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**IVC** · 03-24-2021, 1:27 PM

Nice! I assume it has the proper four clicks and the hammer-mounted firing pin?

**Tarmy** · 03-24-2021, 1:30 PM

**highpower** · 03-24-2021, 1:53 PM

Originally posted by IVC

Nice! I assume it has the proper four clicks and the hammer-mounted firing pin?

Yes indeed. As far as I know all Colts still use the same lockwork as they did when first produced.

**Milsurp Collector** · 03-24-2021, 2:17 PM

Originally posted by highpower

What I got was a 3rd gen Colt SAA 125th Anniversary model in .45 Colt.

The main downside for me is that it has a 7 1/2 inch barrel which is a bit longer than I like.

Well, it's an anniversary model commemorating the original version and 7 1/2 inches was the barrel length of the original version issued to the US Cavalry, so I would keep it like that and get another SAA-type with a shorter barrel if that's what you would prefer.

To see an original, here is "The Finest Known Documented 1880 Production Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Revolver" that sold at auction for $161,000:

Colt Single Action Revolver 45 Long Colt

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/55/1258/colt-single-action-revolver-45-long-colt

The Finest Known Documented 1880 Production Colt Cavalry Model Single Action RevolverThis is an example of a totally original Colt U.S. Army contract Cavalry Model Single Action revolver manufactured in 1880 and inspected by Ordnance Department Inspector Lieutenant David A. Lyle and Sub-Inspector David F. Clark. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that identifies this revolver as one of 150 Colt Single Action Army revolvers delivered to the U.S. government inspector at Colt on April 21, 1880. A Letter of Authentication from Colt Single Action expert John A. Kopec contains a detailed evaluation of the revolver. The Letter of Authentication states "the subject revolver is 100% authentic in every respect. There is no evidence that this revolver has ever been fired". The Kopec letter describes the finish of the revolver as "remarkable to behold" and states that "The color casehardening is "as new." and "The blue finish on this revolver can easily be described as being 99%+". The revolver has the low luster, Colt "Military Blue" finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. Feathered polishing marks are present on the barrel on either side of the front sight blade and above the ejector housing screw. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened with vivid case colors. The screws and trigger have a fiery, niter blue finish. The one-piece grip is oil-finished black walnut. The revolver has the early style bullseye ejector rod head and cavalry style hammer with elongated bordered knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the address "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A". The address is the same style used on Henry Nettleton-inspected Cavalry Model revolvers and has two lines under the "o" in "Co", a broken serif in the "T" in "PT", a broken "M" in "MFG" and a broken "A" in "HARTFORD". The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proof mark and the Ordnance Sub-Inspector initials "D.F.C.". The left side of the frame is stamped with the Colt three-date/three-line patent markings and the "U.S." property mark. The "U.S." mark has square periods and raised areas around the letters where it was stamped into the casehardened frame. "D.F.C." is stamped on the bottom of the frame above the serial number. The assembly or batch number "3198" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. A "P" proof mark and "D.F.C." Sub-Inspection mark are stamped on the cylinder behind the flutes. The full serial number, "55104" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "5104" is stamped on the cylinder. The revolver was not disassembled to examine the partial serial number stamped on the barrel underneath the ejector housing. All of the visible serial numbers match. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date of inspection "1880" above the final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "DAL" with an oval border. The right side of the grip is stamped with the Ordnance Sub-Inspector's mark which consists of the script initials "DFC" enclosed in a rectangle with rounded ends. The small "D.F.C." Sub-Inspector's mark is stamped on the left grip heel. The Kopec letter states that this revolver was a new listing in his survey of Colt Single Action revolvers and that the closest identified Cavalry Model Single Action in this serial number range is serial number 55923 which was identified as belonging to Company F, 6th Cavalry regiment on August 3, 1888. The Kopec letter states that this revolver probably was unissued and remained in arsenal storage until it was sold to a private individual in the 1920s.

.

**SnWnMe** · 03-24-2021, 2:23 PM

That's a nice pistol.

**highpower** · 03-24-2021, 3:01 PM

Originally posted by Milsurp Collector

Well, it's an anniversary model commemorating the original version and 7 1/2 inches was the barrel length of the original version issued to the US Cavalry, so I would keep it like that and get another SAA-type with a shorter barrel if that's what you would prefer.

To see an original, here is "The Finest Known Documented 1880 Production Colt Cavalry Model Single Action Revolver" that sold at auction for $161,000:

Colt Single Action Revolver 45 Long Colt

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/55/1258/colt-single-action-revolver-45-long-colt

