![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/U6RMxUX.jpg)
Colt SAA "Frontier Six Shooter" in 44-40, manufactured in 1882.
That's pretty cool. Why is the finish mottled like that? I see a lot of old Colt SAA revolvers with lots of wear, but the wear pattern is usually fairly uniform all over the gun. Regardless, cool possession.
The finish would be described as "about 30% original nickel". The 60% that isn't nickel is where the nickel has flaked off of it. Old nickel plate wasn't usually that long-lived if it was used with black powder and that particular gun is well within the black powder era. If the nickel was all gone, many would call it a "nice, even patina". Others would say it's an old, brown gun. Anything beyond traces of original finish really adds dollars to old Colt single actions.
