Third Generation Colt Single Action Army Serial Numbers

[St. George]

Something of interest to add to your little Wilson booklet, and remember - 'Real Cowboys Shoot Colts...'

****

3rd Generation Colt Dates of Manufacturing Updated to 2012

Serial number at the beginning of the year.

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 grip frame 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 re-intrtoduced .32/20
2005 S38000A
2006 S41300A
2007 S42900A & S53000A (out of sequence due to two different vendors for frames)
2008 S48100A & S57300A (out of sequence continues)Etched Panel re-introduced on .44-40.
2009 S48300A & S57300A
2010 S49000A & 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)

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

My two, new Colts are S667xxA and S674xxA.  I reckon the second one just rolled off the production floor.

St. George, looks like you just posted this info over at the Colt hangout, too.  Someone asked about the white box sleeves and blue boxes. That's how mine were packed. I imagine all the SAA's are packed like that even though (according to Brent, Custom Shop mgr) standard SAA's come off the production line. 

[St. George]

All of my 'late' Colts came packed that way, as well.

My earlier ones came in the foam w/cardboard sleeve, the two-piece/w/cardboard sleeve and the 'Stagecoach'.

Packing and shipping likely happens away from the Custom Shop.

To the best of my knowledge, as well as a number of conversations with the Custom Shop guys, all SAA's and New Frontiers are built at the Custom Shop.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[J.D. Yellowhammer]

That's what I thought, too. When I ordered my Colts I asked Brent if he had any idea how long it would take since (I assumed) they were built in the custom shop.  Here's his response:

"JD,
The guns you have ordered are not custom shop guns. We build standard SAA's on the production floor. The guns we build in custom are non cataloged calibers or guns with custom features. We build standard guns like you ordered every month so I think your wait wont be so bad.
Brent"

He was right about the wait--it wasn't bad at all.  About 6 weeks, I think.

To the best of my knowledge, as well as a number of conversations with the Custom Shop guys, all SAA's and New Frontiers are built at the Custom Shop.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[badnuz1957]

I waited almost a year for mine in .44-40 w/ 5 1/2' barrel.  But truly worth the wait! Serial # S67xxxA

[Old Doc]

Custom shop or standard production, where are they. I'm used to never seeing them at gun shows or gun shops but now they have all but disappeared from the internet sites. Has production slowed to a crawl?

[St. George]

I can't speak for everyone, of course - but a buddy bought 4 of them within the last six weeks through Scheel's - all at normal prices - right around $1200 - $1300 - all .45s.

He's got another in the pipeline.

They're out there - but maybe not at the shows, unless someone's trying to flog them at exorbiant rates, like all the guys who bought AR's and ammo - but they're there.

Good Hunting, Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Sagebrush Burns]

Thanks for the good info.

[St. George]

De nada...

Like they say - 'Real Cowboys Shoot Colts'.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Constable Joe]

Thanks for the share. I always wanted to know the birth date of my Colts and that is what brought me to this site.

Thanks again.

Vaya con Dios.   

[Abilene]

Colt does show up at the large mounted shooting events.  I talked to one of the Colt guys at the CMSA Nationals a couple months ago and he showed me one of the daily emails he gets listing production for the previous day.  The email listed 17 single-actions being produced that day.  About a third were New Frontiers. 

[Frank V]

St. George

Thanks a lot for posting this list. It's the first list I've seen of the later 3rd gen. Colts.
By the way I've found the late 3rd Gen. Colts to be fine examples of Colt quality.

[St. George]

So have I.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[oneontheline]

This is a good resource, Thanks!

[yahoody]

Anyone have more recent dates?  I am looking for a S73XXXA production date.  Also wonder how many SAA they are making up these days ...estimates b the month month or year?  TIA

[jdpress]

Anyone have more recent dates?  I am looking for a S73XXXA production date.  Also wonder how many SAA they are making up these days ...estimates b the month month or year?  TIA

I recorded a new production Colt SAA (4-3/4 inch Barrel, .45 Colt, Color Case Hardened & Blue) in February 2014 with serial number S73549A. 

From the serial number data I have it appears that recent annual production quantities are in the range of 2,700 revolvers annually (225 per calendar month) for the years 2011, 2012 & 2013.

J.D. Press

[yahoody]

Thanks JD, much appreciated.  Looks like mine is a Jan 2014 gun.  Nice gun except for the hammer to frame fit.  I have earlier versions that are better there.

[St. George]

According to the Manager of the Custom Shop, Colt is making around 200 SAAs per month.

Scouts Out!

[yahoody]

Just saw three 1841s (nickel, 4 3/4" and 45 Colt) come in today from the Colt Custom shop ordered in Jan.  2011.

All on the short side of 549 and this serial #S73549A. 

[Fox Creek Kid]

2007 S42900A & S53000A (out of sequence due to two different vendors for frames)
2008 S48100A & S57300A (out of sequence continues)Etched Panel re-introduced on .44-40.

My two etched panel FSS's are in the S479XXX range.