Colt 3rd Gen. Single Action Army 3” Sheriff’s Model .44 Cal. Revolver & Box
SOLD FOR: $1,975.00
LSB#: LSB250813GW006
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, Sheriff’s Model
Serial Number: SA42171
Year of Manufacture: 1980–1981 (Third Generation, per Colt serialization tables) (Post-1976 Production)
Caliber: .44 Colt / .44 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver, 6-Shot Cylinder, Fixed Firing Pin Hammer
Markings:
The left side of the frame is marked with the Colt patent dates “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871 / JULY. 2. 72 JAN. 19. 75” followed by the Rampant Colt. The barrel is roll-marked “COLT SAA .44 CAL.” on the right and “COLT SHERIFF’S MODEL” on the left. The cylinder is marked “44 SPL.” . The serial number “SA42171” appears on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap. The trigger guard bow bears inspection marks “V” and “K.” The Peacemaker Specialists Certificate of Authenticity, dated January 7, 2020, verifies that this revolver was custom-tuned and refinished by Edward L. Janis of Peacemaker Specialists.
Barrel Length: 3″ (Sheriff’s Model, No Ejector Housing)
Sights / Optics:
The front sight is a blade integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a trough groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition:
The smooth walnut grips are finely fit to the frame, displaying even tone and tight seams. The wood is free of cracks or chips, and the fitment aligns cleanly with Colt’s factory contours. The grips rate in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish:
Colt factory high polish blue with color case-hardened frame.
Finish Originality:
Original to the Peacemaker Specialists rework, verified by certificate.
Bore Condition:
The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no visible erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition:
This revolver retains about 99% of its blue and case-colored finish. The frame exhibits vivid color with deep blues, purples, and straw tones. The cylinder shows only the faintest trace of a turn line. The screws are sharp and unmarred, the lettering crisp, and the fit impeccable—hallmarks of Edward Janis’ precision tuning. The overall condition rates Excellent Plus, retaining nearly all of its custom-applied finish.
Mechanics:
The action is crisp and perfectly timed, with the hammer locking securely into each notch. Cylinder indexing is exact, lock-up tight, and trigger release clean—representing the hallmark feel of a Peacemaker Specialists action job. We did not fire this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories:
Included is the original Colt blue presentation box with fitted velvet liner, factory paperwork, instruction manual, “Colt Companion” leaflet, and the Peacemaker Specialists Certificate of Authenticity signed by Edward L. Janis, dated January 7, 2020.
Our Assessment:
This Colt Sheriff’s Model Single Action Army, serial SA42171, embodies both the romance and precision of America’s greatest revolver. The “Sheriff’s Model” was the cut-down variant favored by frontier lawmen, gamblers, and men of the badge who needed the power of a Peacemaker in a concealable form—no ejector housing, just a 3-inch barrel and smooth walnut grips ready for a close encounter at saloon distance. One can imagine this revolver riding in the pocket of a frock coat or hidden beneath a gambler’s vest in a Dodge City parlor, where reputation was often settled with a steady hand and a Colt hammer click.
The revolver’s chambering in .44 Special ties it to another storied American cartridge—descended from the black-powder .44 Russian and made famous in 20th-century sixguns by writers like Elmer Keith. Renowned for its accuracy, mild recoil, and heavy-bullet authority, the .44 Special remains one of the most balanced revolver cartridges ever designed. Combined with Colt’s Third Generation craftsmanship and the expert hands of Edward L. Janis of Peacemaker Specialists, this sixgun delivers mechanical perfection matched by historical reverence.
Peacemaker Specialists—founded by John A. Kopec in 1975 and carried forward by Janis since 1991—has become synonymous with elite Colt Single Action Army restoration and tuning. As an authorized Colt Custom Shop partner and parts supplier, their work represents the absolute zenith of SAA performance and authenticity, endorsed by collectors and shooters alike. This revolver, documented by its certificate, is not merely a modern Colt—it’s the culmination of a century and a half of American revolver evolution, restored to the tactile perfection that defined the Old West.
KF
