Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA 4 3/4″ .357 Magnum Revolver, 1970 C&R
Sold for 2580.00
LSB#: 220625DM059
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 55126SA
Year of Manufacture: 1970 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .357 Magnum
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 .357 MAGNUM”. 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 “V” 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 “55126SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo. The front face of the cylinder is marked “M” and “126”. 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 “576”.
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 faux-ivory panels. The right panel has a tiny chip at the bottom-rear corner. Otherwise, the grips have only light handling marks. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Fine 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 93% of its metal finish. The balance is mostly in scattered minor oxidation on the frame’s otherwise strong case color. The finish is thinning at some edges and there are a few scattered minor marks. The action shows light operational wear including some turn-wear on the cylinder. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It appears to have had some action work done with a light mainspring and a very smooth hammer pull. Lockup produces almost no play side-to-side and barely perceptible end-shake 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 Colt “Stagecoach” box with model-matching label. The box has light-moderate wear with fraying and tears at edges and corners.
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 example is a .357 Magnum chambered 4 3/4″ barrel model made in 1970. The revolver is in Very Good-plus condition with a great bore, strong mechanics and wear consistent with light use over the past 50+ years. Housed in a Colt “Stagecoach” box, this would make a great addition to a Colt collection as one of the .357 Magnum second generation revolvers, but it should also prove to be a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!