RARE 1 of 1000 Colt Single Action Army SAA Texas Ranger Commemorative
SOLD FOR: $3480.56
LSB#: 230607HE020
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation; Texas Ranger Commemorative, 1 of 1,000
Serial Number: 519TR
Year of Manufacture: 1970 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup)
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”, the right is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”, and the left is marked “TEXAS RANGER COMMEMORATIVE” and ““One Riot … One Ranger””. The left of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19. 1871 / JULY 2, 72 JAN. 19, 75” and with a rampant colt logo. The left of the trigger guard is marked “VP” in triangle at the front and “V” at the rear, the right of the trigger guard is marked “E”. The bottom of the frame is marked “519T?R”. The back strap is marked “TEXAS RANGERS”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a rampant colt logo, the front face of the cylinder is marked “519”. The rear face of the frame (under the right grip panel) and the rear face of the loading gate are each marked with assembly number “699”. The inside of each grip panel has “780” hand-written. The left side of the trigger guard and left side of the grip frame, under the panel, are marked “519T?R”. The top of the back strap has a texas star medallion.
Barrel Length: 7 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the front of the barrel. 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 smooth walnut panels. The left grip is equipped with a Texas Ranger badge. The right panel has scattered little storage marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue, Case Colored, & Silver
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, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is some erosion on the cylinder pin release. There is some tarnish on the silver. There are some scattered minor scuffs and swirls. The cylinder has very minor turn-wear, mostly just in the lead-in grooves. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces almost no play on all six chambers. The trigger is crisp. The cylinder’s bushing is separate from the cylinder. 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: This revolver comes in a wooden commemorative display case with a Texas Ranger badge encased in lucite, a cowhide bound book on the history of the Texas Rangers, and paperwork including an offer letter from the Texas Rangers Historical Arms Inc..
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 example was produced in 1970 as part of a limited run of 1,000 produced to commemorate the Texas Rangers. It comes in a wooden display case with a cowhide-bound book on the history of the Texas Rangers, and paperwork including an offer letter from the Texas Rangers Historical Arms Inc. The revolver has a beautiful blue and case-colored finish, a 7 1/2″ barrel and is chambered in the original .45 Colt cartridge. The revolver is in Fine-plus condition, retaining the vast majority of its original finish, a great bore and strong mechanics. Please see our photos and good luck!
