Colt SAA availability

[SLT223]

Does anyone know what production numbers are on these guns? They seem to never be available except the internet auctions...at msrp 2x. If would love the case hardened P1840 4 3/4".

 

[31FordA]

Don't know how many they may make. Every shop I've been too has no idea how to actually get a new SAA. I spoke to Colt reps at NRA shows and they couldn't tell me how I could order one. As much as I would like a new SAA there is no way I'm paying twice the MSRP to buy one sight unseen. Used to be a guy at some gunshows I went too who always had consecutive serial number pairs for sale for $3,500, but I didn't want a set. In my case the problem has been solved as a nice 2nd Gen SAA turned up at the local shop a few weeks ago and I grabbed it.

 

[chief38]

From what I understand (I do speak to a few Colt's Managers once in a while) they are still trickling out of the Custom shop ever so slowly but to order a new one takes years. There are a few on GB (NIB) and that is how I'd buy one if I were looking for another. Yes they are expensive, but they will only be more expensive next year and one will kick themselves for not buying one now if he really wants one. They ain't gettin' any cheaper!

I own 4 (2 matched sets - one in blue / case colors the other in Nickel) and they could possibly be the last guns I ever got rid of.

 

[DocB]

Back about 10 years ago, the Colt M1911 Series 80 was out in large numbers in every LGS I went into. . .the one in the blue plastic box. The SAA was nowhere to be found. I never understood that. I guess Colt had a manufacturing dump of the 1911's but, somehow, couldn't get in the mood to make some SAA's. I call it leaving money on the table and poor management. If they would produce a mess of SAA's and get them out there for $1600 each, I would sure get one. I will bet that they would sell out fast.

 

[sfcjcl]

Two years ago, I walked into the LGS as the UPS guy was leaving. The owner was unpacking boxes as I was browsing the shelves when I heard him say "What the hell?". He received an order from his distributor and there was a P1870 in the order that he had not requested. I bought it right there and then for $1560.00 including tax. I have never fired it, it just sits in my gun safe looking pretty.

IN MY OPINION; The Custom Shop has never really been a high priority at Colt. With the loss of the DOD M4 contract so soon after Colt's financial troubles and the delay in the Cobra making it to market. I am wondering if there is trouble ahead for the company.

I did read on another site a few months ago, that one of the primary gunsmiths at the custom shop retired. The company had not hired a replacement. But, this is what I read on the internet, so who knows.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Check out gunshows, should be used and new available but as for prices who knows these days. I got lucky I guess, when I retired in 2008 I decided to get myself two new SAA's as a retirement present to myself. A dealer at the next show I attended had a whole table full of new Colts! Picked out a 4 3/4" black powder frame and a standard 7 1/2" both in .45 Colt for $1,100.00 each. Ignored the warning tag about reduced value if you shoot em and they shoot nicely right to the sights amazingly enough.

 

[Photog]

Colt's custom shop is not taking any new orders for an unspecified amount of time. Could be a few months, several months, years, never...who knows. Colt SAA's are being produced at the rate of approx. 600-700 per year. If you order a new one, I believe the wait is now approaching 3 years. Their warranty work is suffering equally. A poster on one of the Colt forums, sent his SAA back for warranty work. The gun has been at Colt for over a year, with no definite finish date. They seem to be concentrating on the new Cobra and the 1911 line. If I was to bet, I would say that the SAA will continue to be produced, but at wait times of up to 5+ years. The last time I contacted the custom shop for a quote on a special SAA, I was told it was up to the custom shop whether or not they would make the gun I wanted, even though ALL options were listed as available. It seems as if the custom shop decides what a customer can have, or not have, at their whim. They recently let the custom shop manager go, so since then it has been in total disarray. At least he kept people informed. If you really want a SAA, I would say you are going to have to watch auctions closely or just pay out the kazoo for one you want. Sort of nostalgic, like the post Dirty Harry M29 issue.

 

[gregintenn]

22 pages of them on gunbroker.

 

[smoothshooter]

Two years ago, I walked into the LGS as the UPS guy was leaving. The owner was unpacking boxes as I was browsing the shelves when I heard him say "What the hell?". He received an order from his distributor and there was a P1870 in the order that he had not requested. I bought it right there and then for $1560.00 including tax. I have never fired it, it just sits in my gun safe looking pretty.

IN MY OPINION; The Custom Shop has never really been a high priority at Colt. With the loss of the DOD M4 contract so soon after Colt's financial troubles and the delay in the Cobra making it to market. I am wondering if there is trouble ahead for the company.

I did read on another site a few months ago, that one of the primary gunsmiths at the custom shop retired. The company had not hired a replacement. But, this is what I read on the internet, so who knows.

What is a P1870?

 

[Xfuzz]

Chances of walking up on a NIB in a gun shop or show
are very slim.
The Colt SAA is a firearm I follow closely and as stated GB
is about the only source and prices are nutz.
Couple of mine:

and last...

 

[sfcjcl]

Colt 3rd Generation SAA P1870

Here's some pictures of my P1870.

 

[ACORN]

I remember when I had my shop, we had a NIB Colt SAA 4-3/4" blued and case hardened in .44 spl. The gun sat there for months maybe a year. No-one wanted it, including me, because it wasn't a .45. What fools.

 

[SLT223]

I remember when I had my shop, we had a NIB Colt SAA 4-3/4" blued and case hardened in .44 spl. The gun sat there for months maybe a year. No-one wanted it, including me, because it wasn't a .45. What fools.

