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Excellent and Scarce Acid Etched Panel Colt Model 1878 DA Frontier Six-Shooter Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 9,000.00 USD
Excellent and Scarce Acid Etched Panel Colt Model 1878 DA Frontier Six-Shooter Revolver
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Estimate: $6500 - 9000
Manufacturer: Colt Model: 1878
Manufactured in 1888 with the desirable etched panel caliber marking. The top of the barrel is marked "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co./HARTFORD. CT. USA" and the left side of the barrel has the acid etched "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" panel, a marking that was used until circa 1889. The acid etched "FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" marking was introduced on .44-40 Colt Single Action Army Revolvers by the New York City retailer John P. Moore's Sons and was applied to 44 caliber Model 1878 Double Action revolvers from 1878 to 1889 when Colt substituted a roll die marking. The serial number is stamped in two lines on the bottom of the bird's head grip just ahead of the lanyard loop. The loading gate is stamped with the assembly number "310" and the number "585" is stamped on the back strap under the left panel. The rear face of the cylinder is stamped with the letter "R". Nickel finish with niter blue trigger, hammer with polished sides and screw heads. It is fitted with a set of checkered hard rubber grips featuring the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top. The grips are numbered to the gun. According to Don Wilkerson in his book COLT'S DOUBLE ACTION REVOLVER: THE MODEL OF 1878, Colt manufactured 1,877 nickel plated Model 1878s with a 5 1/2 inch barrel.
BBL: 5 1/2 inch round
Stock:
Gauge: 44-40
Finish: nickel
Grips: hard rubber
Serial Number: 21841
Condition:
Excellent. The revolver retains 97% plus untouched original nickel finish with some flaking at the muzzle and some speckling of brown on the back strap. There are a few minor dings on the back strap. The acid etched panel is excellent. The screw heads retain most of the original niter blue finish and the hammer and trigger retains 60% original niter blue finish. The grips are very fine with a very small chip missing near the frame (right panel) and some minor handling marks near the bottoms with overall crisp checkering. Some slight play in the cylinder, otherwise action is fine.