Colt S.A.A. New Frontier in .44 Spc

[MP1983]

UPDATES TO POST: see post #9 for production numbers on this configuration (.44 Spc w/ 5 1/2" barrel) and see post #12 for 1963 Gun Digest data on the Colt SAA New Frontier.


Finally got my first Colt single action. I've never had the funds or the luck to afford or handle any in my early collecting days. As my acquisitions have been winding down now as a retiree on a state pension, I decided to spoil myself and add one of these beauties to my Colt's corral.

I traded a Trooper Mk III .357, an H&R .32 breaktop, a Hi Standard Sport King .22, & Ruger .22 Mk I, along with a little cash for this. I don't regret it. This thing was made in 1963 and the craftsmanship is truly something to behold. These were the most expensive U.S. made handguns for many years for good reason...I don't care if it's not as collectible as a Second Generation fixed sight version of the SAA (although I would love one of those if I could afford one, of course). The barrel length on this New Frontier is 5 1/2", and I was specifically looking for .44 Special.

I think my Pythons are jealous, but my 4" S&W 629 no-dash just says, "bring it on, big boy."

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Nice one. And I have a feeling the 5 1/2" barrel is rather scarce in a 2nd generation gun. And the best part....they put SILVER medallions on it which I guess was standard in the early days. Not the horrible tacky gold ones like on my latest SAA.

 

[D Brown]

That's really nice!

 

[TAROMAN]

Very nice.
Now, do you plan to shoot it?

 

[MP1983]

Silver Medallions

Nice one. And I have a feeling the 5 1/2" barrel is rather scarce in a 2nd generation gun. And the best part....they put SILVER medallions on it which I guess was standard in the early days. Not the horrible tacky gold ones like on my latest SAA.

NOTE: See some corrections to the info I give below in post #12 (MP1983).

Yes, I have a 1963 Gun Bible that has a paragraph or two on these as a new offering from Colt's (though I think they first came out in 1961). In the article they mentioned the walnut grips w/ silver medallions as standard on all...the New Frontier was offered in .45 Colt, .357 Mag & .44 Special. The .45's were the only to offer a 4 3/4" barrel. The .44 & .357 were 5 1/2" & 7 1/2" only. These sold for $150, and there was a Buntline New Frontier in .45 Colt that sold for $175, but I don't think it lasted too long (though the fixed sight Buntlines continued for a while I believe).

I would love to know how many 5 1/2" .44 Specials were produced, and I agree the gold medallions look a little tacky on these.

 

[MP1983]

Very nice.
Now, do you plan to shoot it?

Yup! Not a whole bunch, but I do plan to get the full experience with this beauty.

 

[Camster]

Like virtually everyone, I wanted a SAA as well.The closest to the traditional model that I owned was also a New Frontier-long barrel version in 45LC. I was fine with the adjustable sights,preferred them in fact,but really wanted a 5.5 barrel on it,which I could never find.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

I posted the question over at Colt forum asking production numbers on 2nd generation New Frontier hopefully broken down by caliber and barrel length. Will post info here when I get some or PM you with it. Here's a .44-40 I bought that only came with a .44 Special cylinder which I prefer anyway. And there's those dreaded gold medallions. Real pearls, though, here, and a spare .44 Special barrel.

 

[2152hq]

I have Geo Garton's book 'Colt SAA Post War Models'.
1979/ rev '87

In it the N/F in 44special is discussed.
It's in the 'Models that are rare or scarce' chapter. He does not include extreme low production, one-of's, ect in this group,,but low regular production guns.

The caption to a pictured 7 1/2" 44sp N/F listed as 'very scarce' (ser# 5317NF circa 1965) also states that the New Frontier in 44sp caliber, there were 134 made in 7 1/2" bbl,,,,and 118 made in 5 1/2" bbl.

Another mention of the 44sp N/F caliber 44sp revolver in the text of the chapter states that production of both bbl lengths (7.5 and 5.5in) totaled around 252 units.

Maybe there's more up to date info on production available now, but I think the revolver is a somewhat rare configuration whatever the total production was.

(FWIW,,they did make just under 50 N/F's in 38special in those 2 bbl lengths too. I've never seen one for sale.)


Congrats on a fine revolver!

 

[Wyatt Burp]

2152hq’s numbers are exactly what was posted over at Colt, with another saying 120 instead of 118 5 1/2” .44 Specials. So in another words, that ain’t that many guns at all in that configuration.

 

[keith44spl]

I like em too !!!

NF 5 1/2 44 Special w/my rough & ready rear sight.

SAA 44 Special

.

 

[MP1983]

thanks & here's data from 1963 Gun Digest

I have Geo Garton's book 'Colt SAA Post War Models'.
1979/ rev '87

In it the N/F in 44special is discussed.
It's in the 'Models that are rare or scarce' chapter. He does not include extreme low production, one-of's, ect in this group,,but low regular production guns.

The caption to a pictured 7 1/2" 44sp N/F listed as 'very scarce' (ser# 5317NF circa 1965) also states that the New Frontier in 44sp caliber, there were 134 made in 7 1/2" bbl,,,,and 118 made in 5 1/2" bbl.

Another mention of the 44sp N/F caliber 44sp revolver in the text of the chapter states that production of both bbl lengths (7.5 and 5.5in) totaled around 252 units.

Maybe there's more up to date info on production available now, but I think the revolver is a somewhat rare configuration whatever the total production was.

(FWIW,,they did make just under 50 N/F's in 38special in those 2 bbl lengths too. I've never seen one for sale.)


Congrats on a fine revolver!

Thanks Wyatt Burp and 2152hq! I sure appreciate the numbers.

Yesterday in post #5 here in this thread, I gave a little bad info re: an article I saw (thought it was "Gun Bible" but it was "Gun Digest", and the article covers new handguns for 1962-1963, not just 1963, AND, I mis-spoke stating that only .45 New Frontiers came in 4 3/4 barrels, the .357 did too. ALSO, as 2152hq already pointed out, .38 Special was also offered (I had read the ".357 Magnum and .38 Special" to mean that it fired both - but they were two separate options).

I find it interesting how in the article the author mentions the S&W .357 Magnum cartridge was a big part of the impetus for the New Frontier, writing that the fixed sights of the original SAA "handicapped" those who wanted to shoot that round at "various ranges" (he politely doesn't mention that Bill Ruger stumbled onto this point in the 1950's ). Here's what I could photograph, hope you guys can blow it up to read it.