This is an early production Pinched Frame Colt Single Action Army revolver that was manufactured in July 1873. The revolver has the rare and extremely desirable "Pinched Frame" rear sight found only on civilian Single Action Army revolvers below serial number 200 and government test model revolvers. This revolver was formerly part of the Jonathan Peck collection. Peck began to collect Colt Single Action revolvers prior to WWII and assembled one of the premier Single Action collections. A letter that accompanies the revolver states that Jonathan Peck said that this revolver was the best "Pinched Frame" Single Action he had the opportunity to buy in 50 years of collecting. The revolver has a full nickel-plated finish with a one-piece varnished walnut grip. The revolver has the first style ejector housing with barrel boss and "bullseye" ejector rod head and very early cylinder with small bolt stops and no guides. The hammer has a bordered knurled spur. The barrel is roll-stamped with the first style script address "+COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD. CT. U.S.A.+" with slanted crosses at either end of the address. The left side of the frame is roll stamped with the second style patent marking "PAT. SEPT.19.1871/PAT.JULY 2.1872" in two lines. This marking was utilized by Colt on civilian Single Action revolvers from serial number 25-32,000. "45 CAL" is stamped on the left shoulder of the trigger guard. "4" and "C" are stamped on the barrel between the ejector rod screw hole and the barrel boss hole. "C" is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The serial number, "48" is correctly visibly stamped on the underside of the barrel just ahead of the frame, on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap and on the rear face of the cylinder. The wood one-piece grip is serialized "48" in ink internally. There is correctly no assembly number on the loading gate. The revolver is accompanied by a detailed letter that gives the Jonathan Peck Collection history of this revolver and other noted "Pinched Frame" Colt Single Actions; the letter concludes "Serial #48 Pinch Frame is one of the top five Pinch Frames extant, in my and other expert's opinions, and was a crown jewel of Peck's collection".

Extremely fine. The revolver retains 95% plus of the period retailer applied nickel-plated finish. Wear is limited to some flaking on the face of the cylinder (caused by firing) and a small spot of flaking on the right side of the trigger guard below the screw hole. The markings on the barrel and frame are crisp and all of the serial numbers are sharp. The action is tight and functions perfectly. The walnut grip is fine and retains about 80% of the original varnish with some finish wear on the edges of the heels and along the back strap. This is an outstanding and very well documented example of the rarest and most desirable variation of the Colt Single Action revolver. This exceptional revolver would be the centerpiece of the most advanced Single Action Army collection.