This exceptionally fine black powder frame SAA was manufactured in 1875 and comes with a highly sought after and rare Colt production skeletonized stock. The condition of the revolver alone makes this SAA highly desirable. Add the nearly impossible to find skeleton stock and you have a prized collectible missing from even the most advanced SAA collections. The stock attaches to the revolver via a special extended hammer screw projecting from both sides of the frame. 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, other than Buntline Specials. Knowledgeable collectors have concluded that a limited number were produced. Records and examples discussed in "A Study of the Colt Single Action Army Revolvers" (see pages 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. The attachable stock offered here lacks visible markings and has a nickel plated finish and a blued adjustment nut. The accompanying factory letter confirms the .45 caliber chambering and blue finish with barrel length and type of stocks not listed, a common indication of 7 1/2 inch barrel and walnut stocks, as encountered on this example. The factory letter also states the revolver was shipped to H.&D. Folsom of New York City on June 28, 1875. The barrel, ejector rod housing, cylinder, trigger guard, and back strap have the Colt high polish commercial blue finish. The hammer and frame have a casehardened finish. The one piece walnut grip has a varnish finish. The barrel is stamped with the one-line Hartford address on top. The left side of the frame has the two-line patent dates marking. The left side of the trigger guard is stamped with the caliber designation: "45 CAL." The ejector rod has a bull's eye head. Matching full or partial serial numbers appear on the frame, trigger guard, back strap, and cylinder. The underside of the barrel under the ejector rod housing is stamped with the matching serial number "9618" followed by a second serial number ("7363"). The barrel appears to have been renumbered by the factory to match the frame serial number. The loading gate has the assembly number "1549." An included receipt shows that the revolver was purchased from Sweeney's Emporium of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, in January 2005.

Exceptionally fine, retaining 75% plus bright original high polish blue finish with thinning to brown on the balance. The front grip strap is a mix of original blue and smooth brown patina. The frame retains 50% original case colors in and around the protected areas. The hammer retains 75% vivid original case colors. The grip is excellent with minimal handling marks and nearly all original varnish remaining. Mechanically excellent. The stock is excellent with some casting flaws and scattered dings and retaining 95% original nickel plating and 60% dull original blue finish on the adjustment nut. These attachable skeleton stocks are rarely encountered and are an essential accessory to any SAA collection. This high condition Colt Black Powder Single Action Army Revolver with rare attachable skeleton stock will be a prized addition to even the most advanced public or private collections.