Price for a 1st Gen. SAA, in .45 Colt?

[jphendren]

Hello,

I am considering saving up for a real 1st Gen. SAA, in .45 Colt.  How much would I need to even be in the game for a late 19th, early 20th century Colt SAA, in shootable condition?  It would not need to be minty, but all original, and in safe shootable condition.

Jared

[James Hunt]

It's about condition, condition, condition...., and luck of the sale. If by all original you mean matching numbers and all parts appropriate for the serial number range - there was quite a variation across the 1st generation guns - then you'd better be thinking $2500 and up even for a gray gun. At a recent show I didn't see a good 1st gen gun for less than $3000.

Regarding shootable? I have a couple of SAA's from 1876, one is all original and both are good shooters, but given the year I was pretty nervous about what appeared to me to be some rather thin cylinder walls and who knows the metallurgy then? So I fitted a couple of new cylinders to them so I could shoot them. Guns made in the 20th century should be fine. I am sure you are aware of the black powder frame issue if you are planning on a shooter.

Prices are going up, but keep looking. I found an all matching Rem New Model Army for $750 and an all mathcing  little .38 long open top Colt for $700 a few years ago, both fine shooters and from guy's desperate for cash. Never really got a great deal on a SAA though. Good luck.

[joec]

Check here for them http://www.am-firearms.com/sale.html and brace yourself they can go as high as $6,495 for one that the serial number is in the range to have been used at the Little Big Horn.

[The Pathfinder]

JP, if a shooter is what you're after and not a collectors piece, some fairly good deals can still be found out there. I don't know if you want a black-powder frame or will want a cross-pin frame. From my experience, the BP frame will run you more than the smokeless. If you look for a Colt made just after the turn of the century you'll generally find them a little cheaper. I found a 1901 SAA for $1100 at a small gun show near me, so I know they're out there. As James said, condition is everything. You might even want to consider a refinished gun as they run cheaper as well. Good luck with your search.

[St. George]

It all depends on where you find it.

Get some books - read them, so you know what you're looking for - and then save up so you've got about $2000 stuck away - it's likely you won't have to spend it all, but it's nice to know you have a cushion.

'First Generation' covers all of the old models with the blackpowder frame, but it also covers all pre-WWII revolvers as well, and there are a lot of them.

Colt recently built their 'Frontier Six-Shooters' in .44-40 - completed with etched panel and a blackpowder frame - but those are getting a little harder to locate, so if you want a 'First Generation' built yesterday, you'd best get to steppin'...

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Sometimes you come across one at a pretty reasonable price. I attended an auction last week and there were several high dollar 1st Gen SAAs on the auction list. But I was surprised how little this one went for.

I would have bid on it myself but I had already spent all my money.

http://www.amoskeagauction.com/88/279.html

[Doc Sunrise]

An honest dealer should be able to find you an honest 1st gen gun with patina and some bluing around 40% to 50% bluing in the $3000.00 range.  If you are looking for a shooter, later than 1900 first gens creep up in price fast.  2nd gens are great shooters and readily available in great conditions for less than $3000.00.  Get in a good relationship with a trustworthy dealer, it is well worth it.  The gun that sold for $1610 you mentioned has many concerns for me.  The barrel condition does not match the gun condition, the vice grip teeth marks scream home gunsmithing issues.  I wouldn't even consider such a gun.

[Trailrider]

What everybody else said. Especially reading up on the Colt's Single Action Revolver.  The "bible" is usually considered John Kopec's book. Having said that, be cautious and get acquainted with folks at a collector's club, if there's one near you. One thing for sure...do NOT rely on "The Pawn Stars'" so-called "gun expert"!  I just saw a rerun where a man comes in with a nickel plated Colt from the 1880's. Rick's "expert" comments that all the serial numbers match, EXCEPT the numbers on the loading gate!  Of course the number on the loading gate of a Colt' SAA or Frontier doesn't match the rest of the numbers on the bottom of the frame, the backstrap and the front strap of the grip!  The numbers on the loading gate are AN ASSEMBLY NUMBER!  If you find numbers on the gate that do match the last three digits of a serial number it is probably a most fantastic coincidence...OR a FAKE!

As to a shooter, that is also an antique, you'd best go with a gun that is post-1900, which is still within the first generation. You should have the gun checked by a competant gunsmith, to make sure the timing is okay. If not, you can have the gun refurbished, but price it accordingly.  The so-called smokeless frame, with the cross-pin holding the cylinder arbor pin was NOT warrented for smokeless powder untill about 1901. Doesn't mean you need to avoid the earlier guns. Just that I wouldn't shoot smokeless in guns made before about 1880.  As was stated, you could have a modern steel cylinder fitted to an 1880's vintage gun, have the chambers and throats tightened up a bit, to match the groove diameter of the barrel, for better accuracy.

Good luck, Pard!

[Tascosa Joe]

I picked up a really nice 1901 44-40 about 2 months ago.  It has about 40% CH and 60% blue for under 2600 but I really got a good deal.