The frame had been so heavily polished all screw holes were dished out. Third Generation serial numbers started over again at 80,000SA, leaving a gap of 5,000-plus after discontinuance of the 2nd Generation. My first 3rd Generation SAA had a number about 500 into that 80,000SA range. COLT Single Action Army in.45 LC Revolver w/ TIFFANY GRIP C&R SAA 1912 Iconie Wild West Pre-WWI 6-Shooter! Here we present a First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver in.45 Long Co.Click for more info. Sold For: $1,931.00. LSB#: 170314TC01 Make: Colt Model: Single Action Army 2nd Generation Serial Number: 52598SA Year of Manufacture: Late 1969 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. Now 40 years since they were in the Colt catalog. Collectors categorize three groups, First (Pre-Woodsman), Second and Third series. Some specimens can are valued at more than $4,000. The classy Colt Woodsman.22 rimfire was one of the most popular pistols in America during the first half of the 20th century. In production from 1915 to 1977. If the original box that your revolver came in is black cardboard and features Samuel Colt's portrait and signature on the label, then your revolver is the second generation 'F' series. If you have an 1851 Navy revolver with a serial number from 4201 to 25099 or a Dragoon numbered 20901 to 25099, then they are 'C' Series models.
Sold For: $1,931.00
LSB#: 170314TC01
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 52598SA
Year of Manufacture: Late 1969
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!
Colt Single Action Army
History:
The First Generation Colt Single Action Army revolvers were produced between their introduction in 1873 and WWII. Production resumed in 1956, and these guns are known as “Second” generation Single Action Army revolvers, which are quickly identified by a “SA” suffix at the end of their s/n, and continued through 1975. In 1976 a “Third” generation of Colt Single Action Armys was introduced. On these, the “SA” marking is moved to the front of the serial number.
These guns carried a varied number of names, from 1873 for the year it was introduced. The Peacemaker was another name used by the old west community. Single Action Army was what the military used when the guns were issued to the cavalry. The factory even today uses model designations of the alphabet & this model was the “P”.
Calibers & Configurations:
The .45 Colt chambering was by far the most popular, accounting for nearly half of the pre-WWII SAA’s. The “Winchester Centerfire” calibers – .44 WCF (44-40), .38 WCF (38-40), and .32 WCF (32-20) placed 2nd, 3rd & 4th in popularity; doubtless in part due to the fact that paired with an 1873 or 1892 Winchester they allowed the usage of the same cartridge in both rifle and revolver, simplifying supply logistics. The obsolete .41 Colt was the only other caliber produced in significant quantity, although a number of other chamberings were available on special order. Other calibers as 38 Special & 44 Special were among those included. Standard barrel lengths were 7-1/2″, 5-1/2″, and 4-3/4″, with others available on special order.
Special guns made without ejector rods or housings were called “Sheriff’s Models” or “Storekeepers Models”, and often had shorter than standard barrels. The SAA was used by the US military from it’s introduction through the Spanish American War & Philippine insurrection. The original 7-1/2″ barrel martial version is called the “Cavalry Model” by collectors. Many military SAA’s were refurbished by Springfield Armory or Colt for reissue with a shorter 5-1/2″ barrel, and these are called “Artillery Models” today. The Bisley model was introduced in the 1890’s, and featured a redesigned grip & hammer.
Later in the 3rd generation series the New Frontier was introduced with a more squarer top strap of the frame for accommodation of adjustable rear sights plus a ramped base & front sight.
Colt model 1873, also known as the Single Action Army, or the “P” model at the factory. This gun happens to be a 1st Generation
Barrels:
The threads on the 1st & 2nd generation guns used a 20 thread per inch threads. On the later 3rd generation the barrel threads were changed to a finer pitch.
Cylinders:
Also the cylinder ratchets were made differently, thus requiring other component parts that mate to & function with the cylinder to be also altered. The new cylinder eliminated the integral base pin bushing. When we refer to Old Style or New Style, we are actually meaning the Old Style as being either the 1st or 2nd generation, while the New Style as the 3rd generation.
Bolts / Cylinder Stops:
The technical factory name for these parts is a “Bolt” or probably a locking bolt. Many non gunsmithing persons call them a cylinder stop. This part was used unchanged until 1976 when the 3rd generation version was brought out. The original part number was #50976. After the change the part number was not changed, but the configuration of the part did. It was simply designated the “Old Style’ or the “New Style”
Listed below are the various styles encountered. Those of you who are trying to find a replacement part for the aftermarket “Clones” may well have to take the firearm in question apart & compare the broken part with these CAD drawings of the Colt SAA. The Old Style & New Style are exact replacements for the Colt firearm.
| Old Style #50976 OS | New Style #50976 NS |
These bolts are made in a standard thickness of .152. Wisner’s Inc. makes an oversize thickness of .160 to be used on old worn cylinder locking notches.
All of these parts need to be hand fitted to the individual firearm. They are not just a drop in part, even the factory replacement parts were not. The RH tail need not be fitted, other than stoning the back side to allow it to function smoothly. The inner (LH) tail end needs to be fit to the hammer stud so it is timed to slide off the stud’s angle as the hammer is cocked, just as the cylinder is rotated with the locking notch in line with the bolt at the full cocking motion of the hammer.
Once the bolt is in line with the cylinder notch & the bolt’s tail slips off the hammer stud, the bolt’s inner radiused face will drop into place with the hammer’s stud now that the hammer is rearward & locked into the fire sear notch of the hammer.
Colt Saa Serial Numbers 2nd Generation 2
Before all this can take place, the hammer has to have proper sear notches, & the stud has to be correct for timing. The trigger also needs to be in good shape to mate with the hammer notch for proper timing. Also the cylinder base pin & bushing need to be fitted so not excess slop is there for endshake looseness.
Hands:
The hands were also changed at the 3rd generation as shown below.
| Old Style #51000 | New Style #52770 |
Sear & Bolt Spring:
The sear & bolt spring is as flat, dual tailed spring held in place by one screw. It places tension on both the trigger & the bolt. The original thickness of this spring is .045. Aftermarket springs of a medium strength are made in .035 while a light weight version is made in .025. The .035 would be the common one used to lighten up the average shooter firearm.
Mainspring:
The mainspring is a flat arched leaf spring that has a slight groove on the upper forward end for the hammer roller to ride in. The original material was .062 thick & machined to a taper (top to bottom) to make it like a buggy whip for the 1st & 2nd generation guns. The 3rd generation saw the same spring, but no taper, making it a heavier pull on the hammer.
Colt Saa Serial Numbers 2nd Generation Case
Replacement mainsprings are usually made slightly long so they can be fitted to about any version, even the many copies or clones. If they are not properly fitted, when the hammer is pulled to the rear to full cock, the front tip section may bind in the inner arc of the hammer & create a stiff resistance because it is being stopped by the mainspring front. This situation makes for a hard cocking firearm PLUS it can very well break the tip off the mainspring.