Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA 4 3/4″ .38 Special Revolver, 1961 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1825
LSB#: 220502RL005
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 35447SA
Year of Manufacture: 1961 (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 “W” at the rear, the right of the trigger guard is marked “S”. The bottom of the frame and the left of each portion of the trigger guard are each marked “35447SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo. The front face of the cylinder is marked with “447”. 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 “709”. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “825”. The backstrap has been engraved with “WR” at the top with decorative engraving below, cut through the finish.
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 colts in ovals at their tops. The exterior of the grips have light handling wear with a few scattered nicks and scuffs. The checkering is well defined with pretty good detail in the rampant colts. There are no external chips or cracks, but there are repairs at the grip screw escutcheons on the inside of both panels. The escutcheon has pulled through the right panel. Overall, the grips are in Fair-Good condition, but appear Very Good-plus when installed.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is a little bit of stubborn leading, mostly in the forcing cone and there is a minor bulge about 1″ from the muzzle.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has finish wear along the left, more notable at the muzzle-end and there is wear along the ejector housing. The edges of the hole for the ejector housing mounting screw are raised. The frame has generally strong color with wear on the recoil shield and topstrap. The backstrap is mostly worn to white with finish at at the top. The trigger guard has wear at the bottom-front. The cylinder has scattered wear. There are some light nicks and scuffs with infrequent minor surface oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Good-Very Good condition and would easily rate Very Good but for the minor bulge in the bore.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The mainspring has been lightened, resulting in a light, smooth hammer pull. Lockup produces little play side-to-side and minor 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: 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 example is from fairly early in the 2nd generation, 1961, and is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. In Good-Very Good condition, the revolver shows signs of use, retaining a nice bore apart from a minor bulge, and strong mechanics. It has had some decorative engraving cut in the backstrap and the mainspring has been lightened to smooth out the hammer pull. This would make a neat addition to a Colt collection as one of the earlier second generations, but it will also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!