Colt Buntline Special Single Action Army SAA 12″ .45 Revolver 1957 C&R

More Sold Colts

SOLD FOR: $2,880.00

WOA#: WY240415EH130

Make: Colt

Model: Second Generation Buntline Special

Serial Number: 16004SA

Year of Manufacture: 1957 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT BUNTLINE SPECIAL .45”. The bottom of the barrel is marked “BB 166”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / JULY 2,72 JAN. 19,75” and with the “Rampant Colt” logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame is marked “16004SA”. The left side of each portion of the grip frame is marked “16004SA” under the grips. The left of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and “J”. The right side of the trigger guard is marked “P”. The front face of the cylinder is marked with assembly number “412”, found again on the right-rear of the frame and the rear face of the loading gate. The inside of each grip panel has “16004” hand-scribed.

Barrel Length: 12?

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top. The grips have minor handling wear with some scuffing and tiny nicks, mostly around the edges. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-plus condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion, but there is a little stubborn fouling. In this writer’s opinion, teh bore rates 9+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is minor wear at the muzzle on each side. The cylinder has some scattered minor turn-wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. 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. The cylinder locks up with barely perceptible play on each chamber. The trigger is crisp. 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 hinge-lid cardboard Colt box with the serial number hand-written on the bottom, factory paperwork including manual, and a May 15, 1958 dated receipt from Johnson Marine Supplies in Ontario, California. The box has wear and tear with some pieces torn off, but included in the box.

Our Assessment: Everyone should have a Colt Single Action Army, and this would be a nice one to add to any collection. Manufactured in 1957, this revolver is a Buntline Special chambered in the classic .45 Colt cartridge, the original chambering for the SAA and with a 12? barrel. It is in Very Good-Fine condition, with some minor surface oxidation and a few scattered light marks. The bore is great and the mechanics are strong. Serial numbers are matching and the Buntline Barrel number on the bottom of the barrel is correct for an early Buntline Special.

The Buntline designation originally referred to any SAA with a barrel longer than the longest standard length of 7 1/2?. They were originally only available by special order with the pre-war guns being quite rare. When the Buntline Special was reintroduced as a standard configuration in 1957, starting in the 12400SA range, the barrels were marked with a “Buntline Barrel” number starting with BB 100 to prevent nefarious characters from pulling the barrels and installing them on 1st generation guns to pass them off as pre-war buntlines. Colt would eventually sell BB marked barrels separately, but this revolver including its original box and sales receipt should be sufficient to confirm its authenticity. This is going to be popular with collectors, a 2nd Generation Buntline Special in this high condition doesn’t come around every day, especially one with a box and receipt. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud