Sorry, no pics. Its on consignment in a local shop.

1938ish 4 3/4 in .45 Colt. That is pretty much all of the good news.

It is nickel finished, probably not original but old. It is worn at the muzzle.

The serial numbers that are close together in front of the trigger guard and on the frame are the same. The one on the butt is worn, but looks different.

It doesn't say C-O-L-T when you cock it. It say C-T. Hope that gets through the filter. It does lock up tight when it gets to the T.

Bore is good. Barrel markings are faint, but there.

The gutta-percha grips are worn almost smooth. One chip out of the them, but serviceable.

Its been marked down twice to $746 bucks.

I'm never going to be able to afford a nice one. This one I can swing.

Thoughts???

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

I have always wanted a Colt SAA, but never wanted one bad enough to pay for one. There is a 2nd generation .38 special at a LGS, for just under $2,000.00 that looks nice, and is calling my name. So far, I have resisted it.

On the one you mention, I would be concerned about it not having the four clicks when you work the action.

That's not bad and the hammer can be repaired probably

Are you going to be able to get a less expensive one in better shape????

If you REALLY want a Colt, and the inside works are good, this one can probably be reconditioned some. I wouldn't worry about the grips.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

To make it right (function) your likely gonna have to
send it off to a good smith.
Colt SAA work is expensive.
The one you describe is a tuff call.
As mentioned 2nd and 3rd's have really gone
up the last year or so. Nearly takes 2k for a decent
SAA in desirable cal and barrel length.
Picked this one up recently. Right barrel length
wrong caliber (357) but it is a second generation at
about 95%.

If it is not mechanically sound, and if you can't identify the fix and more specifically an inexpensive fix, you may be well served to pass. I know those Colt SAAs are desirable, but you may be into it for another few hundred dollars to get it all right.

$750 gets you pretty far down the road for one that is sound.

Figure about $200 to get a Colt SAA hammer notches rebuilt. They are TIG welded up then recut to original specs. (Bisley hammers are generally $50+ more).

If you only have a 1/4 cock (safe) and a full cock,,you're lacking the half cock needed to place the hammer (safely) in position for loading and for removing the cylinder from the gun in disassembly for cleaning.

A trigger rebuild (your trigger) may be needed. That can cost another $50/$60

Timeing issues can lead to hand replacements and even ratchet rebuilding.
These oldsters can be real money pits
End shake, worn cylinder bushings, worn frame abutment where the cylinder bushing engages ,,and on and on.

It all depends on how you expect the pistol to perform for you.
Dave Lanara does some great SAA restoration work.
Read through his website and see if you can pickup any tips before buying:
Colt single action restoration and repair

The days of the $250 1st generation Colt SAA are long gone. There's not much around for under $1000 anymore. But sometimes you get lucky and find a first generation gun that with a little added investment can be brought up to safe shooting standards for the 1K or just under mark.

Good Luck with your Colt..

At that price, buy it and send it to Alan Harton at Single Action Services in Houston. He will make it so it works like it should and can either leave the finish as is or redo it for you. If it were me, I would leave it but let him get it working.

I'd have bought it. I'm not sure why, but I am sure I'd have bought it.

One of the funnest (?) SAA's I ever owned was a 1903 44/40 in 4 3/4", post-factory nickel, some fairly poor pearl grips and an action that was about like what you're talking. Bore was pretty rough too. Got it for about $300 back in the day. It got some better with a new bolt spring. None of that stuff mattered. I shot all manner of things with it including 5 sage grouse in 5 shots on one occasion. Used it hard for about 5 years and why not? It sure wasn't a museum piece! Then I sold it at a handsome profit. If it's at all functional, I say buy it. The caliber is right. Then bring it up to the Carlin and try it out on some prairie dogs!

You only go through life once so what is the problem? You might as well go and enjoy the ride. If you want it, buy it. If you don't like it, sell it later. One thing is certain, Colt handguns are not going down in price. My vote is to buy it and shoot the daylights out of it. I would get it fixed first and then shoot the daylights out of it. Safety first and all that.

Unless you really want a 1st generation gun with "character", I would pass. Poor condition, and mis-matched numbers mean it will never be a collectors item of serious value. Figuring the cost of the gun, and repairs, you are looking at least 1K, maybe more, for a gun that is still finish challenged.

