Hammer spurs are correct as well as most backstrap ears to hammer base fit. Case colors really improve as well as fitting.
#COLT SAA SERIAL NUMBERS 1ST GENERATION SERIAL NUMBER#
Once the SA in the serial number splits SXXXXXA in 1993, they continue to get better thru 1999.Īt #S26XXXA in 1999 the authentic removable base pin cyl bushing like 1st and 2nd gen guns is re-introduced and cyl end shake is all but eliminated. The lousy backstrap 'ears' to hammer base fitting is still fairly common as are flattened hammer spurs. Now having said all that, I have found an occasional decent gun in that period.Īfter that period things start to improve with typically only one of those problems per gun but sometimes more, and sometimes none. Starting about 1980 # SA3XXXX range thru about 1989 #SA94XXX, inspect very closely for:Ĭyl end shake (fore and aft play), flattened hammer spurs, off center firing pins in the hammer, bad backstrap to hammer base flush fitting, crooked front sights, sloppy actions with more than four clicks, crooked rolled stampings on frame and barrel (sometimes patent dates are missing altogether), lousy case coloring, poor grip strap to frame fit, over polished edges or edges so sharp you could cut yourself, etc., etc. I'll try to put a bracket on it: The very early 3rds with an SA suffix are fine and compare well to late 2nd gens in quality if not features like the trigger guard bevel, cyl base pin bushimg, et.el. The SA46XXX to SA05XXX range 1981-86, is about the peak of the worst period. Here's my personal in-depth evaluation and opinions of 3rd gens: That's the problem when generalizing about anything good or bad. Is there a serial# range that specifies the 2nd gen gun using 1st gen parts? And as with any gun, certain configurations like the short barrel 45s, will always command higher market demand and therefore prices.
The earliest are the most desirable and are virtually like late 1st gen guns with updated screw threads except the barrel, even using some pre war parts, and command the highest prices, the mid next, etc. They are divided into 3 age groups early, mid and late. Hondo44 wrote:Second gen Colt SAAs are not all the same. And even though current 3rd gens are now decent guns befitting the Colt name, Colt's financial situation is so poor that their production is limited. When there was a roughly 25 year period after 2nd gen production ceased when no decent Colt SAAs were available, a similar price escalation began with the 2nd gens. Just like after the war when there were no 1st gens being made any more, the prices skyrocketed and they keep going up. Only much more recently c.2000 have 3rd gen guns regained that feature and only more recently have 3rd gens approached the quality of fit and finish of 2nd gens. And as with any gun, certain configurations like the short barrel 45s, will always command higher market demand and therefore prices.Īll 2nd gen guns have 1st gen type separate cyl base pin bushings.
Second gen Colt SAAs are not all the same.
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