POTD: Catastrophic Failure – Colt Single Action Army
Sam.S 11.03.21
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a photo of a classic example of a catastrophic failure. A catastrophic failure is an instance in which the integrity of the firearm itself becomes undone by a weakness in design, production, implementation, or ammunition. My guess for this Colt Single-Action Army is that either an overcharged round was fired or a smokeless powder round was fired. This gun is listed as a black powder cartridge revolver.
“Produced in 1891, at some point a round detonated in one of the chambers with sufficient force to destroy the chamber, open up the adjoining chambers and rip the top strap off. The effects on the shooter are unknown, however, I would not want to have been him! Blade front sight, rear sight absent, with the two line address on top of the barrel and “45 COLT” on the left. Black powder frame, with the two line patent markings next to the circled Rampant Colt on the left, casehardened hammer, and replacement frame screw, possibly for use with a shoulder stock. Two-piece stag grips. With a H.H. Heiser belt rig, marked “73/ 13″ near the buckle, 2 1/2 inches wide, with cartridge loops. The front sight on this Colt SAA is a high profile variation.”
Lot 208: Colt Single Action Revolver 45 Lc. (n.d.). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/62/208/colt-single-action-revolver-45-lc.
