Colt Saa 2nd Generation Serial Numbers
Exclusive Web Extra: The Second Generation Colt SAA. However, instead of taking up where serial numbers left off 15 years before they started again plus added an SA suffix. A 2nd Generation.45 or a.357 Magnum, both with 4 ¾” barrels. Colt SAA Single Action Army. 2nd Generation. Case Colored. Excellent AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT OUR ON-LINE STORE The Colt Single Action Army, also known as the Sin.Click for more info.
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There is a lot of interest in the Colt SAA myself included. I'm wondering if those who have & use the 3rd gen. Colts think they are a good gun & if you use them more than occasionaly?
I'd like hearing about your experiences. I'll start off, I use one regularly & really like it. I've taken a lot of small game with it & carry it a lot when in the hills. The fit & finish, lockup, & looks are great. Probably as important as anything the gun hits where it looks.
Others opinions? I've got a pair of early model 3rd gen.
Got them in 98-99 for shooting in SASS. They had issues,, so went back to my Rugers. Finally got the issues cleared up and shot them mostly, 3-4 times a month. Almost retired my Rugers In '09 I started shooting B/P, so I had to get new guns. Everyone knows once you shoot smokeless in a gun,, you can't shoot B/P in them,,,,, it'll mess them up.
Soooo you have to buy 'new' guns. 'That's my story and I'm sticking to it' I got a pair of late 3rd gen. Colts in 38-40. I took them apart, cleaned and lubed them for B/P. I only shoot 1 maybe 2 times a month now, but they just soldier on.
Got a pair of 32-20's in '10 so's I could round out the set, once in a while with them. I've got a 45 Colt but it's 2nd gen.
So, that's almost 10 yrs with the 44-40's,,, 5 yrs with my 38-40's and no problems. 'I LOVE MY COLTS' Isom Dart Logged. I'm often asked about 3rd gen quality. My experience and thoughts with 3rd gen Colts: Most Colt SAs do not have an accuracy problem, it's just that the point of impact is not always at the point of aim. That can be adjusted however.
Here's a general guide to the 3rd gen Colts which have the greatest quality variances compared to the 1st and 2nd gen single actions. The SA46XXX to SA05XXX range 1981-86, is about the peak of the worst period. I'll try to put a bracket on it: The very early 3rds with an SA suffix are fine and compare well to late 2nd gens in quality if not features like the trigger guard bevel, cyl base pin bushing, et.al. Starting about 1980 # SA3XXXX range thru about 1989 #SA94XXX, inspect very closely for: Cyl end shake (fore and aft play), flattened hammer spurs, off center firing pins in the hammer, bad backstrap to hammer base flush fitting, crooked front sights, sloppy actions with more than four clicks, crooked rolled stampings on frame and barrel (sometimes patent dates are missing altogether), lousy case coloring, poor grip strap to frame fit, over polished edges or edges so sharp you could cut yourself, etc., etc. The labor strike was in 1986. Now having said all that, I have found an occasional decent gun in that period. After that period things start to improve with typically only one of those problems per gun but sometimes more, and sometimes none.