Colt 1873 barrels and finishes

[phantom8747]

I have heard the 5 1/2" barrel model was a standard barrel.Did the 7 1/2" barrelled model come out at the same time?When was the 4 3/4" barrel introduced?What about nicle plating or stainless steel?   Thanks.

[Abilene]

7 1/2 inch barrels were standard on the gun when it was introduced as a military sidearm.  Shorter barrels came later.  Standard finish was case colored and blue.  Many guns of the old west period were nickled to help with corrosion from black powder, and more so from the corrosive primers.  Stainless didn't come along until well into the 20th century, and I don't know if the Colt SAA was ever offered in stainless, although the various copies of it are.

[Tascosa Joe]

Colt was shipping 5 1/2 in barrel pistols to the London Agency by 1878.