There are a number of 3rd generation, and newer Colt SAA's on GB in the $1500 range that will need no work, and are in great cosmetic condition.

Larry

I'd be interested in hearing why 357 is the "wrong" caliber for a Colt SAA?
Jim

I'd get a nice Uberti SAA instead. There is nothing mystical about "Colt" stamped on the barrel.

__________________
- Change it back -

If you hold them at the proper angle in the proper light you can see C$O$L$T$. Not mystical but true.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Ok, here's my opinion why the .357 is the "wrong caliber", I think this reflects on resale value as the majority of folks looking to buy want it in the "right caliber" of .44-40 or .45 Colt. If you are going to actually shoot one any old caliber available that YOU like is the right caliber! Both of my new 3rd gen Colt SAA's came with a big red tag in the box stating, "Warning, fireing this hand gun will reduce it's value". Well I found out why they don't want you to shoot them! Minor problems but got em shooting and they are both now "reduced in value"!

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Stay safe people!

Not to hijack but that's why I consider myself a shooter rather than collector. I guess I'm actually a collector of shooters. This applies to all guns, not just Colts.

Jim,

It seems that most want the "Old" calibers...45, 44.40 or 44special.
I had those cal's covered in Colt saa.
For re-sale the above calibers were more popular.
However, it seems since my post I have had two contacts wanting
to know if I wanted to sell.

I was advised that the 357/38 is popular with some
"Cowboy Shooters" due to lack of recoil. Hence, better times/scores.

About 3 years ago an acquaintance was trying to sell a Colt SAA, Second Generation (1956) nickeled. Had been altered (apparently for fast draw), non-standard barrel, no ejector rod/housing, and chambers had been hogged out to the locking recesses. He was sure it was worth $500. I figured a decent frame with internals and original grips had good value but not quite that much. Offered him $250 cash. He went down to $350. I told him to flip a coin, heads I got my price, tails I paid his price. I won the toss.

Spent 8 months shopping for parts. Found a nickel cylinder, nickel barrel, and a retired dealer came up with complete ejector set, all setting me back about $450. Fortunately all of the parts were found in nickel finish. Gunsmith charged me $140 to rebarrel and fit new cylinder. No lock-up or timing issues so that was a break.

Long and short of the story is that I ended up with a nickeled 2nd Gen. SAA for $840. Firing pin hits dead center on primers. Shoots within 3" of point of aim at 50 feet.

A few photos showing before and after.

Now, if I had to deal with internals, timing issues, etc, or if I'd had to add refinishing work I would have been into it pretty deep.

By the way, this one started out as a .45, ended up as a .357. I figure that the 2nd Gen barrel and cylinder probably came available because someone was turning their .357 into a .44 or .45 somewhere back in time.

Gotta be careful.

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	Gen 2 SAA Before 001.JPG (67.7 KB, 81 views)
	Gen 2 SAA Before 008.JPG (55.6 KB, 73 views)

.38 Special is also a lot less expensive to shoot than the .44's and .45's.

My 3rd Generation SAA is a .44 Special (1979). For many years Colt and other gun makers resisted chambering guns in any calibers other than their own. The .44 Special was available only from the Colt Custom Shop on special order for years, although later on was offered in production revolvers. Needless to say, the Colts are marked ".44 Special", not .44 S&W Special"!!

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Thanks for stating your opinion and I agree if you are are buying with resale in mind and don't intend to shoot them that's the way to go.
I have two 2nd generation Colt SAAs in 38/357 that I bought used and I continue to shoot and enjoy them.
Jim

+1. I have two Ubertis myself. and they are both great shooters.
I'm guessing that a big part of your desire to own a Colt is the mystique of the name and the thoughts of handling one that may have been owned by a historic figure such as a sheriff, a desperado, etc. It that's the case, then condition is not much of a factor since you will probably fondle it more than shoot it.
Do you already own a SAA? If not, this particular specimen may not be a good place to start.
BTW, I am amazed at how enjoyable it is to shoot full power 357 magnum loads with my Uberti SAA, as compared to my S&W M686. I love the ergonomics of the SAA grip.

Easy solution here: Buy it.

If the gun functions I would buy it. I have not seen ANY genuine Colt SAA that cheap in many years, let alone a 1G model.

