Colt Single Action Army 3rd Generation .45 Colt 7½” Blue Revolver 1977 Box
SOLD FOR: $1,933.99
LSB#: LSB250731EK104
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army (3rd Generation)
Serial Number: 90055SA
Year of Manufacture: 1977 (First Year of 3rd Generation Production)
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver
Markings:
The top of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The left side of the frame is marked with the three-line patent dates “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871. / JULY. 2. 72. JAN. 19. 75.” followed by the Rampant Colt logo. The left front trigger guard bow has the verified proof “VP” in a triangle, and the right bow is marked “P”. The serial number “90055SA” is found on the frame, trigger guard, and backstrap.
Barrel Length: 7½ Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a square-notch integral to the top strap.
Grip Configuration & Condition: The grips are factory walnut with a natural oil finish. There is a small chip at the butt on the left panel, otherwise the grips are smooth, properly fitted, and display excellent grain and finish.
Finish: Factory Colt Blue
Finish Condition: The revolver retains approximately 99% of its original Colt blue finish, showing only minimal handling marks from storage. There is no visible turn line on the cylinder, and no evidence of firing or heat staining at the forcing cone.
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 remains in near-new condition with 99% of the factory finish retained. All markings are crisp, and the screw heads remain sharp. The revolver shows only the slightest evidence of handling since leaving the factory in 1977.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly with precise lockup and smooth operation. 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 woodgrain box with matching gold end label, the original Styrofoam insert, factory service station card, and Colt warranty documentation.
Our Assessment:
This Colt Single Action Army .45, serial number 90055SA, is part of the earliest production run of 3rd Generation Peacemakers—manufactured in 1977 following Colt’s reintroduction of the SAA after a short production hiatus. As documented by Don Wilkerson in “Colt Single Action Army Revolvers: Pre-War, Post-War & 2nd Generation”, serial numbers beginning around the 80,000SA range mark the transition from 2nd to 3rd Generation manufacture. Early examples like this retained the earlier-style barrel and frame markings associated with late 2nd Generation guns, making them highly desirable to collectors seeking that crossover lineage.
The .45 Colt cartridge—originally developed for the 1873 Peacemaker—was one of the defining cartridges of the American frontier and remains synonymous with Colt’s legacy. This revolver embodies that tradition with its classic 7½-inch barrel, factory walnut grips, and deep Colt blue finish. The gun remains unfired in its original box with matching paperwork, a condition seldom encountered today. For collectors of Peacemakers and transitional Colts, this revolver represents an exceptional example bridging the end of the old era and the beginning of Colt’s modern Peacemaker revival.
KF
