Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this exceptionally scarce consecutive-serial matched revolver set for a penny-start auction; this is the CONSECUTIVE Serial Numbered Great Western Arms Set!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Great Western Arms Co.
Model: Frontier Six Shooter / Single Action Army / SAA
Serial: 12440 & 12441
Caliber: .45 Colt
Finish: Factory-Style Matte / Satin Blued Steel Finish w/ Contrasting Bright Hammer Surfaces
Barrel Length: 5.5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Rear Frame Notch & Integral Front Blade Sights
Stock/Grips: Two-Piece Faux Stag Pattern Grip Panels w/ Dark Relief Patterning & Central Grip Screws
Action: Traditional Single-Action, Solid-Frame Six-Shot Revolvers w/ Exposed Hammer, Side Loading Gate, Fluted Cylinder & Barrel-Mounted Ejector Rod Assembly
Markings: Barrels marked ".45 COLT" and "GREAT WESTERN ARMS CO."; individual serials "12440" and "12441" visible at the rear frame / recoil shield area; accompanying G.W. Arms Sales Co., Inc. invoice identifies quantity two ".45 Cal. Frontier Rev'd'rs" by serial numbers 12440 and 12441.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Great Western Arms occupies a highly distinctive place in postwar American firearms history. Founded in Los Angeles during the early 1950s, the company emerged at precisely the moment when television and motion-picture Westerns were driving renewed demand for traditional Colt Single Action Army-style revolvers. Great Western's Frontier was one of the earliest large-scale American-made reproductions of the Peacemaker pattern, and the company actively supplied Hollywood studios and Western personalities during the height of the genre. Period accounts document purchases by major studios including Warner Bros., Fox, Universal, Disney, Columbia, MGM and Paramount, while John Wayne became one of the company's best-known celebrity associations. The Frontier revolver closely followed the Colt SAA pattern while incorporating several mechanical changes of Great Western's own, and today these short-lived Los Angeles-made revolvers have developed an enthusiastic collector following as important artifacts of the 1950s Western boom. This particular offering is considerably more important than a pair of ordinary Great Western Frontiers. The revolvers bear consecutive serial numbers 12440 and 12441 and remain together with period documentation from G.W. Arms Sales Co., Inc., identified on the invoice as the exclusive distributor for Great Western Arms Co. The dated invoice, issued June 8, 1956 to Aubrey E. Austin, Jr., specifically records the purchase of two .45-caliber Frontier revolvers by these exact serial numbers at $62.78 each, for a total of $125.56. The serial range also falls immediately after the first major Great Western ownership era, with collector production research placing serials 11501-19400 within the FerroCast period. The survival of consecutive-numbered revolvers together with their original-period sales paperwork, presentation-style green velvet fitted case, faux-stag stocks and period cartridge displays gives this set a level of provenance and completeness that is exceptionally difficult to duplicate on the open market.
Contents:
Model: Frontier Six Shooter / Single Action Army / SAA
Serial: 12440 & 12441
Caliber: .45 Colt
Finish: Factory-Style Matte / Satin Blued Steel Finish w/ Contrasting Bright Hammer Surfaces
Barrel Length: 5.5"
Optics/Sights: Fixed Rear Frame Notch & Integral Front Blade Sights
Stock/Grips: Two-Piece Faux Stag Pattern Grip Panels w/ Dark Relief Patterning & Central Grip Screws
Action: Traditional Single-Action, Solid-Frame Six-Shot Revolvers w/ Exposed Hammer, Side Loading Gate, Fluted Cylinder & Barrel-Mounted Ejector Rod Assembly
Markings: Barrels marked ".45 COLT" and "GREAT WESTERN ARMS CO."; individual serials "12440" and "12441" visible at the rear frame / recoil shield area; accompanying G.W. Arms Sales Co., Inc. invoice identifies quantity two ".45 Cal. Frontier Rev'd'rs" by serial numbers 12440 and 12441.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
Great Western Arms occupies a highly distinctive place in postwar American firearms history. Founded in Los Angeles during the early 1950s, the company emerged at precisely the moment when television and motion-picture Westerns were driving renewed demand for traditional Colt Single Action Army-style revolvers. Great Western's Frontier was one of the earliest large-scale American-made reproductions of the Peacemaker pattern, and the company actively supplied Hollywood studios and Western personalities during the height of the genre. Period accounts document purchases by major studios including Warner Bros., Fox, Universal, Disney, Columbia, MGM and Paramount, while John Wayne became one of the company's best-known celebrity associations. The Frontier revolver closely followed the Colt SAA pattern while incorporating several mechanical changes of Great Western's own, and today these short-lived Los Angeles-made revolvers have developed an enthusiastic collector following as important artifacts of the 1950s Western boom. This particular offering is considerably more important than a pair of ordinary Great Western Frontiers. The revolvers bear consecutive serial numbers 12440 and 12441 and remain together with period documentation from G.W. Arms Sales Co., Inc., identified on the invoice as the exclusive distributor for Great Western Arms Co. The dated invoice, issued June 8, 1956 to Aubrey E. Austin, Jr., specifically records the purchase of two .45-caliber Frontier revolvers by these exact serial numbers at $62.78 each, for a total of $125.56. The serial range also falls immediately after the first major Great Western ownership era, with collector production research placing serials 11501-19400 within the FerroCast period. The survival of consecutive-numbered revolvers together with their original-period sales paperwork, presentation-style green velvet fitted case, faux-stag stocks and period cartridge displays gives this set a level of provenance and completeness that is exceptionally difficult to duplicate on the open market.
Contents:
This example will ship with the fitted wood presentation case w/ green velvet interior, original G.W. Arms Sales Co., Inc. invoice dated June 8, 1956 documenting serial numbers 12440 and 12441, accompanying period sales / invoice copy, matched-pair identification card and pictured inert display cartridges / case accessories.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3-day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Additional Information
GunbrokerLink: |
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1206232385 |
BidPrice: |
152 |
AuctionEndDate: |
2026-10-04 21:00:00 |
CurrentBid: |
1401 |
