1st Generation Colt SAA
a friend of a friend has a 1st generation colt saa and is trying to find some info. about it. he wrote a letter with the following stuff that is stamped on the barrel and colt responded that they had no records that could help him. the blue book of gun values does not even list the pistol. any one that can shed some light about the gun will be his hero. thanks for your help in advance......... here is what is on the barrel.. Colts Pt.F.A, Mfg Hartford Conn.
Sept 1871,July 1872. Serial # 1135. at a glance i think it has a 5 1/2 or 6 inch tube, .44 or .45 cal. and is in 10% condition at best. sorry no pictures.
Sept 1871,July 1872. Serial # 1135. at a glance i think it has a 5 1/2 or 6 inch tube, .44 or .45 cal. and is in 10% condition at best. sorry no pictures.
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I have inherited a Colt Single Action Army 45. Serial #354634, It is engraved. manufactured in 1932. I would like to know value, is it considered an antique? How do i care for it? Is it real important to get a letter from Colt?
thanks0 -
Was it Factory engraved, or engraved after it left the Colt factory in 1932? If you believe it is factory engraved; you absolutely need to get a Colt Archive Letter to verify the factory engraving. If your Colt is found to be Factory engraved, a letter will cost you about $150; a very small investment that will add $1000's to the gun. If it isn't listed as Factory engraved, the letter will cost $100 with a wait of 90-120 days or $150 for the information the same day. Colt does no have records for some of these late guns; if they can't find yours, there is no charge.
1898 and before is considered antique.
We will need to see high resolution pictures of all details in order to give you any advice and value of your Colt.
Added:
It is nicely engraved, but the pictures are not sufficient to judge the engraving with 100% surety. We need close up, in focus, high resolution, detailed pictures of all markings and how the engraving interacts with the markings/stamps. We need in focus, high resolution, detailed pictures of both sides of the Colt, not just one side. We need pictures of both sides, the top, and the bottom; close up pictures of the engraving.
Without better pictures I will withhold my opinion of the gun and engraving.
In accordance with forum rules, this thread will be locked shortly after the 10th post. So, if the thread is locked before you get the answers you seek, please start a new thread, title it "1st Generation Colt SAA - Part 2", and provide a link to this thread.
From the limited number of pictures, the front sight is troublesome. The profile and size just isn't correct for a late Single Action like this, it corresponds more to a pre about 1911 front sight. Unless the camera angle is altering the sight's appearance, this would cast some suspicions on its originality.
The pictures are not crisp enough to be sure, but from the second picture there appears to be evidence of buffing when you look at the bolt stops and approaches; when contrasted with the engraving it would suggest the possibility that the Colt might have been buffed, engraved, and refinished. However, without better pictures this is just speculation.
Also, there appears to some soft corners at the junctions of the frame, trigger guard, backstrap and other soft edges.
By the way, I'm certainly not an expert in Factory engraved Colt Single Actions.0 -
Immediate Rx for the gun, before you do anything else:
1. Check firearm unloaded.
2. Go to gunstore, and get a can of spray gun oil. Any one, so long as it is meant to prevent rust/used for storage. Spray the gun slowly on both sides. Allow to dry.
3. Do not return the gun to any holster.
You have now successfully arrested any damage (storage damage) that may be ongoing to the gun. If the gun appears to have a coating of some sort of preservative, don't touch it. Follow item No. 3.
Eventually, as you continue your correspondence with us, we'll give you step-by-step teardown, and cleaning instructions, as necessary. Best, Joe0 -
Call colt and if the records of your pistol are NOT AVAILABLE they will tell you for free. I have a pistol with the serial Number about 800 Higher then yours and The records for pistols of my time frame were LOST[:(] 0 -
I am not able to post pictures? I cant seem to get it to work, i will send pics to anyone who will give me a direct email address, cause i would sure like some more info on this gun.
thanks
Pati0 -
Here are Pati's photos. She said her grandfather added the stag grips around 1970. She said the original grips were pearl but they cracked so he replaced them.
I suggested that she obtain a factory letter.
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I am going to say, that is a nice looking SAA. Too bad the grips are not original. That looks like pretty nice engraving too. I would say 90% chance it is factory.
Best0 -
Very nice engraving, "C" coverage. 0 -
It appears that there were quite a few conversations concerning this same gun 7 months ago:
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/i-have-inherited-a-colt-single-action-army-45-the-markings-...-5785630.html
Pati, I don't know what other advice we can give you that you didn't get at that time.0 -
wow, i am so sorry, i did not know that this and gunvaluesboard was the same place. i was hoping for a few more details on this gun that i did not get there., such as care and maintenance, along with some additional value info.
sorry
pati0 -
quote:Originally posted by plpfornow
wow, i am so sorry, i did not know that this and gunvaluesboard was the same place. i was hoping for a few more details on this gun that i did not get there., such as care and maintenance, along with some additional value info.
sorry
patiPati, if your Single Action is a Factory engraved Single Action and all original; then it is potentially a $15,000+ Single Action. I don't think it is too much for us to ask for highly detailed pictures of all aspects of the gun in order to assure a fair and accurate evaluation. The pictures you've provided just aren't sufficient to provide you with the details you are seeking. Joe provided a good starter on care and maintenance of your Colt, I've provided a couple of potential "Red Flags" that without better pictures I can't be certain of your Colt's originality, and several of us have let you know that if Colt has records on your gun they will confirm if it was originally Factory engraved.
It seems that except for the "Red Flags"; gunsvalueboard gave you some of the same advice from two of the same pictures you've posted here.
We can help you, several of us collect 1st generation Colt Single Actions, but you have to help us and provide the high resolution, in focus, detailed pictures that we need to fairly judge your Colt. It is entirely up to you! If you don't want to continue with our help, then a call to Colt's Archive Services should be your next step. If you don't want to wait 90-120 days for a letter and they have a record of your Colt, then the cost for same day information with a letter to follow in about 2 weeks will be $150 for the call in service plus $100/$125/$150 if it is factory engraved (cost depends on standard, expert, or master engraving). There's no charge if there is no record.
If you want to continue, please start a new thread and add more and better pictures. Regards!0
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