Colt Single Action Army 2nd Generation SAA 5 1/2″ .45 Revolver, 1957 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,895.00
LSB#: WY250125LL002
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 12301SA
Year of Manufacture: 1957 (https://www.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 front of the barrel; a notch has been cut in the rear face of the sight. 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 panels with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel. The inside of each panel has “188” hand-scribed, twice each. The grips have some light nicks and scuffs. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Very Good-plus condition as not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the cylinder is not original to the gun (fixed bushing).
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are some spots of minor erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7 or 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 75% of its metal finish. There are impact marks on the face of the muzzle. The finish is thinning at all edges. The most notable finish wear is along the left of the barrel, the ejector housing, and on the backstrap. The frame’s case color shows some muting. There is some minor oxidation, most notable in the worn area on the ejector housing. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The cylinder has light turn-wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Very Good condition as not parts original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The timing is good with barely perceptible play in lockup. The trigger is crisp. The cylinders bushing is fixed. 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 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 is a 1957 made revolver chambered for .45 Colt with a 5 1/2? barrel. It has had the cylinder and grips replaced, but otherwise retains serial/assembly numbered matching parts. This revolver is in good mechanical condition and has a strong bore, so it should make for a fun shooter. This would make a neat addition to a Colt collection as one of the earliest of the second generation SAA revolvers, and is a great six-shooter chambered in a classic old-west cartridge. Please see our photos and good luck!
Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud
