SAA Advice

[Chubbs103]

For some reason recently, I can't stop looking at/for Colt SAAs.

My primary interest keeps coming back to 2nd and 3rd Gen examples in .44 Special.

I found a third gen with a 4.75" barrel. It is not located close enough to easily see in person. From the pictures, it looks like the fitting of the grip frame ears is less than perfect. I understand this is to be expected on early 3rd gen guns. Otherwise it looks pretty good. My thoughts are ~$2,000 would be ballpark.

I also have a line on a 2nd gen with a 5.5" barrel (my understanding is 4.75" was not available on 2nd gen .44s). My guess is the 2nd gen premium will be $300-$500 over any 3rd gen that I find.

Of course this will probably lead to an Uberti 1873 rifle in .44 Special that I know is for sale.

I have no real use for either the gun or the caliber. I have Blackhawks in both OM and NM (.357 and .41). I have a little bit of everything caliber-wise except for any kind of .44 (Special or Magnum) even though I was gifted a set of dies 20 years ago. I absolutely plan on shooting whatever I get.

I know the Italian copies are a much better deal (although I don't know anyone making them in .44 Special). For some reason the only non-Colt that really trips my trigger is the USFA and they are harder to find in my preferred configurations as the Colts and just as expensive.

Thoughts on what to look for are appreciated. Opinions on seeking out 2nd gen over 3rd are appreciated.

Chubbs

 

[BigMuddy]

You're looking for what is in my opinion the best cartridge available in a Colt SAA. You can't just generically say a 2nd will be better than a 3rd. I have 3 in 44 Special, two 3rds and a 2nd, and yes my early 2nd Gen gun is the best one. There really aren't any flies on the other two however.

Like everything lately prices are crazy. I'm guessing that the premium for a 2nd generation 44 Special will be closer to 1k. Some of the later 3rd's are as good as any Colt ever made. That frame fit you mentioned is a big thing for me. Also look at the screw holes in the frame. Some are badly dished out, another turn off for me.

You said you don't know of any Italian 44 Specials, but Cimmaron imports them. They are very good quality guns, but if you want a Colt nothing else will do.

Good luck searching. I love the SAA, especially 44 Specials. Probably the most versatile cartridge you could choose.

Dan

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have an Italian Clone 1873 Winchester in 44 Special. I like it a lot better than the 1894 Marlin Cowboy. (both had very good action jobs.)

Ivan

 

[SuperMan]

Prices have been increasing ever since CZ bought Colt last year...

Although I have had a couple in the past I didn't have any last summer and decided to look for one...a 4.75"...wasn't picky on caliber... What finally caught my eye was a consecutive pair of 2004 vintage .32-20s that had been tuned by Bob Munden and ivory stocked by Nutmeg... Story was they were ordered by a doctor who was getting into CAS but by the time the guns were completed he had lost interest and sold them... I got them from the second owner... They were listed as "used" but turns out the only person who had fired them was Murden....6 rounds each.

They are not going to get any cheaper....

Bob

 

[CBH44]

Gotta pm for you

 

[The Norseman]

Wild Horses

O.P. - If you want Colt SAA then you should get Colt.
Colt SAA always impress and one in 44S&W Special
is to me really impressive.

I suggest that if you can't find a Colt right away,
purchase a Cimarron/Tyler/Uberti with 4 clicks
to hold you over and trade it off when you
get the Colt.

I like the 44S&W Spl and 45Colt. I also Reload both
of them. Both of them are impressive to shoot.
Reloads are running me about $9.00/50 cartridges.

The Best to you and your Endeavors. Keep looking
one will show up!

 

[SuperMan]

Oooooo a USFA Flat Top Target with a short barrel!!!!

I have a 5.5" .22/.22 Magnum and it is a FINE shooter...

 

[SS336]

I would buy a Colt before they get so expensive only the wealthy can afford them.
They won't shoot any better than the copies, but they are a Colt
If you just want to shoot a SAA for range fun the clones are very nice, solid revolvers.
My son has a couple of SAAs, here is my favorite.
A 1920's .32-20 that's been around. It shoots great,one can almost feel the history when you hold it.

 

[Jimmy4570]

Peacemaker options

I've got a 4 3/4" USFA Pre-War, the blackpowder frame, that I picked up at Jim's Firearms in Baton Rouge for a fair deal in '05 as a welcome home present to myself after returning from a tour of duty in Central Asia. AMAZING revolver. .45 Colt, blued and case hardened with Tru-Ivory stocks.

Now that USFA is gone, I think the best option would be to either find the best 2nd or 3rd gen you can get OR...do what I've done and order a Standard Mfg. single action. They're not turning them out in anything but .45 nowadays but if enough people hit them up for it they'd crank 'em out in other calibers too. Should have mine in about another month with another set of Tru-Ivories fit to it and finally have a mate- albeit not exact due to the frame differences- to my USFA.

If the Standard is anything like the USFA in terms of fit, finish and performance, I'll be happy. The USFA is perfectly timed and put together. At this point I've got several hundred rounds through her and not a mark on the cylinder.

Good luck with your search.

 

[PALADIN85020]

Chubbs, like you, I always wanted a Colt SAA in my favorite revolver caliber - .44 Special. My maternal grandfather carried a Colt (probably in .45 Colt with a 5.5" barrel) when he rode shotgun on the stage between Bisbee and Tombstone, AZ in the late 1890s. The gun is also the official Arizona state handgun.

Accordingly, I picked this one up in 1982 at a gun show in El Paso - paid high dollar for it new in the box with papers. I never shot it; it was a nostalgia thing to own it. I never forgave my grandmother for selling my granddad's Colt when he died in 1944. Of course, I was only 5 years old then, so she couldn't have known of my future firearms interests. My mother told me he had 3 guns - the Colt, a Luger, and a Mauser rifle.

