable altered Colt. With it, you’ve got a tangible connection to Hollywood’s most famous cowboy during his twilight years.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
Documented Antique Colt Single Action Army Revolver, Formerly the Property of Famous Hollywood Actor John Wayne with Patrick Wayne Letter | Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1049/26/documented-john-wayne-antique-colt-single-action-army-revolver. Accessed 4 Nov. 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.
Trending Products
