If this is an 1860 Colt Army, the date should be a patent date, as production began in 1860. The Colt Army was made untl 1872, when the parts started to be used to make Thuer and, later, Richards and Mason cartridge conversions. This was a transiton piece, until the 1872 open top, and then the .45 Single Action Army of 1873. Except during WWII the 1873 is still being made, by the Colt Custom Shop. Of course, everybody and their brother makes a clone. Recently the Ricards/Mason conversion came out, in .45 Colt caliber. It is offered by Cimmeron, and is made in Italy.