Colt SAA, early US Military, Factory Letter, Cased

Description

Synopsis:

Interesting Colt SAA military revolver with 5.5″ barrel, SN: 116495, shipped to US Government 1885, subsequently returned to Colt for refurbishment before its return to Springfield Armory and reissue/resale. Well documented ANTIQUE!!

Description:

First generation Colt Single Action Army revolver, cal. 45 Colt, SN: 116495, marked and sold to United States Government, shipped from Colt in December 1885, DFC inspected. Subsequently returned to Colt for refurbishing that consisted of replacing worn parts, refinishing and reassembly. Factory letter notes that the majority of the revolvers received during this time frame had 5 1/2 inch barrels. The revolver was subsequently reshipped to Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts on January 1902. Accompanying the Colt letter is personal correspondence dated April 1981 wherein the owner mentioned having purchased this revolver while on attache duty in Ankara, Turkey, circa 1950-1952, from Colonel Turgut, a Russian who had escaped to Turkey, eventually joining the Turkish Air Force. The Colt SAA now has a 5.5″ barrel with fixed sights, a blued barrel and cylinder, a casehardened frame, and a blued grip/trigger guard. Top of barrel is clearly marked “COLTS PT. F. A. MFG CO HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.” Left side of frame marked with patent dates “SEPT 19 1871”, “July 2 – 72nd, and JAN 19 – 75th” along with “US” government marking. SN: “116495” is on the frame, butt, trigger guard, the last 4 digits on the cylinder. Loading gate number “857”. “D.F.C” inspection on frame and under barrel. Fitted with wooden grips, no cartouches evident, forward extensions lightly checkered, the bottom of the left grip with an “R.A.C.” inspection. Complete with Colt factory letter dated September 26, 2016. Handwritten correspondence dated April 21, 1981, providing historical provenance, a typed undated/unsigned document titled “TURKEY – HOW AND WHY” detailing the revolver’s history and previous ownership, and a home made wood case with inner label “Huseyin Turgut”.

Condition:

VG+ as factory refurbished, well documented, with holster wear and thinning as one might expect from a revolver over 100 years old since its refurbishment, that subsequently saw moderate use. General fading of the case colored frame, now largely toned to gray. Grips sanded during the course of their refurbishment with added checkering, the bottoms untouched with the R.A.C. lettering well detailed. Mirror bore. Correct manual mechanics with all cylinders indexing properly on full cock.