Colt 2nd Gen. Single Action Army 4 3/4” .38 Special SAA Revolver, 1958 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,507.77
LSB#: LSB251009SB001
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 20852SA
Year of Manufacture: 1958, C&R
Caliber: .38 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .38 SPECIAL”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. 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 “20852SA”. The left side of each portion of the grip frame is marked “20852SA” under the grip. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and the left rear with “P”, the right of the trigger guard is marked “5”. The front face of the cylinder is marked “852” and the rear with a rampant colt. The rear of the loading gate and right-rear of the frame are each marked with assembly number “430”. The inside of each factory grip panel is hand-scribed “852” as well as “COLT’S HTFD, CONN.” molded at the bottoms.
Barrel Length: 4.75”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is removed. 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 hard rubber with Colt Rampants molded at their tops. The checkering is well defined with good detail in the rampant. There are small chunks missing on the bottoms of each grip. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no notable erosion. There is fouling and minor corrosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 10% of its metal finish. Most of the finish is worn to white with oxidation and even patina throughout. There is light erosion throughout but no notable deep pitting. There are traces of blue at the muzzle end of the barrel and ejector shroud. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. The cylinder pin release button is removed. There are scratches on the ejector shroud around the cylinder pin where previous attempts to the remove the pin were made. Overall, this revolver is in Fair condition.
Mechanics: The cylinder pin is rusted in place. The cylinder turns on each chamber with assistance but does not turn on its own. Lockup produces light play on all six chambers. 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: None.
Our Assessment: The Colt Single Action Army remains one of the most enduring symbols of American firearms history—a revolver that defined the frontier and continued to embody precision craftsmanship through each successive generation. This particular example, a 2nd Generation model manufactured in 1958, holds a special place in Colt collecting circles for its rarity and transitional configuration. Only 741 2nd Gen Single Action Army revolvers were produced in .38 Special with a 4 ¾-inch barrel, a combination that existed for just a two-year production window. The 4 ¾-inch barrel was first introduced in 1958, and the .38 Special chambering was phased out by 1960 in favor of the .357 Magnum, making this configuration one of the most desirable variants of the postwar generation.
The .38 Special cartridge, developed in the late 19th century, offered milder recoil and superb accuracy compared to its magnum successors, and Colt’s finely tuned Single Action Army platform made the most of its controllability and precision. This revolver, though showing wear consistent with honest use, retains clear factory markings, matching serial numbers throughout, and visible remnants of its original blue and case-colored finish. Its crisp trigger and correct assembly numbers further reinforce its originality.
As a rare and early 2nd Generation Colt, this revolver bridges the gap between the 19th-century Peacemaker legacy and Colt’s modern postwar production era. With its limited run and historically significant chambering, this 1958 SAA stands as a scarce and collectible example of the final years of .38 Special production before the rise of the .357 Magnum. Please see our photos and good luck! -L.S.
