What Colt SAA .45 do I have?

[billypflowers]

Can anyone tell me what Colt Single Action Army .45 do I have (generation). The serial number is SA19128. I have attached a few pictures. My Dad left me this, and quite a few other guns. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I am getting up in age as well and would like to tell my kids what I have.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

You have a Third Generation Colt made sometime between 1978 and 1993. I can't be much more specific than that. 3rd Gen Colts started in 1976 with 80,000SA the SA Suffix was a continuation of the 2nd Gen serial numbers. After 99,999SA was reached in 1978 Colt changed to a SA prefix, starting with SA01001 in 1978 up to SA99,999 in 1993. Then Colt split the S and the A with S02001A. My books only show up until S26,699A in 1999.

If it were a 1st Gen I could get specific about which year it was made, but that is the best information I have for 3rd Gens.

By the way, those grips do not fit very well. The metal of the grip frame should not be exposed like that, the grips should be completely flush with the metal. I suspect those are not the original grips. Original grips were sanded down while mounted on the grip frame, and the fit would be perfect.

Just found another source that says 1979.

 

[billypflowers]

Driftwood, thank you so much. I have had the Colt for a few years now and you have offered the best info I have found. Do you have any ballpark of what the value would be?

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Nope. But I'll give you $100 for it.

Seriously, without examining a gun personally, I don't go out on a limb to value it.

 

[CraigC]

The SA prefix denotes an early 3rd generation. Looks like it would be 1979 manufacture.

The grips were probably fitted to another gun. They represent sort of a conundrum. They're not going to add a lot to the value due to the fitment and ivory can't be sold across state lines unless it's attached to a gun. So your best hope would be to sell it to someone who'd want to find another gun to put them on. This wasn't a particularly good time for the Colt SAA so they don't command the premium the more recent guns do. There's a drag line on the cylinder, probably due to improper handling and something funky going on with the nickel on the left side of the barrel and ejector button. Because of that we can't call it "new", whether it's been fired or not. So I'm going to go out on a limb and say $1200-$1400 unless you find a buyer that wants to take a chance on those grips. If it was NIB with factory ivories, it'd easily be $2500. I'd suggest posting this on ColtForum to get a better assessment.

 

[billypflowers]

Thank you Craig

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Beautiful Colt and a great father for passing it down.

 

[expat_alaska]

There's a drag line on the cylinder, probably due to improper handling

IMO, that is not much of a drag line and I agree someone mishandled it. A drag line runs the full circumference of the cylinder and is due to bad bolt fitting height-wise. If the approaches to the bolt stop slots show any wear before the approach it is because the bolt drops early, a timing issue. If the bolt drops late, the opposite side of the bolt stop slot will show wear, also a timing/bolt width issue.

By the way, those grips do not fit very well. The metal of the grip frame should not be exposed like that, the grips should be completely flush with the metal. I suspect those are not the original grips. Original grips were sanded down while mounted on the grip frame, and the fit would be perfect.

^^^^^^+!

If the grips were cut/shaped from green/unseasoned wood (as happened with Confederate copies of the 1851 Navy in the ACW, like the Griswold and Gunnison) that would be understandable. Ivory does not shrink.

I don't have a lot of experience with SAA's but the internals are basically the same as Colt percussion revolvers, and I am a 1851 Navy aficionado.

Jim

 

[CraigC]

No, the drag line it has is from lowering the hammer from half cock. An early rising bolt wouldn't start at the trailing edges of the bolt notch and would be much more broad and distinct.

Ivory does shrink with age but it takes a lot longer.

 

[1KPerDay]

I have some ivory grips from the mid 19th century and they have definitely shrunk. /hijack

 

[Armybrat]

My SAA is serial number SA15XXX - made in 1979 according to the list on the Colt Forum:

 

[billypflowers]

Beautiful Colt and a great father for passing it down.

Thank you Preacher