Colt 2nd Generation Single Action Army SAA .45 Blue & Case Colored 7 1/2″ Revolver & Box MFD 1973

SOLD FOR: $2,804.00
LSB#: 181009SH02

Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation

Serial Number: 65036SA

Year of Manufacture: 1973 (https://colt.com/serial-lookup)

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: 6-Shot Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY .45”. The top of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F. A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.”. The left side of the frame is marked “PAT. SEPT. 19, 1871 / JULY 2,72 JAN. 19,75” and with the rampant colt logo. The underside of the frame at the grip frame, the left side of the upper and lower grip frame straps (under the left grip) are marked “65036SA”. The inside rear face of the loading gate is marked with the assembly number “799”, found again on the right rear of the frame. The front face of the cylinder is marked “036. The left front of the trigger guard is marked with a “VP” in a triangle and at the rear with “P”, the right is marked “W” or “M”. The rear face of the cylinder is marked with a Rampant Colt logo. The inside of each grip panel is hand-scribed “036”.

Barrel Length: 7 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-circle blade. The rear sight is a square groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard-rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top of each panel and an American Eagle with “E PLURIBUS UNUM” banner above. The left panel has a light mark on its bottom edge and the right panel has a peppering of very light marks on its bottom face. Otherwise, there is no notable wear or damage to the grips. The checkering is sharp. The rampant colts and Eagles with shield are highly defined. The grips are well fit to the frame. The grips are in about Fine-Excellent overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Colored

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 97% of its metal finish. The barrel has a few light marks with the most notable on the bottom next to the ejector rod housing. The frame has only light handling marks in its case-color while the loading gate has a single light mark on its outside face. The grip frame has a couple of light marks on the backstrap and the edges of the trigger guard and light handling marks. The cylinder has a few scattered light marks and a very thin, very light and very straight line of wear which goes around the outside at the rear edge of the stop notches, but there is no turn-line. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver rates in about Fine-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder lockup is very tight with only barely perceptible play. The trigger pull is crisp. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in a two-piece cardboard Colt box with an assortment of factory paperwork including manual. The bottom half of the box has some scattered light scuffing and discoloration on the bottom face with light wear at edges and corners. The two-piece tray in the box has light wear from the revolver. The lide has wear at edges and corners with tears at some edges and corners. Overall, the box is in about Good condition.

Our Assessment: Production of Single Action Army revolvers was halted at the outset of World War II to free up machines and manpower for filling wartime orders. After the war, Colt decided not to bring the iconic revolver back into production as it was seen as obsolete. The advent of swing-out cylinder revovlers and reliable semi-automatic pistols, they thought, meant that there was no place in the market for the antiquated single action revolver. 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 is a Fine-plus example from 1973. It is chambered in the classic .45 Colt cartridge and has the classic 7 1/2″ barrel. It looks great and would make a prized addition to any Colt collection or to the collection of fans of classic western firearms or television. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This single action revolver CAN be transferred as a dealer sale in California and CAN be sold as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) at our Simi Valley shop. All cartridge firing handguns (even C&R’s) sold to a California resident must be DROS’d. This does not apply to out of state residents.