Colt commercial Single Action Army revolver that was manufactured in 1883. The revolver has the Colt commercial blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened. The one-piece walnut grip has a high polish piano finish. The ejector housing has the oval ejector rod head adopted about serial number 73,000 on civilian Single Action revolvers. The hammer spur has bordered knurling. The top of the barrel is roll stamped "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.-". The caliber designation "44" is stamped on the underside of the barrel. "44.C.F." is stamped on the left side of the trigger guard bow. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the three line, three patent dates. The assembly number, "6081" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. A Colt "L" inspection mark is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. "H" is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The full serial number, "98418" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "8418" is stamped on the bottom of the barrel under the ejector housing, on the side of the cylinder and written in ink in the grip back strap inlay. All of the other visible serial number match.

Very fine. The revolver is all original and retains 80% of the blue finish. The delicate feathered polishing marks are visible on either side of the front sight blade. The barrel has some finish loss on the top and the left side near the muzzle; the balance has the high polish blue. There is light holster wear on the side of the ejector housing. Most of the blue is present on the trigger guard and back strap with some thinning on contact points. The frame and hammer have 60% of the original case colors with some minor silvering on the recoil shield and loading gate. The screws and trigger have 50% of the nitre blue finish; the screw heads are free from screwdriver battering. The grip is excellent and retains most of the piano finish with some slight handling wear on the right side and edges of the heels. The action is crisp and functions perfectly. The barrel and frame markings and serial numbers are sharp. This is an exceptional original example of an 1883 production, blackpowder .44-40 Colt Single Action Army revolver.