
Colt 3rd Gen Single Action Army SAA P1850 5 1/2″ .45 Revolver & Box, 2006
SOLD FOR: $2,712.99
LSB#: 240326GW015
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army 3rd Gen, Model – P1850
Serial Number: S42271A
Year of Manufacture: 2006 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 5 1/2”
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 their tops and American Eagle at the bottom. The grips show a couple of light handling marks. These grips rate in about Excellent overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue Barrel, Cylinder and Grip Frame, Case Color Frame
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 99% of its metal finish. The metal shows a few small scratches. There is a faint turn line through the finish on the cylinder. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly. This revolver’s cylinder has a removable bushing. The lockup produces barely perceptible play on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this Revolver. We have cleaned this firearm and performed a mechanic’s check but expect many will want to clean the firearm again depending on their standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a two-piece blue cardboard Colt box with a white cardboard sleeve with serial-matching label, gun lock and an assortment of factory paperwork including manual.
Our Assessment: In 1974, Colt quietly discontinued production of the single Action Army; this would be the second time they discontinued production of this glorious revolver. Luckily, the loyal fans of the SAA would not need to wait long as colt would bring back the SAA in 1976 as the “3rd Generation”. Changes were made but the basic SAA was the same, i.e. three standard barrel lengths of 4 ¾”, 5 ½” and 7 ½”, finishes of full nickel or blue, with color case hardened frame, and grips of hard rubber.
Some changes were incorporated in an effort by Colt to keep prices down. One new change was a pressed-in cylinder pin bushing instead of the removable ones used in 1st and 2nd Generation cylinders. Also, the ratchet at the rear of the cylinders was re-shaped, which also necessitated a different shape on the rotating hand. And for some unknown reason, the pitch of the barrel’s threads was changed from the 20 threads per inch (TPI) as used on 1st and 2nd Generation SAAs to 24 TPI for these new ones. Toward the end of 2nd Generation production Colt had begun using some investment cast parts, but the frames continued to be forged. The introductory caliber for 3rd Generation SAAs was .45 Colt, but .357 Magnum came along by the end of 1976.
Everyone should have a Colt Single Action Army, and this would be a beauty to add to any collection. Manufactured in 2006, this revolver was made after the reintroduction of the removable bushing. Chambered for the classic .45 Colt cartridge, the revolver is in Excellent condition, with little to indicate that it has spent much time outside its included box. This revolver is more than suitable for addition to a collection, but it would also make an attractive revolver for recreational target shooting or could be used in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions. Please see our photos, good luck and happy bidding.
-Robert
