New Colt SAA

[golfish]

Hey fellas, I'm thinking about getting a new Colt SAA this year. Are the new guns good or should I look for an older used gun? I'd really like to keep the price under 2k

https://www.colt.com/detail-page/sa-army-55-45lc

Any advice is welcomed. Gen 2 vs Gen 3 ?

Thank you

[oddball]

I bought my 3rd Gen SAA new four years ago before Colt was sold to CZ. It is a marvelous revolver, really a work of art. Joe Perkins, who operates Classic Single Action, claims the 3rd Gen Colts are the best. And he has worked on single action revolvers for years, hundreds per year https://classicsingleaction.com/opinion/ I bought a Cimarron Frontier in .357 Mag from him and paid extra for his trigger job, a fun SAA replica with 4 clicks.

It would be interesting to know if CZ kept the guys who hand mad and fitted the SAA. At the time when I purchased mine, 3rd Gens were extremely difficult to find in gun stores, I lucked into my find. Good luck.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Yes get one. I have a Gen 1, 2 and two Gen 3’s. You will love your Gen 3.

I also have a BNIB (never fired) USFA SAA Colt Gen 1 clone, made in the famous “Blue Dome” of the old Colt factory in Hartford. It’s where USFA made them under 1st Gen Colt “blue prints” and for a very short time. I ordered one with the “convertible .45ACP and .45Colt cylinders too. John Taffin in his book “single action six guns,” says that in his opinion of collecting them all, the USFA is the best of them all, better than the 1st Gen Colts!

[golfish]

Thanks for the advice, gentlemen.

I was also looking at the Standard Manufacturer gun but I figured I should go for the real deal..

I sure missed the boat on those USFA guns. I’ve read they were the best SAA ever made.

[Tim padilla]

USFA are around on the second hand market but they will usually sell for more than your budget allows unfortunately.I’m just getting back into SAA again ,owned 6 over my life now 3 ,should have never sold any. I’m working on purchasing 4 more at the time. I have never been disappointed with any single actions made by Colt in any gen .If you love them like me buy them when you see them under 2k .If you have the means and you see a variation that you have never seen before and you like it don’t be afraid to step up even scarce options on Gen3 guns sell for thousands over a basic model . Not a gun for everyone especially this generation but if your a non-millennial that has a passion for old world sixgun iron you know .

[Tim padilla]

John Taffin is one of my heroes

[IVC]

I'll go a bit against the grain here - the Colt of today has nothing to do with the Colt of the yesteryears... It's just a marketing gimmick to keep the price of the gun about 3x what it should be. A Colt of today is as much a replica as any other SAA.

At least I hope they are still "four clicks," something that I would consider before looking at any SAA-style gun.

[golfish]

I'll go a bit against the grain here - the Colt of today has nothing to do with the Colt of the yesteryears... It's just a marketing gimmick to keep the price of the gun about 3x what it should be. A Colt of today is as much a replica as any other SAA.

At least I hope they are still "four clicks," something that I would consider before looking at any SAA-style gun.

So what years are "yesteryears" ? So the Gen 2 and Gen 3 are just "marketing gimmicks?

I'm not sure what your getting at?

I have a Taylor's & Co Smokewagon in .357. It's a nice gun but it doesn't compare to the Gen 3 Colt SAA that I have held.

[IVC]

I'm not sure what your getting at?

I'm getting at the name "Colt" being the only connection between the original SAA guns and the modern day replicas. A modern-day "Colt SAA" is no more authentic than any other SAA clone.

No different than AR or 1911.

In fact, Colt restructured a few times (or in few steps) at the beginning of this century, with the new company keeping the name and the patents. That's about it.

[dfletcher]

Hey fellas, I'm thinking about getting a new Colt SAA this year. Are the new guns good or should I look for an older used gun? I'd really like to keep the price under 2k

https://www.colt.com/detail-page/sa-army-55-45lc

Any advice is welcomed. Gen 2 vs Gen 3 ?

