colt artillery

[rice 123]

I have a colt SSA artillery they call them that because around 1900 they were sent back to colt the barrels were cut down to 5 1/2 inches and they rebuilt and then sent to artillery units. Anyway they all have mismatched serials so would the correct serial number be the on the bottom of the pistol grip or would the number on the frame under the barrel be correct . I want to have colt research it so I want to send them the right number I think the one on the frame under the barrel would be correct but want to be sure thanks

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Lee Enfield]

I have a colt SSA artillery they call them that because around 1900 they were sent back to colt the barrels were cut down to 5 1/2 inches and they rebuilt and then sent to artillery units. Anyway they all have mismatched serials so would the correct serial number be the on the bottom of the pistol grip or would the number on the frame under the barrel be correct . I want to have colt research it so I want to send them the right number I think the one on the frame under the barrel would be correct but want to be sure thanks

Yes, the serial number on the cylinder frame in front of the trigger guard is the master serial number for your revolver.

There should also be a serial number on the trigger guard ahead of the trigger guard front screw, but this is not the frame number..

[rice 123]

thanks

[river rat]

Any photo's would like to see what one of these look like

[rice 123]

ok I am not good at this but I will try to post pics

[browningautorifle]

That came out just fine.

[river rat]

Nice gun I learned some thing never knew about the colt SSA artillery

[A square 10]

i did not know of these cut down Single Action Army revolvers either , i thought all were of the 7 1/2" variety , nice grab

[RCS]

Also, you might be interested to know there were three types of 45 caliber cartridges used in your single action army.

1. The Smith&Wesson 45 cal Schofield (because the Schofield cylinder was too short for the 45 Colt cartridge)
2, The 45 Colt cartridge or sometimes called the 45 Long Colt
3. 45 Colt Govt Model 1909 which had the rim diameter enlarged about 0.30 inch to assure extraction from the swing out cylinder of the 1909 revolver.
because of the larger rim diameter, every other cylinder in the single action could only be loaded !