Sold for $3,900
.44-40. 4.75" barrel length. SN: 71332. (Mfg. Ca 1881) Blued metal finish with niter blued small parts, casehardened frame and hammer, and one piece walnut grips. Professionally restored single-action loading gate revolver with six-shot cylinder. Item features the black powder frame and rifling, kidney shaped ejector rod head, and an etched banner on the left barrel reading COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER. The left frame bears the three line patent marking reading PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871./" JULY. 2. -72./" JAN. 19. -75. The left triggerguard has been struck with the caliber marking 44 CF. Barrel mounts the two-line address marking. The loading gate assembly number is 5859, and the last four digits of the serial number appear on the cylinder behind the flutes. The barrel likewise bears the serial beneath the ejector rod housing with the caliber mark beneath the barrel near the cylinder pin. The grips are marked in 1332 in pencil along the cut for the backstrap. The hammer recess shows a Z stamp, and an L stamp appears to the front of the recoil shield hidden by the loading gate. The Cylinder is a replacement, likely of Colt manufacture with clear machine marks on the front and rear of the cylinder in addition to a crisp P inspection stamp, and cylinder serial number struck by a different die from the remainder of the gun. The barrel is also replaced, with the serial number marking matching the cylinder but not the frame, and with sharp edges at the forcing cone. The grip screws are replacements, and all three show some deformations to the heads from removal and installation.
Fine as Restored. Bore is Bright with crisp rifling and some signs of patina forming near the muzzle. The refinished barrel shows a pattern of flecking near the muzzle end and some light scratches. The frame displays few light scratches with some spots of surface rust forming inside the frame on the face of the recoil shield. The rear gripstrap displays some further flecking analogous to the barrel. The grips have some light handling mars and scratches, some nicks along the edge of the butt. The cylinder shows the faint beginnings of an incomplete turn ring, and the action has not been tested in order to preserve the finish. The grip has a folded piece of paper set in place between the backstrap and grip.