At any rate, here is my Colt, still in pristine new condition after 42 years.




Years later, in an effort to duplicate my grandfather's gun as closely as possible, I purchased this U.S. Firearms "pre-war style" SAA. Interestingly, it was made under the Colt dome in Hartford - same place as my granddad's gun - in .45 Colt. It remains in nearly new condition with the original box, protective pouch and papers. I have shot it a few times. It gave me joy to experience shooting a gun that really replicates that which belonged to my grandfather.

John

 

[Babysitr]

I recently bought a Cimarron PW Frontier ( 4 click).....5.5" .357..wanted a farm carry that I didn't have to worry about...and I use it..it's not my Colts 3rd gen, but at about a fourth the price, the Colt is staying really nice in the safe.

 

[Buick]

Great caliber choice and

I'm in total agreement on the Colt!

I also have a 1920's Colt in .32 WCF. Its a treasure and great fun for the whole family to shoot.

I recently bought a dual cylinder Cimarron in 45 Colt/ 45 acp to tote around the farm and on our canoe camping trips. It has the floating firing pin safety which i have come to appreciate. I use it exclusively in .45 acp because of the wide availability and lower cost vice .45 Colt. Its a beautiful gun and a screaming deal.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I to have been looking for Colt SSA. I saw the the 38 spl. that sold recently here and would have grabbed that one but I wasn't fast enough. Story of my life. My quest is for a 44 spl. or 38 spl. I can load for either.

The 3rd gens seem to be hovering around $2500 on the auction sites. Those are popular items so they bring top dollar. I'm wondering if a new one would be about the same price. I might explore that option also.

Because I know very little about SAA's I'm still in research mode but if I walked into a good deal I would probably just do it on the spot.

Good luck in your search. That's half the fun.

 

[lestert357]

For some reason recently, I can't stop looking at/for Colt SAAs.

Chubbs, I totally understand. I have had that addiction for over 30 years….probably as a result of growing up with the 1950's Westerns. I only have one now, but it's probably the most complete package I ever owned - a 1st generation .357 Magnum from 1939 in its original box with test target, bore brush, and Shooting Suggestions brochure……..

 

[shil]

Paladin, that's a beauty! Among the Colt SAA fans, there's an intangible called "pride of ownership". My connection to that is a 7 1/2" 3rd gen in THE caliber (my humble opinion), .45 Colt! I've owned it for around 40 years and occasionally shot it. Now, I'm loathe to shoot a revolver that is these days going for an average $2000. My shooters are an Uberti "Artillery" and a couple of Rugers, an old-model 7 1/2" and a flat-top 5 1/2". Yes, all in .45 Colt. The USFA's, I hear, are good guns, but try to find one. The Standard Mfg guns are beauties, too, but there goes $2000 again! The occasional Colt that appears is almost always zip-tied shut so you can't try the action and verify timing, and the seller won't allow the zip-tie to be removed. Chubbs, good luck in your quest. Buy what makes you happy! If you choose to buy online, read CAREFULLY the seller's inspection and return policy. Me: I have problems with buying sight unseen.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm in total agreement on the Colt!

I also have a 1920's Colt in .32 WCF. Its a treasure and great fun for the whole family to shoot.

I recently bought a dual cylinder Cimarron in 45 Colt/ 45 acp to tote around the farm and on our canoe camping trips. It has the floating firing pin safety which i have come to appreciate. I use it exclusively in .45 acp because of the wide availability and lower cost vice .45 Colt. Its a beautiful gun and a screaming deal.

How does that work with 45 ACP? Does the cylinder use a moon clip like a 625? Nice looking Cimarron.

 

[Buick]

How does that work with 45 ACP? Does the cylinder use a moon clip like a 625? Nice looking Cimarron.

No moon clips needed as the .45 acp headspaces on the case mouth in all guns. The ejector rod on the SAA kicks em out like any other caliber. Moon clips are only needed for extraction in most double action guns.

 

[SuperMan]

.45 ACP simply headpaces on the case mouth just like it does in a 1911...

Just bought a 1975 Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt a few weeks ago...it is now at the factory having a .45 ACP cylinder fitted. They will not run .45 Auto Rim like a S&W revolver will but I understand that Starline has .45 Cowboy Special that has the rim of a .45 Colt and the length of a .45 ACP...

Bob

 

[2152hq]

You have to really look over some of the 3rd generation Colt SAA's carefully for quality.
I'll include 4th Generation in that as well,,but there really isn't any 4th Generation SAA. That's a non-factory term to note the re-introdution of the removeable cylinder bushing that the 3rd generation SAA originally dropped.
(The 3rd generation also changed the ratchet design and as such has a different hand than the 1st and 2nd.
But you can use a 3rd cyl in a 1st or 2nd gun if along with that you replace the hand with a 3rd gen hand.
The bbl threads are different as well)

Some of the 3rd Generation (&4th) were the sloppiest fitted & finished SAA's that Colt ever pushed out the door.
Over buffed, polishing done to trigger guards, grip straps and frames w/o the parts being assembled.
Dished out screw holes, guns out of time.
Some have the bottom of the cylinder locking slots bulged outward in the 44 and 45 cal. You see that as a bulge in the chamber(s).
Slots cut too deeply.

Certainly not every gun was like that, there were plenty of well finished and fitted SA's from that time period.
But there were more than a just a few bad ones as well.

Do a hands on inspection is my advise.

 

[moralem]

Your best bet is going to be on the secondary market and you are going to pay top dollar. Unfortunately colt does not manufacture enough of these for a buyer to go to a local gun shop and just pick one up in the caliber they want. So if you have the money and you can find what you want best thing is not to hesitate.

Mine are all third gen versions, two are 45 colt and the other 44 special.