Colt SAA Revolver with Rare Attachable Skeleton Carbine Stock

This Colt Single Action Army revolver was manufactured in 1881 and includes the rare attachable skeleton carbine stock. These rare stocks were offered as accessories, and there are no known records for how many, if any, were sold directly with Single Action Army revolvers. Records and examples are discussed in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolvers" (p. 8, 12, and 50) demonstrate that these stocks were particularly popular in England. Two lengths of the skeletonized stock as well as additional extended frame screws were shipped to Colt's dealers in England in the mid-1870s. This revolver has the standard finish with blued barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap and color casehardened frame, loading gate and hammer. The one-piece grip is walnut with a varnished finish. The frame is fitted with extended hammer screws to engage the stock hooks. The revolver has the early "bullseye" ejector rod tip and hammer with bordered knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped: "COLTS PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A." in one line. The left side of the frame is roll-stamped with the Colt three-date/three-line' patent markings. "45 CAL" is stamped on the left front trigger guard bow. The assembly number "362" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. The full serial number is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number "6512" is stamped on the underside of the barrel beneath the ejector housing and on the side of the cylinder. All of the visible serial numbers match. A small, block letter "P" is stamped on the rear face of the cylinder. A Colt "C" sub-inspection mark is stamped in the hammer well above the firing pin hole. The attachable stock has a nickel-plated finish with blued adjustment nut.

Condition: Very good plus. The revolver has a smooth, silver-gray patina with traces of blue and casehardened finish visible in protected areas. The grips are good overall with scattered handling marks and retain patches of the original varnish finish. The serial numbers and markings on the barrel, frame and trigger guard are sharp. The action is tight and functions well. The rare attachable stock is very fine and retains 75% of the original nickel-plated finish. The adjustment nut has a dark patina finish with some scattered pitting. This is a desirable example of an 1881 production Colt Single Action Army revolver with rare attachable skeleton carbine stock.