Hollywood Gun Shop, TX Shipped Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA .38 Spl Revolver & Letter, MFD 1959 C&R
SOLD!
LSB#: 200115LL40
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 23885SA
Year of Manufacture: 1959 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .38 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”, the left is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL”. The left of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT 19. 1871 / JULY 2, 7 JAN. 19, 75” and with a rampant colt logo. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle at the front and “P” at the rear, the right of the trigger guard is marked “5”. The bottom of the frame and the left of each portion of the trigger guard are each marked “23885SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo. The front face of the cylinder is marked “885”. The rear face of the frame (under the right grip panel) and the rear face of the loading gate are each marked with assembly number “729”. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “12141” with “85” hand-written in pencil.
Barrel Length: 4 3/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of a groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is sharp. The grips are slightly proud to the backstrap but otherwise well fit. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: 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 97% of its metal finish. The finish is lightly thinning at some edges, most notable at the top-right of the trigger guard. There is handling wear inside the trigger guard on the top in front of the trigger. The ejector rod housing has a light scuff toward the front. The cylinder has a thin, faint turn-line. The unfinished side faces of the hammer show minor discoloration from oxidation and light operational wear. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The case color is strong. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Fine-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces barely perceptible play on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder’s bushing is separate from the cylinder. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a black cardboard Colt box with model matching label, an assortment of factory paperwork including manual, and a Colt Archives letter detailing this revolver’s original shipping configuration, recipient and shipping date. The box has a faint hand-marked serial on the bottom, we can’t really make out the marking but it does not appear to match the revolver’s serial number. The box has light storage wear with wear at edges and corners, in about Very Good condition. The revolver originally shipped on January 23, 1959 to Hollywood Gun Shop in Hollywood, CA. This was the only gun of the same type in the shipment.
Our Assessment: The Colt Single Action Army is perhaps the quintessential old west handgun, produced for more than a century, serving the U.S. Army as its sidearm from 1873 into the first world war and captivating audiences on the silver screen. The SAA was discontinued by Colt as it tooled up to provide for the WWII war effort, and it was thought by Colt that the design was obsolete, swing-out cylinder revolvers had been around for half a century and autoloaders were gaining in popularity. 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, and this is one such example from 1959. Fitting for the silver screen’s role in reviving the SAA, this revolver was shipped to Hollywood Gun Shop in California. It is in Fine-plus condition with a great bore, strong mechanics and wear consistent with handling and little if any use over the past 60+ years. The gun is chambered for the common .38 Special cartridge, so if you choose to shoot it, ammunition should be easy to find in a variety of loads. It comes with a Colt Archives letter detailing the original configuration and shipping date which is a nice addition for collectors. This would make a great addition to a Colt collection as an early second generation. Please see our photos and good luck!