1st Year Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA .38 Special Revolver, 1956 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2920
LSB#: 210923SS67
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 1746SA
Year of Manufacture: 1956 (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 “F” 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 trigger guard are each marked “1746SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo. The front face of the cylinder, 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 “849”. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “1746”.
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
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 colts in ovals at their tops. The left panel has a very small, repaired chip loss at the top-front corner. There are a few minor marks at the grips’ bottom edges. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp. There is good detail in the rampant colts. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition as repaired.
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 ejector housing has a spot of minor scratching above and behind its mounting screw. The cylinder has minor turn-wear, most notable are marks at the point of each lead-in groove. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The frame retains strong case color. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine-Excellent 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 hinge-lid cardboard Colt box with black exterior, green interior, model-matching label, “1746” hand-written on the bottom, wax paper, manual, warranty card and a Colt Historian letter. The box shows storage wear with some fraying, tears and tape-repairs around the edges. The letter confirms that this revolver shipped in its current configuration on February 20, 1956 to Jurek Brothers Inc. in Greenfield, MA as one of two guns 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 example comes from that first year of production. The revolver is in Fine-Excellent condition with a great bore, strong mechanics and the vast majority of its original finish remaining. 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. The gun comes with its original box as well as a Colt letter confirming its original configuration. This would make a great addition to a Colt collection as one of the earliest of the second generation, but it will also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!