Colt SAA 5-1/2" .44 Special - 3rd Gen. Found one for sale...

[200Apples]

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Colt SAA 5-1/2" .44 Special - 3rd Gen. I have put a decent deposit on this one, but I have another revolver to bring home first. If it doesn't pan out, my deposit may simply be transferred to another firearm, and my dealer is chock full of great things. No worries, there.

I really want this pistol. I have developed an appreciation for the .44 Special cartridge. I also enjoy .44 Magnum and the .41 Magnum. I have a wheelgun to honor, if you will, Elmer Keith: a 1964 Ruger Super Blackhawk. I have something else to represent, sort of, Bill Jordan: although it should be a double-action S&W, it isn't. It's another Old Model Blackhawk but in .41 Magnum.

What's missing is a piece to represent Skeeter Skelton, and I think this semi-reasonably-priced 1980-made (Serial # SA 315--) Colt would be the ticket. Besides, it is used, and I would like to shoot it... often.

It is priced a few hundred dollars lower than what has sold recently online, but it's price also reflects the fact that it was made at the beginning of a period of decline in manufacturing quality at Colt (I understand today's Colts are again excellent). I won't mind the less-than-perfect grip frame to frame fit, etc, if it shoots to point of aim. Again, this gun, though pricey, would not be a safe queen. I love the .44 Special cartridge. I'd like a gun with a cylinder of appropriate chamber length rather than continue to build carbon in my .44 Mag where it doesn't really belong.

I have become one who greatly admires the Peacemaker and it's clones. A more-beautiful firearm is rarely encountered anymore. I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts, gentlemen.

 

[shootniron]

I would grab it.

I love the 44 special, also,...and the SAA guns...

You will never regret it...and selling it will be no problem at anytime you decide that it needs to go down the road.

 

[CraigC]

Nice, post pics when you get it!

 

[Bama Drifter]

I had the opportunity to get a nickel SAA in .44spl or .357mag. Of course being young, dumb, and ignorant I chose the Magnum... still kicking myself for not getting the rarer, more desirable caliber.

Remember, the .44spl will balance just as well as a.45 due to there being less meat in the barrel. Hope that makes sense. Good luck!

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[bannockburn]

Another big fan of the .44 Special. I bought this Ruger Flattop when they first came out partially in tribute to my favorite sixgun aficionado, Skeeter Skelton.

 

[200Apples]

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bannockburn, I envy you your .44 Special flattop!

Bama, I do know what you mean... and there is a little more meat in the cylinder too.

I can't wait! but I must due to our state's One-in-30 rule. I just started another 10-day wait to bring home a great new S&W R8.

I may be able to snap some pics of the gun when I pick up the R8. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Sounds like you are in ********** people's republic. Sorry!

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[200Apples]

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You have an incredible command of the obvious, my good man.

 

[BobWright]

Delete.

 

[BobWright]

At the risk of a Hi Jack, I'll post my .44 Specials:



I said, sort of, on another forum: "The .44 Magnum is my favorite cartridge until I shoot my .44 Specials, which then become my favorite, until I shoot my .45 Colts when then become my favorite, until I shoot my .44 Magnums which............"

And so it goes.

Bob Wright

 

[Bama Drifter]

No Bob, you never jack anything... I spot 3 Rugers and a pony? Or uberti? ?

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[200Apples]

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Agreed. Please do post your .44 Special SAA or any .44 Special SA.

Bob, I always! enjoy your posts. Thanks for the photograph. I can certainly understand; I do that, too... .44... .41... .44... .45 (ACP)... .357... .38... and so on and so forth.

 

[BobWright]

Bama Drifter:

No Bob, you never jack anything... I spot 3 Rugers and a pony? Or uberti? ?

Actually, two Colt New Frontiers, a Ruger Blackhawk (the one with the screw heads showing) and a Uberti (an Uberti?).


Bob Wright

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Did somebody say 44 Special SAA?

This Bisley Colt originally shipped in 1908. Sometime later it was refinished, converted to 44 Special with a 2nd Gen barrel and cylinder, and given fancy new grips.



P.S. The rechambering is a dead giveaway. The barrel should be marked Bisley Model and caliber.

 

[Jim Watson]

I traded a disappointing European automatic in on a 7.5" .44 Special.
I soon got a .44-40 cylinder fitted so I could shoot the same ammo in rifle and pistol.
I also went to a 4.75" barrel but while the style was up, accuracy was down, so I went back to 7.5".
When SASS went four gun, I added an Eyetalian repro .44 WCF and put on Colt hard rubber grips to make a (nearly) matched pair.

 

[mic214]

I just picked up a Colt NF with a 5-1/2" barrel in .44 special last week. Like you, I am a big fan of Skeeter Skelton and I have been wanting one of these for a long, long time:





I have one other .44 special single action. It is a Lipsey's special stainless Vaquero with a 4-5/8" barrel:

 

[Stony]

" I won't mind the less-than-perfect grip frame to frame fit, etc, if it shoots to point of aim."

Great guns....but I wouldn't get my hopes up about it shooting to point of aim.
I have some SAA's around here myself and sadly it's very seldom you will find one that shoots to POA.

 

[200Apples]

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Thanks, Driftwood, Jim, mic and Stony. I appreciate the input.

mic, those are great photos! Thanks again.

 

[Gordon]

Mic you use rigs after me own heart

 

[mic214]

Thanks!

I haven't had a chance to get it out to the range yet, but I am hoping to put a few rounds through it this weekend. I ordered a No.5 holster from Barranti Leathers for it.

I went through my "Box O' Holsters" and found a couple more holsters that originally are for my 5-1/2" SBH, but they also fit my NF. The first one is a pancake rig from Lobo Gun Leathers:



The second one is a Guide's Choice "Tanker's" rig from Diamond D Leathers:

 

[Rutin2Tin]

Gotta love those SA revolvers, but especially Colt SAA's, also, their New Frontier adjustable sighted versions are better for handloaders.

I have a few of those, plus a New Frontier two cylinder rimfire, and an old model Ruger Vaquero in 44-40, that I wouldn't use to hit a rabbit at 25 yards.
It's one of those built with a .430" sized barrel, and .426" sized cylinder throats.

I bought it new, and decided to simply leave it alone, rather than ship it back and end up with a worse pos, with no value.