Colt Single Action Army
Colt SAA 1st Generation Revolver with Holster -.38-40 Winchester $2,599.00: 0 $2,599.00 6d 6h 42m 17072588. Colt New Service Revolver Model of 1917 -.45 ACP BuyItNow! $1,390.00: 0 $1,390.00 $1,490.00: 6d 7h 7m 17083340. Colt Cobra -.38 Special $800.00: 0. Factory Engraved Colt Third Generation Bird’s Head Single Action Army Revolver with Box. It’d be very hard to believe that these two weren’t intended to be a pair, though the serial numbers aren’t consecutive, they were both manufactured in 1989. The four standard chamberings of the 2nd Generation SAA were (from left).45 Colt,.44 Special,.357 Magnum and.38 Special. Finishes As with the first run of SAAs the 2nd Generation ones were finished either full nickel-plated or blued with color case hardened frames.
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.
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.
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.
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Vintage orig Gun : GA Sales: 7. GA Sales: Louis, Missouri, July 24, It letters as 4. Barrel for Colt SAA. This is a barrel for the Colt Single Action Army. Bore and finish are very good.
This is a Colt Single Action Army revolver made about letter to follow with 4.
(C) 1ST GENERATION COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .41 COLT.
It has a 5. This Colt SAA with 7. It is in Colt Bisley SAA. It retains most of its original case colors. This gun is one of the finest guns we This is a very well-maintained Colt Bisley single action.I think so because American western movies have made it to about all corners of the earth.
It might surprise some fans of the Colt SAA that such was not its original name. Why was that feature incorporated into the design? Colt wanted to make this new handgun capable of firing heavier loads.
colt saa 1st gen For Sale
Prior to it their barrels were secured to the main frame only at the bottom. The impact of a big bullet slamming into the barrel could actually cause it to begin to bend away from the frame.
A topstrap held it firmly in place.
By the s every properly attired American cowboy felt a Colt SAA revolver was necessary equipment. It might also surprise some fans of the Colt SAA and its most famous chambering, the. In the early s, prior to the development of the. Two things intervened: accuracy with that round was not suitable, and the U. Army wanted to standardize on. Read that as to standardize on caliber bore sizenot cartridges.
Prior to the.
Government carried this stamp on the left side of their frames, actually some rejected by government inspectors were so stamped but sold on the civilian market. As almost immediately adopted by the U.
Army for issuing to their cavalry regiments, the. The rest of the revolver was blued. The only safety was a notch on the hammer. For instance the famous 7th Cavalry received their new Colt.
At least one trooper had a stirrup fall and hit the hammer of his new Colt revolver, causing it to discharge. He was fatally wounded in the process. The new Colt revolvers bought by the U. However, government inspectors were very strict and rejected what the Colt firm considered perfectly fine handguns, for minor flaws.
These were the five most popular chamberings of the Colt SAA between and From left:. Any firearm or caliber adopted by the U. Army almost instantly becomes popular in the American civilian market.
That was exceptionally true with what by then became known as the Colt Single Action Army. Consider this: by the U. Government had bought only about 37, SAAs, but by then the Colt factory had made and shipped a total ofSerial numbers of the SAA started with 1 and bywhen production ceased for the first time, ended atHowever, the civilian market expressed a desire for shorter lengths.
Along about this time Colt had been honoring special order requests for an even shorter length where the barrel ended about at the end of the ejector rod housing. Sights on the Colt SAA were merely a groove in the top-strap for the rear and thin blade front.
Chamberings of the Peacemaker as it also soon to became known are also an interesting study and far too in depth to be covered here.Posts: Recents. Welcome, Guest. Please login or register. Did you miss your activation email? Something of interest to add to your little Wilson booklet, and remember - 'Real Cowboys Shoot Colts New Blue Box with White Shell introduced. SA - SA. FT Colt Cowboy introduced. I reckon the second one just rolled off the production floor.
George, looks like you just posted this info over at the Colt hangout, too. Someone asked about the white box sleeves and blue boxes. That's how mine were packed. Lunarian, n. An inhabitant of the moon, as distinguished from Lunatic, one whom the moon inhabits. Ambrose Bierce. Which one are you? All of my 'late' Colts came packed that way, as well.
Packing and shipping likely happens away from the Custom Shop. Vaya, Scouts Out! That's what I thought, too. When I ordered my Colts I asked Brent if he had any idea how long it would take since I assumed they were built in the custom shop. Here's his response: 'JD, The guns you have ordered are not custom shop guns.
We build standard SAA's on the production floor. The guns we build in custom are non cataloged calibers or guns with custom features. We build standard guns like you ordered every month so I think your wait wont be so bad.Ground Shipping on all U.
Colt Single Action Army. Made in Frame has case colors in protected areas Frame has bright case colors. Grips are excellent.
This is an This gun has eagle hard rubber grips that are excellent. Gun is all This is a Frontier Six Shooter. Technically this is a carbine since the true Buntlines were in a Very fine condition pre-war Single Action. Manufactured in Bore is excellent. Action works, indexes and locks-up perfectly. Customized 1st Gen gun made in The frame case colors are F C F Caliber Revolver. Manufactured Action works perfectly.
