This is an early Colt Single Action Army revolver that was manufactured in 1896. Two important or distinctive changes were made during this time, one was that Colt started to use its distinctive "Circled" Rampant Colt Logo on the side of the frame, and two, around serial number 165,000, they switched from the old style black powder frames to the new style smokeless powder frames that can be easily identified by the cross-pin in the frame versus the screw through the front. The top of the barrel is marked "COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.----". The left side is marked "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER", and the left side of the frame has the two line, three patent date marking followed by the circled Rampant Colt. The matching serial numbered is marked on the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The loading gate is marked with the assembly number "240". Blade front and frame notch, blue finish with casehardened frame and fitted with checkered hard rubber grips with the Rampant Colt in an oval at the top. The accompanying factory letter verifies the caliber, barrel length, blue finish, rubber grips and that it was shipped as 1 of 20 to Simmons Hardware Company in St. Louis, Mo. On September 22, 1896. Comes with a Moran Brothers brown leather single loop holster with scalloped hand tooled bordering with makers marking on the top and "940W/38" Miles City, M.T. (Montana Territory) on the bottom of the skirt. Unmarked leather cartridge belt with 31 loops.

Very good. The metal surfaces have a brownish gray patina with a small amount of scattered minor pitting and strong traces of original blue finish in protected areas. The grips are good with some heavy wear on the left panel and for the most part crisp checkering. The markings are clear. The action is fine. The holster and belt are good with some heavy wear on some of the loops, a 1 3/4 inch split on the front of the holster toe, and overall some wear and flex cracking.