I'm an Elmer Keith fan. I'd lift one in .44 Special, I just would prefer 45 Colt.

 

[SLT223]

I just called COLT. Current wait time is 1 to 3 years. They are making them on the production floor. With the market giving an MSRP 2x premium on them you think they might up the priority and capture some margin.

 

[moralem]

I just called COLT. Current wait time is 1 to 3 years. They are making them on the production floor. With the market giving an MSRP 2x premium on them you think they might up the priority and capture some margin.

And you need to pony up a 50% deposit to just get in line and wait......I am lucky that I wake up each morning to a new day, let alone send off my money to a company that really has no concern for the customer and may or may not be around in three years to deliver my gun.....don't get me wrong I like colts but their business model really makes no sense.



Up until last week I have been looking for a new Cobra since they were supposed to have hit the market. From what I hear they are barely trickling out, so when I found them in a sporting goods store in Houston I ordered two over the phone......the way to get a SAA is through auctions, it will be pure luck if you ever stumbled upon one in a LGS.

 

[chief38]

22 pages of them on gunbroker.

YUP! They are out there if you want one. You just have to prepare yourself to "pony-up" the bucks.

 

[John Fugate]

YUP! They are out there if you want one. You just have to prepare yourself to "pony-up" the bucks.

and it's just that's easy,,,

J.F.

 

[The Norseman]

Colts Single Actions

My Favorite Local Gun Mercantile just got 4 (four)
SAA Colts over the weekend. Just got home and
seen this Thread.

1 - New Frontier 7-1/2 bbl.

1 - used SAA 7-1/2 bbl.

2 - in blue box
- 38-40 7-1/2.
- SAA unknown Caliber.

The top two I neglected to look what Caliber they were.

Their out there.

 

[ladder13]

I just called COLT. Current wait time is 1 to 3 years. They are making them on the production floor. With the market giving an MSRP 2x premium on them you think they might up the priority and capture some margin.

A friend back in NY has been waiting well over 3 years. Colt is optimistic, at best.

 

[Geno44]

In my limited experience, when you hold and compare the second generation Colts with the third generation Colts, I've not found a third gen that feels as smooth and nice as the seconds. With all the clean used ones for sale, why would anyone wait a long time for a new one?

 

[moralem]

In my limited experience, when you hold and compare the second generation Colts with the third generation Colts, I've not found a third gen that feels as smooth and nice as the seconds. With all the clean used ones for sale, why would anyone wait a long time for a new one?

Because sometimes you just want to be the original owner of something......this in my case is experiencing the original ownership of two new Cobras. I never took the opportunity to be the original owner of a Colt DA revolver in the past just never was interested, and I finally wanted to know what it was like to be the first one to either put a scratch on it or not to......every other DA colt I own was previously owned. Not the two Cobras and perhaps one day I will be the original owner of a SAA. The two that I have were owned previously and I am sure before my time is up on this earth I will one day be the original owner of a SAA....it will just take work.

 

[Bullet Bob]

I think the 3rd generation negativity thing is a little over done. I had one made in the 1970's or 80's. It wasn't very smooth at first, but after a box of ammo it was great. Wish I still had it. The one I have now from the 2000's is as smooth as any new SAA I've ever felt, from any generation. Wish I had gotten one with the push pin instead of the "blackpowder/pinched frame/whatever the experts call it now", as taking out the screw to clean the cylinder obviously wasn't a good idea or Colt wouldn't have changed it. I know I could sell mine and buy one with the push pin, but I like it, and I'm trying to remember not sell good guns. Guess I'll have to pony up p) for another one.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

First generation:
1880 SAA .45, 7-1/2", US marked.
1902 Bisley Model .32-20.
1914 SAA Frontier Six Shooter .44-40
Second generation:
1957 SAA .357 magnum
Third generation:
1979 SAA .44 Special.

They are all staying with me. They are all worth much more than I paid for them (better investments than just about anything Wall Street has to offer).

 

[Vulcan Bob]

I think the 3rd generation negativity thing is a little over done. I had one made in the 1970's or 80's. It wasn't very smooth at first, but after a box of ammo it was great. Wish I still had it. The one I have now from the 2000's is as smooth as any new SAA I've ever felt, from any generation. Wish I had gotten one with the push pin instead of the "blackpowder/pinched frame/whatever the experts call it now", as taking out the screw to clean the cylinder obviously wasn't a good idea or Colt wouldn't have changed it. I know I could sell mine and buy one with the push pin, but I like it, and I'm trying to remember not sell good guns. Guess I'll have to pony up p) for another one.

The dealer I bought mine from asked me if I was going to shoot the black powder frame I picked out. I told him why yes I will and he told me that they were not the best frame gun to actually shoot for several reasons but I wanted it and bought it. Well he was right as the cylinder pin retaining screw shank is tiny and steps down to even a smaller diameter. It also did not engage the notch in the pin allowing some fore and aft play. After a few outings the screw being battered by the movement did not want to be screwed out and the head of the screw sheared off with very little force applied. Oh bother, was that a toughie to remove!

Anyhoo, I bought a Belt Mountain locking cylinder pin and left the original screw unreplaced. One of these days I will get a smith to drill and tap that screw hole for a larger properly fitted screw to be installed.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I have only acquired one - just because I'd always wanted a genuine Colt SAA. I have plenty of other single actions to shoot, such as Rugers, so this one remains unfired, complete with box and papers. I suspect that it's worth a LOT more than I paid for it so many years ago...

John