Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA, 4 3/4″, 1957 Blue & Case Color Revolver, C&R .38 Special SPL

SOLD FOR: $1,675.00
LSB#: 190402LH20

Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army 2nd Generation

Serial Number: 11573A

Year of Manufacture: 1957 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .38 Special

Action Type: 6-Shot Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / JULY 2,72 JAN. 19,75” and with the rampant colt logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame, the left side of the upper and lower grip frame straps (under the left grip) are marked “11573SA”. The inside rear face of the loading gate is marked with the assembly number “244”, found again on the right rear of the frame. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “J”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a Rampant Colt logo. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “304” with “COLT’S HTFD. CONN.” molded into the bottom.

Barrel Length: 4 3/4”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-circle blade. The rear sight is a square groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard-rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. The grips have a few scattered light compressions and minor handling wear. The checkering is well defined with good detail on the rampant colts. There are no chips or cracks. The grips are alternately slightly shy and slightly proud to the frame. The grips are in overall Fine condition as not original to the revolver.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored

Finish Originality: Wear on the ejector rod housing and trigger guard has been touched up with cold-blue and the trigger guard appears to have been polished, but the remainder of the finish is original.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 65% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has strong finish with only minor handling marks. The ejector rod housing is worn along the rounded outside edge with some scattered light scuffs and the worn area appears to have been cold-blued. The frame has scattered light etching and surface erosion with strongest case color in protected areas such as in front of the cylinder, next to the hammer and under the recoil shield on each side. The cylinder has a faint turn-line and some scattered minor marks. The grip frame appears to have been mostly worn to white with a light-moderate patina forming in the wear except for around the trigger guard which shows evidence of polishing and some tool marks, touched up with cold-blue. Much of the top of the hammer spur has worn to white with strong finish in the front and rear. The knurling is worn but well defined. The trigger also has generally strong finish with light handling wear on the front face. The screw ehads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup has very little play on each chamber. The trigger pull is crisp. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Production of Single Action Army revolvers was halted at the outset of World War II to free up machines and manpower for filling wartime orders. After the war, Colt decided not to bring the iconic revolver back into production as it was seen as obsolete. The advent of swing-out cylinder revovlers and reliable semi-automatic pistols, they thought, meant that there was no place in the market for the antiquated single action revolver. Then, with the advent of television and western programs such as Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, and The Gene Autry Show, American interest in the guns that won the west was reborn. In 1956, Colt reintroduced the Single Action Army, this new production run now referred to as the 2nd Generation SAA’s. This is a Very Good example from 1957 which looks like it’s seen some holster and handling wear but has a tight lockup and a great bore. Should you choose to shoot this revolver, .38 Special ammunition is comerically available and should be more comfortable to shoot than the original .45 Colt. It would also make a nice addition to a Colt collection. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible single action revolver CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California but CANNOT be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.