Articles

The Altered or Artillery Colts.

The Altered Colts.

By The Doc.

The United States Army bought about 37,000 Colt Single Action Army (SAA) Revolvers between the years 1873 and 1892. The typical "Cavalry Colt" bought by the Army, was a SAA Revolver in .45 Calibre with a 7.5 inch barrel, colour case hardened hammer and frame, and one piece walnut stocks, with all other metal blued. The cartridge used was initially the "long colt" .45, but later the Army supplied the shorter Smith and Wesson Schofield cartridge.

For a long time, collectors were aware of a large number of SAA's which were of shortened barrel (5.5 inches), in Calibre .45, and with badly mixed serial numbers. It is now known that these guns were actually altered by the US Army between the years 1895 and 1903, when they had their barrels shortened to 5.5 inches; in these major overhauls, the guns were dismantled, the barrels shortened (from the breech end), parts were replaced or refurbished, and then refinished and grips were changed. In the course of this, guns were reassembled with no regard to serial number, (or to any future Colt Collectors), hence the absolute mish-mash of numbers on an authentic altered Colt! It is thought that 18,000 Colt SAA .45's were so altered. This alteration was done both by the Colt Factory, and the Army's Springfield Armoury. The Springfield Armoury was thought to be responsible for some frames without numbers being fitted, surely a logistical nightmare in any Army.

They came to be called "Artillery" models because the first batch of altered Colts went to Artillery Units, but it is a misnomer because most such Colts went to other Army Units. The name "Artillery" is best replaced by the term "Altered" but I seriously doubt that the name will ever change. Of course it is within the realm of possibility that Colt SAA's have been made up from spare parts by entrepreneurs in modern times to resemble these altered Colts (after all who would know?) However all Colt Dealers are honest, aren't they?? In fact, it is estimated that up to 90% of the Artillery Colts currently being offered for sale in the USA at Antique Gun Shows and in Web Auctions are FAKE!

It is interesting to contemplate a few odd facts about the US Army's Single Action Colts. The 7th Cavalry under Gen. Custer, lost well over 200 of them to the Sioux and Cheyenne in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. At the time, an Army Trooper earned about $13 a month. If he "lost" his weapon (i.e. sold it on the black market for about $40 to $50), he could report his "loss", pay the $12 it cost back to the Army, and pocket the difference. If he deserted, he could take his Revolver with him. It seems obvious that an Army man could "use the system" in any era doesn't it?

Where does this leave the Collector of Today? The price for what the Americans still call the Artillery Model authenticated by Markings and Serial Numbers and expert appraisal, are approximately as follows: Excellent condition - $US 20,000 and up. Good condition - $US 8,000 and up. Poor condition - $US 3,000 and up. (And these are 2005 prices). These Colts are fairly scarce, accounting for the price.

All is not lost, however. In 1975, Colt made Peacemaker Centennial SAA's of .45 and .44-40 calibres and the .45's were exact duplicates of the US Cavalry Colts. How many did they make?? Only 2,200; which makes them also quite rare! Then along came the United States Manufacturing Company which in 2005 offered a Custer Battlefield Model. This is an authentic looking SAA because the finish is pre-aged and the guns come with 'authentic' markings (inspector's and US stamps as on the original Colts). The barrels of both of these Colt copies are 7.5 inches in length, but knowing the Americans, it won't be long before someone cuts down the barrel to 5.5 inches to make their own Artillery (or Altered) Single Action Army Revolver. Various other Makes of these revolvers are now available as well.

Bibliography: SingleAction Army Revolvers (U.S. Alterations) by C Kenneth Moore; Standard Catalogue of Firearms 17th Edition by Dan Shideler; American Handgunner Article by Mike Venturino 2006.