Used SAA prices?

Colorado Kev · November 08, 2011, 03:47:59 PM

I am in the market for a used USFA SAA in .44 Special, 4 3/4" barrel, in dome blue w/ CCH frame and the hammer sides in the white. It's been a while since I've bought any USFA guns. Anyone here have a sense of what such a revolver sells for in excellent condition w/ box these days? I know all the "what a buyer will pay/what a seller will sell for" micro-economics stuff, but I'm looking for hard info on what people have seen in the market. Thanks!
Kevin

Deadeye Don · November 09, 2011, 05:57:39 AM

Sounds like you are describing a new USFA. For the minor price difference (assuming you can even find what you are looking for used), I would think that buying new would be the way to go in this case. Good luck.

Colorado Kev · November 09, 2011, 07:28:12 AM

The reason I asked is that I found one just like that for $725, which seems like a price that I can't lose on.

mtone · November 09, 2011, 10:11:40 AM

I'd also like to know the approximate date on manufacture. IMO, early USFA guns when they were in the old Colt building should command less than guns produced afterwards in the new building with their CNC machinery.

Colorado Kev · November 09, 2011, 10:43:51 AM

what's the serial number cutoff for the move to the new plant?

Old Doc · November 09, 2011, 02:01:43 PM

Quote from: Deadeye Don on November 09, 2011, 05:57:39 AM
Sounds like you are describing a new USFA. For the minor price difference (assuming you can even find what you are looking for used), I would think that buying new would be the way to go in this case. Good luck.

If it is a USFA gun then it is a very good price. If it is an older US Patent Firearms model (based on a Uberti ), then I would think the price is rather high. The barrel markings should tell you which is which.

Colorado Kev · November 09, 2011, 02:29:09 PM

It is a true USFA revolver.

mtone · November 09, 2011, 03:07:53 PM

If the barrel address is USPFA it's made from Uberti parts. However, there are many early USFA guns out there with the "normal" USFA barrel address that have Italian parts. The USPFA was dropped before the changeover to all US manufacture. It's best to call them (or email) and ask.

argolfer · November 09, 2011, 05:06:08 PM

That sounds like a very good deal. I just picked one up for $650, but that was from a very good friend

Capt. John Fitzgerald · November 10, 2011, 02:07:40 AM

While not entirely foolproof, a fairly accurate way to separate the old from the new is to look at the firing pin. After the transition was made to all US manufacture, USFA started using the conical firing pin on all standard models. Prior to that the concave style firing pin was used on standard models.

Old Doc · November 10, 2011, 06:12:29 AM

What's the serial number range. I may be able to tell you somethng rom that.

pawneefork · June 20, 2012, 04:48:58 PM

I dropped in to a new gun store in my little mountain town (Hood) USFA. It has a case-colored hammer, so I don't know what model it is exactly, but it's 5.5", rubber stocks, .45 Colt, nice condition. I asked how much he wanted and he said "$500." A minute later, when I had started breathing again, I took out my wallet.

Capt. John Fitzgerald · June 20, 2012, 05:52:08 PM

What finish other than the CCH hammer?

pawneefork · June 20, 2012, 07:38:23 PM

What finish -- did you mean me? It has a CCH frame and blued everything else. The bluing doesn't look like the carbona blue, so it's a single action, and not a pre-war. I think the owner just ordered the CCH hammer option. I want to send it to Turnbull to, as they said, give it a light polish and 'refresh' the metal parts. The $450 quote doesn't bother me -- it puts the total price up where a good used USFA should be -- but they have to hold it in their safe for 4 - 6 months. After a refinish, I want to have Jim at Nutmeg put ivory on it, so I still have about a grand to go. Then a trip to Old West reproductions.

It bugs the hell out of me that USFA puts cross pins on frames with 3-line patent dates, but I read on their site that theu have a more authentic 1st gen clone coming out. Would love to have one of those, so maybe I should start saving now.

Old Doc · June 20, 2012, 08:12:40 PM

Quote from: pawneefork on June 20, 2012, 07:38:23 PM
What finish -- did you mean me? It has a CCH frame and blued everything else. The bluing doesn't look like the carbona blue, so it's a single action, and not a pre-war. I think the owner just ordered the CCH hammer option. I want to send it to Turnbull to, as they said, give it a light polish and 'refresh' the metal parts. The $450 quote doesn't bother me -- it puts the total price up where a good used USFA should be -- but they have to hold it in their safe for 4 - 6 months. After a refinish, I want to have Jim at Nutmeg put ivory on it, so I still have about a grand to go. Then a trip to Old West reproductions.

It bugs the hell out of me that USFA puts cross pins on frames with 3-line patent dates, but I read on their site that theu have a more authentic 1st gen clone coming out. Would love to have one of those, so maybe I should start saving now.

Confused ! Light polish and refresh metal parts ? Keep it in their safe 4-6 months ??
The price you mentioned is the same or more than they charge to case harden and re-blue a Ruger from scratch. Do you have a problem with the gun's current condition ?

hanover67 · September 13, 2012, 12:04:43 AM

I'm not familiar with used USFA prices. I have a Single Action, 4 3/4" barrel all dome-blue .44 Special, barrel marked "Russian/S&W Special .44 " It was the result of a special ordered Rodeo II that they never produced and made this one for me instead. I paid $775 for it in August 2011, although my original order had been placed in March of 2010. I assume it is worth less than I paid for it, but who knows? I wanted a Bisley Model, but dealing with USFA left such a bad taste I bought a Cimarron/Uberti Bisley, same caliber, and I love it. I also have a Colt New Frontier .44 Special, circa 1968, and the USFA has a better fit and finish. The Colt's walnut grips are badly fitted.

I'd look at gunbroker for price info. That's a public forum where real sales take place.

Graveyard Jack · September 14, 2012, 12:43:51 PM

Far as I can tell, USFA's are like any other used gun. Value depends upon condition and rarity. I do not believe that 3rd generation Colt's have an advantage in this regard, as some (who have never owned or sold one) would have you believe. I have an early USPFA and three late model USFA's and I while the early guns are very good, the later model all domestic guns are much better.