Ignore anyone saying Colts aren't magical or mystical. Yes they are.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

Buy it. Then start saving your nickel and dimes until you can afford a restoration. Have a little work done as you can afford it.
Restoring a gun is like restoring a car....can't afford a total frame off restoration, then get it running....do what you can , when you can.
I know for sure Colt SAA are not going to get any cheaper ! Buy it now !

I'm torn on what advice to give. Unless there's a provenance, it's worth 750. Needs a new hammer, trigger and, likely, a bolt and a hand. I paid $1200 for this one: Real pearls, 41 long Colt and a poor re-plating. But, I have 2 dozen variations of pre-1900 Colt's. $300 or $400 got me some used parts from various sources. I'm lucky that I've belonged to the Colt Forum for several years and have gotten to know Jim Martin over there. Jim was shop foreman at Colt and taught most Colt gunsmiths what the know. Jim spent two hours walking me through selecting which hand to use (he wrote sections of Kruikheuzerns (Forgive me==I just got out of the hospital last night and the brain and fihgers aren't woking too well and I'm tired of re-typing).

I built mine up out of an old 1960's 125th Anniversay Model back in the mid-1980's. Managed to get some parts for one of the Centennial Commemorative sets, from John Kopec. Turned out to be a nice shooter! After all these years doesn't even show a turn line.

It may be a parts gun, but it does have some magic. I wouldn't have a Uberti.

First SA revolver I ever bought was a Colt in 45



Then I went looking for a 44 sp and all I could find was this USFA




I really wish USFA were still in business, they made some very fine SAA's, some say better than Colt.

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Sure you did

OK I'm jealous. I own a few Colt SAA's--the best is an unfired 3rd Gen .45 in nickel with 4 3/4 bbl--but now I need bright blue and color casehardening! The rest of mine are all blued.

Colt's going for $2k? That seems impossible. I never buy anything that goes up in value. NEVER.

I have twelve 3rd gen case-hardened Colts... three pairs of .44 WCF (44-40, formally called Frontier Six Shooters) with the acid-etched barrels (one of the pair with factory ivories). The other three pairs are .45 SAA's... one pair with black-powder frames.

Didn't pay anything like $2k for any of 'em. Better check the safe... the woman will try to sell 'em if she finds out.

Well ya did this time.
Make a quick check on GB.
Be sitting down.

Here's eight of mine...

Everybody, including the OP, should have a Colt SAA. I only have one right now, along with a couple of USFA's, but it's a nice one:




One cylinder is 45 Colt, the other is 45 ACP.

Here's my Uberti and USFA in 45 Colt. I also have a 7 1/2" Uberti Horseman in 357 magnum.

Buy it. Any 1st gen SAA is worth $1000.00

There aren't that many parts in there: hammer, trigger, hand and several springs. Replacing these isn't going to be expensive, even if there's something broken in there. Buy it.

^^^^This is the best advice you are going to get right here^^^^

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Regards
Paul

Here's a doozy--

Made probably by Sedgeley to Harold Croft and Hutchins specifications, following Elmer Keith's lead, and reportedly owned by AL Elllinger, a Keith hunting pal.


It features a wide trigger, it has been flat-topped and a custom rear sight installed, the front sight is gold-faced, and the gun was probably converted to a storekeeper's model. The Bisley hammer is another bespoke touch, as is the cylinder pin.

I know the cylinder has been replaced at some point, and the engraving was added later--by one of our members here.

The caliber is .38 Colt, but I believe the cylinder is a later .357 unit.

Pretty cool and historical!

So now that you have all this good advice, and a few of us have digressed enough to whet your whistle, are ya gonna run out and buy it? Pictures will, of course, be expected!

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Hellraiser, you are one lucky man. Those are gorgeous, and the 4 3/4" bbl is my favorite. Now I gotta get one, but the prices have spiked since Colt declared bankruptcy in June.
Dumb company never did manage itself well: dropped the SAA in the middle of the Western TV serial craze so Ruger could prosper, then dropped it again later when demand was high due to reruns and the CAS craze. That allowed the Italians to make a fortune. They never would bring out a .45 auto in DA so law enforcement could adopt it, until they were years ago scooped by SIG so they produced some copies of their early 70s prototype and called it the Double Eagle. It still looked like a prototype and it flopped. Then pocket .380s in SA??? Always too little, too late. They also lost their M4 contract to the army to FN. Now they've dropped all their classic DA revolvers in favor of God knows what. Morons. But I still buy 'em when I can get 'em, because there's nothing like a classic old Colt. But boy are they gettin' expensive!

