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…..
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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Pre-war .357 Magnums of any make are truly a delight. 
