Colt serial numbers

[Marshall Sam Holland]

I was wondering, without going thru Colt and all, can anyone give me a web site where Colt number ranges by years can be found. I have a friend with an old Colt SAA I think it's a 2nd generation. Serial Number range is 175XXX, I was wondering what year it was manufactured???

[Phantom Falcon]

Marshall,

Is there a SA suffix or prefix to that serial number?
If it is 175xxx with no SAs in it, then it would be an Early Smokeless Powder Frame SAA, 1st generation, built in 1898.

PF

[Hill Beachy]

Why, that's so simple even I can answer it!   

There are several websites.  I'd suggest visiting the ProofHouse website:  http://proofhouse.com and follow the links to Colt date of manufacture: http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html  then scroll down the left-hand side of the screen to the SAA's.  According to the chart, this revolver was manufactured in 1898.

You could also check the Springfield Research Service at http://armscollectors.com/srs/lookup_coltsaa.php which might actually tell you to whom the revolver was issued (if records exist).

If your serial number does not contain an "SA" then it is a 1st-generation.  If it has an "SA" suffix (175xxx SA) then it is a 2nd-generation.  An "SA" prefix (SA 175xxx) would make it a 3d-generation (1975-1993).  After that, Colt used a split serial number (S 175xxx A). 

The late Ray Meibaum had an excellent website loaded with tons of information, but unfortunately his heirs seem to have removed the functional links.

Hope this helps