Colt 2nd Gen Single Action Army SAA Blue 4 3/4″ .45 Revolver & Box 1970 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2225
LSB#: 210610BD01
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 57314SA
Year of Manufacture: 1970 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 Colt
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 .45”. 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 “57314SA”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo, the front face of the cylinder is marked “314”. 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 “734”. The inside of each grip panel has “314” hand-scribed.
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 colt in oval at their tops and American eagle at the bottoms. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is sharp with good detail in the colts and eagles. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: The finish appears Original to the parts, we suspect that the barrel is not original to the gun (see Overall Condition, Our Assessment).
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 87% of its metal finish. Most of the balance is in the barrel which shows scattered thinning finish and scuffing along the sides, some multi-color discoloration at the rear where it meets the frame, and there is moderate-heavy damage to the threaded stud for the ejector rod housing. The frame has some muting and scuffing on the left of the recoil shield. Otherwise, the frame’s case color is generally strong with a few light marks and some very minor surface oxidation on the right flat. The grip frame has a few scattered light marks, most notable are scratches in the backstrap and trigger guard. The cylinder has light turn-wear and a few scattered minor marks. The side faces of the hammer have minor operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces almost no 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 two-piece cardboard Colt “Stagecoach” box marked with the barrel length, and with a 3rd Generation Colt manual. The box has light storage wear, most at the edges and corners, in about Very Good condition.
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 was produced in 1970 and has blue & case color finish, a 4 3/4″ barrel and is chambered in the original .45 Colt cartridge. The barrel has some wear and discoloration which is not consistent with the otherwise high condition of the cylinder, frame and grip frame, possibly indicating that it was removed and reinstalled or replaced. The revolver comes in a period-correct Colt “Stagecoach” box and is in Very Good condition. This would make a nice addition to any collection. Please see our photos and good luck!