Colt Single Action Army Revolver SAA 45 LC 7 1/2" 1877

Colt Single Action Army Revolver SAA 45 LC 7 1/2" 1877

serial #38184, 45 Colt, 7 1/2" condemned barrel with an oxidized and pitted bore. The metal surfaces of this salty 1877-made revolver have toned to an even brown patina with scattered oxidation blemishes, pitting and various handling marks. The smooth one-piece walnut factory grips rate about fair with moderate to heavy wearand numerous handling marks overall. Any numbers on the grips are no longer visible and overall the metal is proud of the wood, most noticeable on the backstrap. The screws show varying degrees of slot damage, the center pin is an ad-hoc frontier gunsmith replacement and the center-pin screw is a headless replacement. The revolver still times and locks up correctly but the loading notch is in need of attention. The notch generally does not allow the cylinder to freely turn but with some careful manipulation it will function. The cylinder is numbered to the gun, the left rear flat of the triggerguard strap is marked "45 CAL" and it has the correct three-line patent dates. The underside of the barrel has sub inspector John T. Cleveland's initials, proof mark and small condemnation "c" above them. There are no "U.S." markings or other inspectors markings found on the gun and the hammer slot has assembler marks "O / P", the "O" being higher and offset to the left. The ejector rod housing screw has resisted reasonable efforts to remove it and further examination of the bottom of the barrel. It appears this gun or perhaps just the barrel were condemned by government inspectors and the ever-frugal Colt utilized them in their commercial sales.