Locks up and indexes correctly. Bore has strong rifling and has some light fouling in the Colt Bisley Model. Bisley model made in Has been refurbished.
Bore has strong rifling with some pitting. Action works and indexes perfectly. Very good overall condition They were a distributor in New York Colt Single Action manufactured Bore is very good with strong rifling and mostly bright. Action works, indexes and locks up perfectly. Markings are clear and easilyIt was designed for the U. It is perhaps the most copied, fraudulently modified to replicate an original Colt SAA, than any other revolver made.
The Colt Single Action Army has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since Colt has discontinued its production twice, but brought it back due to popular demand. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The Colt Single Action Army was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver.
The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production was found in a barn in Nashua, New Hampshire in the early s. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading. By the end ofserial no.
Variations — There was also a variant with a sub 4' barrel, without an ejector rod unofficially referred to as the 'Sheriff's Model', 'Banker's Special', or 'Storekeeper. From until Colt marketed a Single Action revolver in the. A 'Flattop Target Model' was listed in Colt's catalogs from to Colt manufactured of these revolvers with a frame which was flat on the top and fitted with an adjustable leaf rear sight.
The front sight consisted of a base with an interchangeable blade. Inat serial numbera spring loaded base pin latch replaced the cylinder pin retaining screw and byat serial numberthe Colt Single Action was certified for use with smokeless powder.
Inlarger, highly visible sights replaced the original thin blade and notch. The revolvers remained essentially unchanged from that point until cessation of manufacture at the beginning of World War I.
Colt Saa Serial Numbers 2nd Gen
The First Generation Colt Single Action Army
The first Colt Single Action Army revolvers were manufactured in. After the tests, the Colt was declared the superior revolver and the government specified that a. With the adoption of the Colt Single Action Army revolver inthe service cartridges were Copper cased.
The original. Specifications for 20th-century smokeless loads set velocity with a grain The current version of the 45 Colt differs from the original cartridge case in that the rim is significantly larger with a groove immediately above it and the internal aspect of the primer pocket is surrounded by solid brass instead of protruding into the powder chamber.
Standard MFG Single Action Revolver ReviewColt Saa Serial Numbers By Year
This 'solid head' case is stronger and resists deformation of the primer pocket. Handloaders should slug their barrels to determine the correct groove diameter, and size cast bullets accordingly.
By the Colt SAA was being offered from the factory in additional calibers for civilian and foreign military sales. Many were sold in. Additional period calibers for the SAA included. Some of the separately-serialized. The SAA at one time or another was offered in dozens of calibers from. A scaled-down. This is identified as the 'Pre War' or 'First Generation' of the model.It was designed for the U.
The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since Colt has cancelled its production twice, but brought it back due to popular demand. The revolver was popular with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike, but as of the early 21st century, models are mostly bought by collectors and re-enactors.
Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The original length of the barrel, issued to the U. Their effort was designed for the United States government service revolver trials of by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service revolver.
The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1, thought lost for many years after its production, was found in a barn in NashuaNew Hampshire in the early s. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it was quite powerful in its full loading. By the end ofserial no. There was also a variant with a subinch barrel, without an ejector rod, unofficially called the 'Sheriff's Model', 'Banker's Special', or 'Storekeeper'.
From until Colt marketed a single-action revolver in. A 'Flattop Target Model' was listed in Colt's catalogs from to Colt manufactured of these revolvers with a frame that was flat on top and fitted with an adjustable leaf rear sight.
The front sight consisted of a base with an interchangeable blade. Inat serial numbera spring-loaded base pin latch replaced the cylinder pin retaining screw and byat serial numberthe Colt Single Action was certified for use with smokeless powder.
The revolvers remained essentially unchanged from that point until cessation of manufacture at the beginning of World War II.
This is identified as the 'Pre War' or 'First Generation' of the model. Calibers, at least thirty in all, ranged from. The next most prevalent were the. All original, good condition, U. Cavalry and Artillery Single Action Armies those produced between and are among the most valuable to collectors.
Ainsworth was the ordnance sub-inspector at the Colt factory for the first 13 months October to November of the Single Action Army's production. It was Ainsworth who inspected the Colts used by Col. Custer 's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The number range of possible Little Bighorn Colts is — Henry Nettleton was the U. Principal Sub-inspector in at the Springfield Armory.The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, August 11, Blue and case color finishes with two-piece Colt hard rubber grips.
Matching serial numbers observed on frame, trigger guard and backstrap. Produced during the later part of the cowboy era when these highly desired guns were difficult to obtain. The barrel is a unique example of Colt not wasting any parts. The front sight area has a factory dovetailed filler with the factory original front blade sight installed through it.
This is a practice that is rarely encountered and is a testament as to the frugality of Colt Manufacturing. When new and freshly finished the dovetail was probably not visible to the naked eye and thus preventing the lost cost of replacing a barrel that was erroneously slotted for the front blade at manufacture. The bore is good and action operates properly. The grips are very good and well fitting with no distress. Truly a classic cowboy gun. TDW Name. Prev Next. Please register or login if you want to bid.
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