3rd Gen SAA Dates of Manufacturing UPDATED TO 2012

[Doc Sunrise]

First of year serial Numbers

1976  80000SA
1977  82000SA
1978  90500SA - 99999SA - SA01001
1979  SA13000
1980  SA30250
1981  SA46900
1982  SA58628
1983  SA65256
1984  SA66496
1985  SA70500
1986 Not Available - Factory Strike
1987  SA70813
1988  SA71464 - SA72269      SA90136 - SA94433
1989  SA94434
1990  Not Available  Most from existing frames.
1991  SA94673  9mm and Birdshead gripframe introduced.  New Blue Box with White Shell introduced.
1992  SA96588  Long Flute Cylinders introduced.
1993  SA99879 - SA99999  "SA changed to "SxxxxxA".  
        S02001A - S07005A  .38-40 introduced.
1994  S07006A  Screwless frame introduced.
1995  S10123A
1996  S12560A
1997  S15886A
1998  S21569A
1999  S26457A  Cylinders with removable bushing re-introduced.  
        FT00001  Colt Cowboy introduced.
2000  S29100A
2001  S31500A
2002  S33400A
2003  S34000A  .38 special reintroduced (S34600A).  2nd Gen. removable bushing re-introduced.
2004  S34500A  Late December Shipments of  Reintrtoduced .32/20
2005  S38000A
2006  S41300A
2007  S42900A and S53000A (out of sequence due to two different vendors for frames)
2008  S48100A and S57300A (out of sequence continues)  Etched Panel re-introduced on .44-40.
2009  S48300A and S57300A
2010  S49000A and S64000A (out of sequence continues)  Nickel Plated .44-40 etched panel introduced)
2011  S48000A and S65000A (out of sequence con't.)  175th Anniversary SAA produced in 3 barrel lengths)
        NF20000                     (New Frontier production resumes)
2012  S66200A                     (7 1/2" 175th Anniversary SAA's production concludes)

The numbers for 2010 and 2011 are the way they are on Wilkerson's paper, not an error on my part.

[St. George]

Doc,

Many thanks!

I'm sure many folks will have use for this one.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Pettifogger]

Good info.

[Danny Bear Claw]

R.L. Wison's book - "Colt - An American Legend" has the serial number / date of manufacture tables in it.  I'm not sure how far into current times the tables run.  Good info on current times here though.  Thanks for posting it.   

[jdpress]

Outstanding Information!  I have been looking for this for a long time.....

Thank you,

J.D. Press

[Old Doc]

Just to add to the above, so that we have it in one thread, my notes on the subject say that Colt switched back to the removable cylinder bushing in 2003 at serial no. S34390A. I think this is about the time, beyond which, many of us are comfortable with Colt quality.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Thanks. Those of us who own newer guns appreciate the info. Both of my guns were made in the very late '90s are are of excellent quality. I have managed to do some very nice shooting with them including qualifying on my Department's Off Duty Course.

[Deadeye Dick]

My "etched panel" 44-40's serial number is S48061A. The list shows them as being introduced in 2008 starting with S48100A. So what's wrong here? Is my "etched panel" Colt Frontier Six Shooter a 2007 or a 2008? Did the list come from Colt? I know serial numbers can sometimes be all over the board.
Deadeye Dick

[Doc Sunrise]

OK!  The numbers are from Colt.  Colt states these numbers are fairly accurate, however they are only approximate, and not exact.  I would lean towards yours being a 2008.

[Deadeye Dick]

OK!  The numbers are from Colt.  Colt states these numbers are fairly accurate, however they are only approximate, and not exact.  I would lean towards yours being a 2008.

I think so too.
Deadeye Dick

[Pettifogger]

Interesting.  I knew the barrels and cylinders were outsourced but thought the frames were forged in-house.  From the list it appears this is not the case.

[Old Doc]

I think the list has a little bit of play in it. For what it is worth , the etched panel .44-40 is first featured in the 2008 Colt catalog.

[Drydock]

They are.  I suspect demand has them subcontracting some (not all, thus the different number ranges) of the frames, either raw frames in for forging, or forged frames contracted out for finishing. I suspect the latter.  I know Turnbull has done several finishing runs for Colt.

For accounting purposes, Colt would list itself as a "source" for frames, with the subcontractor the 2nd source.  The subcontractor might even be Colt Defense, on the other side of the building, but maintained as a seperate buisnes entity.

[Isom]

Have there been any newer number updates since 2012 ?
Isom

[St. George]

Working on it.

Check Colt's website, or 'Proofhouse'.

Scouts Out!

[Tater Pickens]

I have 2 colts. One starts in the 323 range and the other in the 332 range. There is no S or SA prefix so I guess my guns would be 2nd generation?

Does anybody have a list of those 2nd generation numbers?


Tater Pickens

[St. George]

See above, and look it up yourself.

Scouts Out!

[russ1943]

I have 2 colts. One starts in the 323 range and the other in the 332 range. There is no S or SA prefix so I guess my guns would be 2nd generation?

Does anybody have a list of those 2nd generation numbers?


Tater Pickens

2nd start with 1 and Suffix of SA ends when 3rd generation started see above, Colt discontinued production for a while

[Slickshot]

My Colt in .44 Special, 4 3/4" barrel was made in late 1979, with serial number of SA20264.

Nice to know.  I've never shot it.

Slickshot