If the new owners of Colt have any sense at all, they will forget competing with Glock, Kel-Tec, et al, and focus on bringing back their classic revolvers, and their classic QUALITY. No more marginal SAA's as we saw in the 80s every now-and-then. S&W is doing well with their Classic line, and they aren't even exact copies of the originals. They'll make a fortune if they price them competitively, make 'em smooth and keep that bluing like a mirror!

Thanks for all the input. It was still there today, so I took a closer look. The serial number dates it to 1916, not 1938 as I had thought - 333454. The one on the trigger guard and frame match, the one on the butt comes from a slightly earlier gun - 331something.

Nothing else jumped out at me.

I'll sleep on it tonight. If its gone tomorrow, its gone. If its there I'll stop dithering and either get it or forget it.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

Guess I'll keep the 1st gen one I got for $84. Had to lie about my age to get it. Still lying about my age...still got the gun.

Part of the thrill of gun buying is the chase...the search for the right gun at the right price. It looks as if you are tired of the chase and have decided to "settle". This is a parts gun with finish issues and worn internal parts. It may not even be safe to fire.
I took a look on Gun Broker yesterday and found several nice specimens in the sub $1500 range. They were 2nd and 3rd gen guns and were not likely to have ever belonged to Wyatt Earp or John Wesley Hardin.
Certainly you will see others that sellers are willing to post for the cost of a retirement home in Florida. These folks don't really want to part with these guns but will do so if you will pay a price that they can't refuse. You should breeze right past those and look for fairly priced ones.

Hi Sig,

You showed great restraint and good judgement.

I found a 3rd gen. back in around 2009 I think and I looked at it at the gun shop, thought nah, I'll think about it.......called the owner of the shop direct on his cell phone as I'm a few blocks away from the store and said 'hold it' for me, i'm coming back to buy it......

These are just plain iconic and as some other folks said a collector should have one in the collection.

It sounds like a labor of love; do you want to put in some time and enjoy over the next 6 months to a year? If so, sounds good.

As a side note, now for some reason I need to buy a 1st gen......

__________________
Rather be outdoors

Well, I didn't buy it.


But my wife did.




She was with me when I was mooning over it, so she carried herself back there and bought it for me. That, my friends, is a first.

So here it is -



I wasn't lying - its a homely old guy. The nickel is actually not too bad, except at the muzzle:



Some markings are good....



Some not so good....



The left grip has some faint checkering still -



The right is completely smooth to the touch. Both have some chips that might be fixable. This gun didn't spend the last 99 years in a drawer.



These numbers match at least -



I'll give it good cleaning, loaded it up some +P+ Buffalo Bores and give it a try.

Ok, not really. But I will clean it and shoot it with some cowboy loads.

I'm not sure what she paid, but she's never paid asking price for anything so I'm sure she beat them down some.

Its not pristine, probably not even collectible, but its priceless to me. Crazy woman.

__________________
“What you got, ain’t new.”

Knowing it has hammer issues, you had best watch that thing until you get it repaired.

That said, congrats on 1) the WIFE and 2) the new to you gun. In thirty-three years of marriage my wife has never bought me a single firearm related item, much less a firearm. It wouldn't cross her mind.

Congratulations on A interesting gun.I am sure that the fact that it was bought by your wonderful wife,will make it that much better.

Good luck with it.
You have a great wife!

I think it's just gorgeous. I am jealous. I found one down here in about similar shape in .38-40 and I was all excited until I actually saw it and found out it was a Bisley. Made about 1907 by the Serial Number.

I don't like Bisleys, I turned it down. The guy was desperate and kept coming down in price but I don't like Bisleys. If I'm going to buy a Peacemaker, I want it to be what I want. .38-40 is desirable because I could get away with that down here, probably even get it registered because it says ".38". But please not a Bisley.

If I was Joe Kidd and the Priest came back from the table with a Bisley....I'd send him back to the table. I am not pulling off a derring-do escape using a Bisley.

I sure like yours though.

WTG..
I think that is a solid Old Colt.
Perfect for restoration.