Thank you

I have a 1970's made 2nd Gen in 357 and a 3rd Gen in 44 Special. I had a Custom Shop in 45 Colt but quickly sold it. Beautiful looking gun with high polish but the bluing seemed very shallow and easily scratched rather than old fashioned wear.

I have lots of Uberti made SA revolvers. They are very well made and a great value. They're a tad larger in the frame and topstrap than the Colts, although the old AWA came very close and Beretta put a terrific version.

Colt quality has been a roller coaster and some of the exterior styling, finish of the SAA has changed. That Colt has challenges making the darn "ears" transition from frame to grip topstrap mystifies me still. And the trigger, cylinder bolt and hammer screwheads properly rounded and fitted .... not always.

I think I'd go with a 2nd Gen, I like the finish and that they are C&R eligible means "no wait" for me and the ability to buy across state lines.

Every SA thread deserves a few photos, yes?

[highpower]

All prejudges' aside, there is always going to be a premium attached to the Colt name.

I have had a few replica Colts and have sold them all except for one which I use as a kind of knock around gun. I also have a 1961 vintage second gen Colt in .45C and a third gen in .44-40. In both fit and finish both are superior to the Italian replicas I have owned.

[TrailerparkTrash]

All prejudges' aside, there is always going to be a premium attached to the Colt name.

I’ll take a genuine Colt 3rd Gen over a Uberti, Cimmaron Arms, Taylor & Co, Standard or Ruger Vaquero any day. (Albeit, Standard is the best clone that’s currently made).

It’s hard to beat a genuine Colt these days with what’s currently available and brand new. People say get the clone brand “X” because it’s a “shooter.” Well no kidding, but what on earth does one think that a Colt 3rd Gen is? They?re ALL shooters!

I’d rather shoot a Colt, and so would you!

[golfish]

I?ll take a genuine Colt 3rd Gen over a Uberti, Cimmaron Arms, Taylor & Co, Standard or Ruger Vaquero any day. (Albeit, Standard is the best clone that?s currently made).

It?s hard to beat a genuine Colt these days with what?s currently available and brand new. People say get the clone brand ?X? because it?s a ?shooter.? Well no kidding, but what on earth does one think that a Colt 3rd Gen is? They?re ALL shooters!

I?d rather shoot a Colt, and so would you!

I couldn't agree more.

I ordered a Colt (OOS everywhere) if I can't get one by June I'll get a Standard....

[Tim padilla]

I basically live in PPT land , what does a SAA Colt direct with no options sell for from a dealer in 2024? What did ?they? tell you about lead time..just curious

[sierra11b]

Interesting this thread popped up as I was about to inquire.

I owned a USFA with commissioned (myself) carved nutmeg ivories (nutmeg did colt ivory grips).. I sold for a fair price and the SA collector had it fully engraved and featured in a magazine article. I had the photos in an old photo bucket account I can no longer access. It was a superb piece, and I put about 300rds down range with her.

3rd gen was all accounts a great, and 2nd generation had its hiccups during some years as I recall during my research, but was intermittent, and otherwise great guns. You'll need to research what years weren't the best on color case hardening colors, fitment.

I have one suggestion and one question...

First the suggestion... Finding a 3rd gen (plenty on gun broker) and finding a FFL to do the transfer... Also, a seller willing to deal with a CA FFL. They exist and you may need to massage their ego with the fact it's a SA. A lot of dealer cut and paste their sales bodies to save time, and may not know exceptions. Some will tell you to pound sand but others won't.

Now the question... Not sure CZ/Colt's capacity and inventory on the the SAA, or if it's even something they're making currently, but am very interested. If they're still producing I don't see why it would be a problem considering 1) USFA did it better than Colt, and 2) My new CZ python and anaconda have been wonderful. If they're still producing then a pony is a pony.