is bringing a definite smile to my face!


After “dabbling” with Colt SAA’s for over 20 years I sold them all about 7 years ago and turned my attention to primarily Reg Mags. I only have a few but I have a lot of fun with them. For example….


But for quite a while now I have been thinking about how nice it would be to have a 1st generation Colt SAA in .357 Magnum that is from the same era as the Reg Mags (1935 - 1939). The challenge is finding one that is “factory original”. Many of the Pre-War 1st generation Colt SAA’s in .357 Magnum encountered today have been modified in some manner - grips switched, caliber changed to .357 Magnum from another caliber, barrel cut, etc. Additionally, Colt’s shipping records from that era have gone missing and so they can only give you the original caliber, but not barrel length, finish, grips material, or shipping destination. But after looking at dozens of them, and even temporarily owning a couple, one finally came along that checks all the boxes. It comes complete with the grips and cylinder numbered to the gun, box numbered to the gun, box end label that correctly identifies the configuration, and factory test target that also matches the serial number of the gun (note that a previous owner apparently used the test target for 6 more shots!) The package also includes the brush/sleeve and Shooting Suggestions pamphlet. Even John Kopec’s book on Colt SAA’s does not picture a 1st generation .357 Magnum this complete. The only negative is that I do not want to degrade the condition in any manner and so I may not shoot it. Anyway, here it is….I call it a “Colt Single Action for a S&W Registered Magnum Collector.” I believe you can click on the pictures for a closer look…..





Colt SAA barrels were rarely numbered during this era. This next picture shows the “broken O” in the word “Hartford”, common to the barrel address on 7 1/2” and 5 1/2” SAA barrels during this era, and one of the indicators used by Colt collectors to determine originality…..


This final picture is the abbreviated letter I received from Colt Archives verifying that my gun was assembled on May 2, 1939 as a .357 caliber, just the final bit of documentation I wanted for full verification of this SAA…..

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Terry Lester

Terry:

That is OUTSTANDING and a great addition to your RM collection. Pre-war .357 Magnums of any make are truly a delight.

The only pre-war Colt Magnum that I have is definitely modified from the time it left the factory. But I really like the way it is put together in its final state.







Thank you for sharing your all original SAA pre-war Magnum. What a treasure!!!

[Mods: I'll add a few photos of a pre-war S&W Magnum (also engraved by Alvin White) to hopefully keep this thread in this forum...]

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Hey Terry🙂
Didn"t you aquire a 3.5 or 4 inch RM recently
or am I mistaken..thinking wrong..
My memory is terrible thesedays.
If you did get..please put up a few pictures
of it for me😄
Thanks Randy..

Wow Richard! Not sure which one I like the best, but you always make any thread spectacular with your pictures.

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Terry Lester

Randy, no, just a box for my 4” KCPD REG 5008…..


The box is a Type 2 Medium size; the gun may have originally shipped in the small size box, but finding those things is next to impossible.

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Terry Lester

Oh, man. Even as nice as that one is, I would have to shoot it. At least one cylinder full.

OK, now that this thread is in the correct sub-forum, let’s see your Colt SAA’s in .357 Magnum - 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation. I know they are out there!

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Terry Lester

3rd Gen .357

Unmolested late 2nd Gen (1973):










On a non-matching, slightly newer box (the box numbers to a 1978 .357 SAA):





Thanks for letting me share,

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Nice Colt.
1968 Second Gen .357..

JohnRippert, RKmesa, and Xfuzz…..those are some beautiful 2nd and 3rd generation SAA’s! Thanks for sharing.

Here are a few more closeup pictures of my 1st generation .357 Magnum pictured in post# 1 above. These are some of the other things I check for when trying to determine originality of 1st generation SAA’s…..

The only immediately visible serial number on SAA’s of this era is on the frame…..


The bottom of the box looks clean with only the serial number in pencil…..


The last 2 digits of the serial number (55) are on the rear face of cylinders during this era…..


Starting with SAA’s manufactured in mid-1922 the trigger guard and backstrap serial numbers are under the grips on the right side…..


Full serial numbers are scratched on the underside of both grips…….


The assembly number (often called bin number) on the loading gate and back of the frame (visible when the right side grip is removed) should match - in this case it is 444…..


The front sight profile is fairly low on most 1st generation .357 Magnum SAA’s…..


I pictured the “broken O” in the barrel address in post# 1 above. Below is the standard caliber marking during this era - notice the word “Magnum” is NOT included as it is on 2nd and 3rd generation SAA’s…..


Patent dates, Rampant Colt, Verified Proof mark, cylinder flute and lockup notch edges are all sharp, all seams tight, and screw slots unmolested. Also notice the difference in beveling at the front of the cylinder as compared to the 2nd and 3rd generation SAA’s pictured in the above posts…..


No factory rework marks (ampersand or 6 pointed star/asterisk) on the right rear portion of the trigger guard, and this one came with a fire blue trigger which may have been left over parts from a slightly earlier era…..


No top strap underside cut-out; it was eliminated in 1935 as a result of the new (at the time) .357 Magnum chambering in SAA’s and was used for all calibers after that…..


The 5 pointed star (not to be confused with the 6 pointed star/asterisk factory rework mark placed when applicable on the right rear trigger guard) on the front of the cylinder which denotes that the cylinder was manufactured with high-tensile strength steel for the increased pressure of the .357 Magnum cartridge. This high strength steel was used for SAA’s of all calibers after 1935 and so this 5 pointed star will be found on other SAA calibers during this period as well…..


I’ll end with 2 more glamour shots and one other comment - in 1937 Colt changed the hammer finish from case colored to bright polished sides with blue on the top and back as pictured below. The transition of this change occurred in the serial number range between 355700 - 355800…..

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Terry Lester

Great tutorial on what to look for in the purchase of a 1st gen. SAA, especially since so many were altered from their original state.

Here's my Second Generation .357.

Attached Images

2n Gen 1970 .357.jpg (114.7 KB, 14 views)

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Great Colt SAA 1st Gen Photo tutorial!!!

Thank you very much Terry!

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan