Colt Buntline Special Single Action Army SAA 12″ .45 Revolver 1958 C&R

More Sold Colts

SOLD FOR: $1,692.00

WOA#: WY240415EH029

Make: Colt

Model: Second Generation Buntline Special

Serial Number: 18571SA

Year of Manufacture: 1958 (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 900”. 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 “18571SA”. The left side of each portion of the grip frame is marked “18571SA” 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 “788”, found again on the right-rear of the frame and the rear face of the loading gate. The inside of each grip panel has “18571” hand-written in white.

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 smooth walnut panels. The grips have a few scattered minor marks and some spots of dark discoloration. The right panel has a tiny loss at the rear edge. There are no cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine 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 at the muzzle-end. 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 a small nick on the bottom of the barrel about mid-way between the frame and the ejector tab. There are a few other scattered tiny marks. The action shows minor operational wear, mostly in the cylinder lead-in grooves. The screw heads are sharp. 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: None.

Our Assessment: Everyone should have a Colt Single Action Army, and this would be a nice one to add to any collection. Manufactured in 1958, 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, so it would be worthwhile for the winning bidder to contact Colt Archives for a letter to confirm this one’s authenticity.

This is going to be popular with collectors, a 2nd Generation Buntline Special in this high condition doesn’t come around every day. Please see our photos and good luck!

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