The Finest Known Documented 1880 Production Colt Cavalry Model Single Action RevolverThis is an example of a totally original Colt U.S. Army contract Cavalry Model Single Action revolver manufactured in 1880 and inspected by Ordnance Department Inspector Lieutenant David A. Lyle and Sub-Inspector David F. Clark. The revolver is accompanied by a Colt factory letter that identifies this revolver as one of 150 Colt Single Action Army revolvers delivered to the U.S. government inspector at Colt on April 21, 1880. A Letter of Authentication from Colt Single Action expert John A. Kopec contains a detailed evaluation of the revolver. The Letter of Authentication states "the subject revolver is 100% authentic in every respect. There is no evidence that this revolver has ever been fired". The Kopec letter describes the finish of the revolver as "remarkable to behold" and states that "The color casehardening is "as new." and "The blue finish on this revolver can easily be described as being 99%+". The revolver has the low luster, Colt "Military Blue" finish on the barrel, ejector housing, cylinder, trigger guard and back strap. Feathered polishing marks are present on the barrel on either side of the front sight blade and above the ejector housing screw. The frame, hammer and loading gate are color casehardened with vivid case colors. The screws and trigger have a fiery, niter blue finish. The one-piece grip is oil-finished black walnut. The revolver has the early style bullseye ejector rod head and cavalry style hammer with elongated bordered knurling on the spur. The top of the barrel is roll-stamped with the address "COLT'S PT. F. A. MFG. Co. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A". The address is the same style used on Henry Nettleton-inspected Cavalry Model revolvers and has two lines under the "o" in "Co", a broken serif in the "T" in "PT", a broken "M" in "MFG" and a broken "A" in "HARTFORD". The underside of the barrel is stamped with a "P" proof mark and the Ordnance Sub-Inspector initials "D.F.C.". The left side of the frame is stamped with the Colt three-date/three-line patent markings and the "U.S." property mark. The "U.S." mark has square periods and raised areas around the letters where it was stamped into the casehardened frame. "D.F.C." is stamped on the bottom of the frame above the serial number. The assembly or batch number "3198" is stamped on the inside of the loading gate. A "P" proof mark and "D.F.C." Sub-Inspection mark are stamped on the cylinder behind the flutes. The full serial number, "55104" is stamped on the bottom of the frame, trigger guard and back strap. The partial serial number, "5104" is stamped on the cylinder. The revolver was not disassembled to examine the partial serial number stamped on the barrel underneath the ejector housing. All of the visible serial numbers match. The left side of the grip is stamped with the date of inspection "1880" above the final inspection mark which consists of the script initials "DAL" with an oval border. The right side of the grip is stamped with the Ordnance Sub-Inspector's mark which consists of the script initials "DFC" enclosed in a rectangle with rounded ends. The small "D.F.C." Sub-Inspector's mark is stamped on the left grip heel. The Kopec letter states that this revolver was a new listing in his survey of Colt Single Action revolvers and that the closest identified Cavalry Model Single Action in this serial number range is serial number 55923 which was identified as belonging to Company F, 6th Cavalry regiment on August 3, 1888. The Kopec letter states that this revolver probably was unissued and remained in arsenal storage until it was sold to a private individual in the 1920s.

.

Had Colt kept the look of this gun the same as that of an original US issue 1873 SAA I would 100% leave it alone. According to the Blue Book of Gun Values, Colt only made a 1000 of these and I haven't been able to find any comparable sales to base a value on compared to a standard blued/case colored SAA. As a rule of thumb commemoratives in general seem to have value only as shooters, kind of like Winchester model 94 commemoratives.

While I am not going to do anything about the gold plated parts, I have already located a genuine 3rd gen 5 1/2 inch barrel and will have it installed sometime down the road. I am, of course, going to keep the original barrel in case I want to put it back on. I am also going to replace the grips with something else and save them along with the barrel.

**slamfire1** · 03-24-2021, 3:14 PM

Check your cylinder mouth sizes. I have never owned a Colt SAA but recently I have read that Colt has been producing the things for decades with chamber mouths that are 0.458".

I learned about chamber mouth size, and its importance for accuracy. I purchased a nice S&W M25-5 and used 0.452" 250-255 lead commercial cast bullets. The pistol was very inaccurate and shot large, like four to five inch groups at 25 yards, and the barrel leaded. This was very puzzling until I measured the chamber mouths with a dial caliper, and the chamber mouths were about 0.456" (Later, according to S&W they reamed them 0.455").

That was the problem a 0.452" bullet and 0.455" chamber mouths. I traded the pistol off, and have regretted it, as I was able to acquire 0.454" commercial cast. Those shoot "well" in my 45 LC Colt New Service revolvers which do have 0.456" chamber mouths, and they don't lead in those revolvers, but the 0.452" cast bullets do.

According to S&W, they changed over from 0.455" chamber mouths to 0.452 with the M25-7, which was a 1989 production pistol. I have one:

From what I have read, if your chamber mouths are 0.458" than all you can do is fire factory hollow base bullets, or load your own with those bullets. Apparently the hollow base bullets swell and are able to compensate for the big difference in cylinder chamber mouth size, and barrel diameter. Which, as I understand, is 0.452".

I am curious to know what the chamber mouth sizes are on your revolver and would appreciate if you posted measurements.

**highpower** · 03-24-2021, 4:08 PM

These measure .455 to .4551, so you are right about them being a trifle oversize. Looks like larger bullets or hollow base slugs are in my future.

**slamfire1** · 03-24-2021, 4:46 PM

Originally posted by highpower

These measure .455 to .4551, so you are right about them being a trifle oversize. Looks like larger bullets or hollow base slugs are in my future.

Go find some 454 commercial cast and try those first. They should shoot well enough that bothering with dead soft hollow base bullets is un necessary.

Lucky you that the chamber mouths are not 0.458". First time I saw that in print I thought it was a typo. But another article confirmed, it was not.

**M1NM** · 03-24-2021, 4:59 PM

Don't change the barrel. Start shopping for a 5.5 then either keep both or sell the 7.5.

**highpower** · 03-24-2021, 5:49 PM

I am kind of starting to waffle a bit on changing this gun. In doing some further research, I have learned that this run of commemoratives was done in 1961, making this a second generation SAA, not a third like I originally thought it was.

Hmmm, now I've got to ponder a bit......

**Enzo rules** · 03-24-2021, 6:15 PM

Keep it as is. This is a very nice pick up.

**Sputnik** · 03-24-2021, 6:32 PM

You could just get an Uberti or the like and not worry about wear and tear or changing things up.

**highpower** · 03-24-2021, 6:53 PM

Originally posted by Sputnik

You could just get an Uberti or the like and not worry about wear and tear or changing things up.

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