second generation colt single action army

These include famous lawmen such as Wyatt Earp as well as outlaws like Frank and Jesse James. Of course, most of the famous frontier personalities of song and story used the SAA after it was introduced. The latter ordered his famous engraved SAA with nickel finish and ivory grips in 1916 and carried it through WW II. Many unique SAA's have been produced, some for historically significant figures such as General George Patton.

Grade 'C' engraving (75% coverage) is the most popular. Colt offers A, B, C, and D factory engraving patterns. Colt logos, Colt medallions, and the American eagle are found on most SAA grips, but not by any means on all.Įngraved SAA's are fairly common. Grips were smooth, checkered, or carved in various patterns. Exotic woods, metals, ivory, mother of pearl, stag, and probably other materials were also used for SAA grips. Standard grips were walnut or black hard rubber. Gold and silver plated examples were turned out by Colt to special order, and various combinations of nickel, silver, gold, color case, and blue have also been produced. Most common is a combination of blued steel with a color cased frame. 7 1/2 inch barrels are available by special order.Ĭolt SAA revolvers have been produced with a myriad of metal finishes. Current production is supplied with 4 3/4 inch and 5 1/2 inch barrels. Altogether, some 30 different SAA calibers appear in Colt records.īarrel lengths of 4 3/4 inches, 5 1/2 inches and 7 1/2 inches have always been the most popular, but several others have been produced over the years. In the past many other cartridges have been offered. military caliber, and has also been the most popular caliber in civilian versions of the revolver, but many other calibers have been offered over the long lifetime of the SAA.

Collectors often refer to various models as Buntline, Long-Flute, Rimfire, Sheriff's, Storekeeper's, and U.S. Over the years Colt has produced SAA variations under the names Peacemaker, Frontier Six-Shooter, Bisley, Bisley Target, Flattop Target, New Frontier, Buntline, and possibly others. The differences between one generation and another are minor. 1976 saw the introduction of the '3rd Generation' (New Model) SAA's, which are still being made as I write these words in 2006. Production was reinstated in 1956, the beginning of the '2nd Generation' of SAA's. Various Colt SAA models were built from 1873 to 1940. government procured over 37,000 Colt SAA's over the next 19 years. Ordinance Department's test board concluded: 'the Colt revolver superior in most respects, and much better adapted to the wants of the Army than the Smith & Wesson.' The U.S. Army revolvers had 7 1/2 inch barrels, and the inspector's initials (and often date) were stamped into the grips. It became the most popular handgun on the American Frontier and the definitive firearm of the Old West. The Colt Single Action Army (SAA) was introduced in 1873. Colt Single Action Army and Colt Cowboy RevolversĬolt Single Action Army and Cowboy Revolvers

Second generation colt single action army