I just purchased a NIB Colt SAA with a serial number SXXXXXA stamped in the bottom of the frame just ahead of the trigger guard assembly. I went to the Colt web page to try to find the year of manufacture and it comes back as unable to find. Just out of curiosity, I instead typed XXXXXSA and the web site found the year it was built. While Keith and others did, in fact, try to convince Colt to make a target version of its famous Single Action Army, or Peacemaker, after it was re-introduced in 1955, it is more likely that the. Colt Single Action Army.45 LC (C16391) $3,495.00. Colt Single Action Army.45 LC caliber revolver. 1st Gen Single Action made in 1902. Has been restored and looks great. A close up of two nice SAA Colts in which the basics of operation are demonstrated. - Please check out and support.
The Colt 1873 Single Action Army', also known as Colt SAA, Frontier, or Peacemaker, is a revolver made by the United States in 1873 and used until the World War II.
Description[edit | edit source]
The Colt model 1873 revolver, universally known as the Colt Single Action, Peacemaker, or Frontier, is one of the most popular and legendary small arms in USA. It is also one of the longest living production small arms, being produced for some 130 years and still popular. The Colt 1873 was actually developed by the 1872, based on the patents granted to Charles B. Richards (cartridge conversion of the open-top percussion Colt revolvers) and W. Mason (improved ejector). In 1873, US Army adopted this revolver along with its black powder centerfire cartridge of .45 caliber, and issued it to troops in 2 models. The Army / Cavalry model had a 7½ inch barrel, and the artillery model had 5½ barrel. Both were chambered in .45 Colt (also known as .45Long Colt or .45LC). For the civilian market, Colt also initially produced same gun in .44-40 WCF and .32-20WCF, later adding more modern chamberings like .38 S&W Special (.38Spl), .44 S&W Special (.44Spl), .357 Magnum, .22LR. Civilian guns also were available in various barrel lengths, varying from 4¾ and up to 12 inches. There also was a Bisley model, which appeared near the turn of the centuries. Colt Bisleys were intended as a target guns, and had hammers with wider and lower spurs, and a different grip frame.
US Army bought about 37 000 Colts of both Artillery and Cavalry flavors during period from 1873 and until 1893. Commercial production was ceased in 1941, with the outbreak of the World War II, with about 370 000 guns made total. In 1956, following the
popular demand for 'Wild West' era guns, raised by the TV and movie 'Western' films, Colt brought the Single Action back to production and still makes it. Other than Colt, several US and foreign companies also made more or less exact copies and clones of the legendary 'Peacemaker', for Cowboy action shooting, hunting, general plinking and collecting.
So called 'First generation' Colts were made from 1873 and until 1941. These guns can be recognized by the serial numbers below 357860 and with no letters. With the re-introduction of this gun by Colt in the 1956, the 'Second generation' of the SAA came into existence. The second generation guns have serial numbers in the range from 0001SA to 73319SA. Production of the second generation SAA revolvers was ceased in 1974, but, in the 1976, with the introduction of newer machinery and production techniques, Colt brought the SAA back in the 'Third generation'. Third Generation Colt Single Action Armies have been originally offered in .45 Colt, .44 Special, .44-40 and .357 Magnum. By the 1981, Colt dropped the SAA out of production again, and for some time the legendary 'Peacemakers' were available only as an expensive custom shop offerings. At the present time, Colt again offers these guns as regular products, in the .45LC, .357Mag and .44-40, and in all standard barrel lengths.
Technical description[edit | edit source]
the Colt M1873 is a single action, six shot, solid frame revolver (as opposed to the earlier 'open top' Colts or 'hinged frame' S&W's). The frame actually is made from 2 parts, the cylinder frame, and the grip frame with the triggerguard, which are assembled by set of screws. The cylinder is loaded by single rounds, via side-swinging loading gate, located at the right side of the frame. Empty cases are ejected one by one, through the opened loading gate, by pulling back on the ejector rod, located under the barrel and to the right. The gun can be loaded and unloaded only when the hammer is set to half-cock position. Cylinder can be removed for cleaning and inspection by unscrewing the base pin screw, and then by pulling out the base pin (cylinder axis) forward and out of the frame.
