Colt Single Action Army 2nd Gen SAA 4 3/4″ .38 Special Revolver, 1957 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2802
LSB#: 210709OS01
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 18206SA
Year of Manufacture: 1957 (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, 72 JAN. 19, 75” and with a rampant colt logo. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle at the front and “J” at the rear. The right of the trigger guard is marked “P”. The bottom of the frame and the left of each portion of the grip frame are each marked “18206SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo. The front face of the cylinder is marked with assembly number “386”. 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 “386”. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “523”.
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 panels with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. The right panel has some minor scuffing and a few spots of white residue on the left panel. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There is good detail in the colts. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in 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. There are spots of light finish wear at the left of the muzzle and the bottom-rear corner of the grip frame. The action shows light operational wear including a thin turn-line on the cylinder. There are a few minor marks in the grip frame. The frame’s case color is strong. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in 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: None.
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. This is a 1957 made revolver chambered for .38 Special with a 4 3/4″ barrel. This revolver is in fantastic condition, retaining about 97% of its metal finish, a great bore and strong mechanics. Its grips are not original to the gun, but are well fit and in good shape. This would make a great addition to a Colt collection as one of the earliest of the second generation SAA revolvers, and would still make for a great six-shooter chambered in a relatively inexpensive and easy to find cartridge. Please see our photos and good luck!