Colt Frontier Six Shooter Etched Panel SAA .44-40 – 5 1/2" Blue/Casehardened, Factory Letter (Antique)

This desirable Colt Frontier Six Shooter is a true black powder–era Single Action Army with the scarce acid-etched barrel panel and supporting factory letter. The left side of the 5 1/2" barrel shows the classic “COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER” etched panel, with the one-line Hartford address on top and three-line patent dates on the frame. The factory letter confirms .44-40 chambering, blue finish, and hard rubber grips, and documents shipment to Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co. of Chicago in August of 1884, placing this revolver squarely in the golden age of the American West.

Condition is very good plus for an honest, unmessed-with etched-panel Colt. About 25% bright original blue remains with traces of case colors, blending into smooth and mottled brown patina across the frame, barrel, and ejector housing. The etched panel is still legible, which is a key point for collectors. The period hard rubber grips show minimal handling wear with crisp checkering and sharp Colt and eagle motifs, adding significantly to the overall appeal.

Mechanically, the revolver is described as very good, with the hammer sitting slightly low in the safety notch but otherwise functioning properly. For the advanced Colt enthusiast, this piece offers an attractive combination of rarity, originality, and documentation—an acid-etched Frontier Six Shooter with the right barrel length, caliber, and factory letter to anchor a 19th-century Colt collection.

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