Since this handgun has no special drop-proof safeties, it is strongly recommended that it should be carried with the empty chamber under the hammer (with only 5 rounds loaded). To achieve that, use the following loading procedure: Starting with the empty cylinder, load one chamber; skip one; load remaining four chambers. Now you got loaded gun that can be carried reasonably safely (when not cocked, of cause). Most versions of SAA had fixed sights. Grip panels could be wooden, rubber or ivory
Specifications[edit | edit source]
- Action: Single Action
- Caliber: .45 ACP, .44-40 WCF, .32-20 WCF and many others, including .22LR, .38Spl, .357 Magnum, 44Spl (commercial models)
- Capacity: 6 rounds
- Barrel lengths: 4¾' (120mm, civilian model), 5½' (140mm, Artillery model), 7½' (191mm, Army & Cavalry model)
- Overall Length 11' (279mm - with 5½' barrel); 13' (318mm - with 7½' barrel)
- Weight: 1048 g (with 7½' barrel)
See also[edit | edit source]
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Sold For: $1,931.00
LSB#: 170314TC01
Make: Colt
Colt Saa Serial Numbers 2nd Generation 128gb
Model: Single Action Army 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 52598SA
Year of Manufacture: Late 1969
Colt Saa Model Numbers
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: 6-Shot Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked “Pat. Sept. 19, 1871 / July 2,72 Jan. 19,75” and with the “Rampant Colt” logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame, the left side of the upper and lower grip frame straps (under the left grip) are marked with matching serial numbers to the frame and the insides of the grips are etched with “598”, seen again on the front of the cylinder. The inside rear face of the loading gate is marked with the assembly number “397”, found again on the right rear of the frame. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “V”, the right is marked “P”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a Rampant Colt logo.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are checkered black plastic with Rampant Colt logos at the tops of the grips and American eagles on the lower flanks, embossed with great detail. The checkers have fine detail, a few extremely light rub marks are seen but do not catch the eye until close examination. There are no cracks or major damages, the panels fit the grip straps flush. The grips rate about in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 97% of its metal finish. The cylinder has several fine scuff marks, all of extremely light depth, resulting in small surface losses. The front sight has thinning on the top edges, the right of the trigger guard has a small scratch, the butt and straps of the grip frame have a few tiny marks. The pistol does not have an established drag line, it is possible this pistol saw only a few rounds go down range in its life. The metal to metal fit is flush, the corners are sharp and the curves are elegantly crafted. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger pull is crisp. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is an original Colt Stagecoach cartoon factory two piece box, depicting the revolver imposed over a western stage scene. The narrow end flats of the lid have small white circled correctly marked “5 1/2 / 45” for this pistol’s configuration (seen also on the tray’s cut inner liner); there would have been an outer slip box with the serial number, this is not included. The interior has a layered cutout insert that shows mild wear and a few small tears. The exterior of the box is roughed at the edges, no major damages are seen. The box is in Fine condition. Also included is a period correct owner’s manual and a warranty card with the revolver’s serial number; the lower area has a date of 10/12/73, which we take to be the original sale date.
Our Assessment: Colt’s 2nd Generation Single Action Army revolver was produced from 1956 to 1974, those issued with Stagecoach scene boxes were made from 1960 to 1973; this is one of those guns, it has survived in Excellent condition, made at the end of 1969. This handsome pistol retains nearly all of its finish and has little evidence of use outside of the factory. Someone had the steadfast will to preserve it this way, its accouterments amplify its collector’s appeal, especially if one of these guns was around when you were growing up in the post-war years. With a 5 1/2″ barrel in .45 Colt, every aspect of ‘fit and finish’ were applied to the creation of this handgun’s manufacture, the metal meets perfectly, the grips mate to the grip straps like they were forged in one. This is a looker for sure!