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Colt SAA Questions

tomh.
Could one of you Colt collectors tell me what's the deal.

In the following pics you will see 2 different Colts and their serial # stamps, or not. Does this mean the parts differ and are not original? Why does the one have the ser. # followed by SA and the other doesn't? Please tell me what you can.

Many thanks.

DSC01445.jpg

DSC01446.jpg

DSC01447.jpg

DSC01448.jpg
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • tomh.
    I saw 2 different colt saa's in a pawn shop today. I want to see if anyone has any information on them.1)this is a 38 special blued in 90% condition. the serial #43727x. the patent is stamped 1896 i think 2)this is a 41 LC. has a 922 marked on the cylinder release. the last patent date stamped is 1905. it also has the numbers 135 and 132 marked on the butt. Also has DA41 marked on the barrel. also has place to attach butt stock. I do not have the serial number on this one. It is in about 90% condition and is also blued. I realize this is not enough information for a complete and accurate estimate of value, but any information or insight is appreciated. thanks a lot.
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  • v35
    Barrel threads are different, hammer on 3rd has floating firing pin, and cylinder on 3rd gen has a press fit bushing.
    The cylinder can be modified to 2nd gen by boring and reaming to accept a second gen barrel bushing.
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  • SAAJim
    I have a 3rd Gen New Frontier that I would like to convert to the 2nd Gen bushing. Do you know of a gunsmith who will drill/ream the cylinder for this??

    Thanks,
    Jim
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  • v35
    I do but he swapped a bunch of original, unused parts from a 1st Gen Colt about 15 years ago and I am still fuming. He is a west coast published "expert" and historian.
    I've done a good deal of shooting with a 2nd Gen 45 and a 1st Gen 44 Special using a lot of heavy H2400 loads and do not favor the bushing arrangement because I've had to replace them repeatedly due to peening. They were designed to give an additional sliding surface during the black powder days when revolvers jammed up from black powder residue. The Rugerlike solid bushing, I believe doesn't have this peening problem.
    Look up SASS on the web. There have to be a good number of single action pistolsmiths.
    To convert to 2nd Gen, you will also have to change the hammer and hope the firing pin accurately centers the firing pin hole in the recoil plate.
    Because the floating firing pin is self centering, like the S&W, Colt doesnt have to hold tolerences in hammer and frame as closely as on 1st and 2nd Gen guns. You'd have to try a 2nd Gen hammer and see.
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  • SAAJim
    v35,
    Thanks for the reply. I found Happy Trails gunsmith (http://www.thesmithshop.com) will bore the cylinder for the 2nd Gen bushing for $80. Cylinder & Slide will also do it but it's about $120. I'm going to ask Jim Stroh also.

    Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

    Jim
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  • givette
    I have a 2nd gen colt, and a 1st gen colt. The first gen firing pin is fixed (stationary), however the 2nd gen. colt has a floating firing pin. SN 50422SA .45LC Mfd circa 1969. Unless I'm really missing the boat somewhere, 2nd/3rd gen. hammers/firing pins are essentially the same. Rgds, Joe (givette)
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  • v35
    Either you have a replaced hammer or Colt began using the floating firing pin late in 2nd generation production.
    There are several different styles of SAA hammers, all of which will fit 1st and 2nd generation revolvers and all have fixed firing pins.
    As far as I know, floating firing pins began with and were part of the 3rd generation model change.
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  • givette
    To v35: Thanks for the heads-up. Your comment forced me to get up off my lar-'dass and go to the closet where I have my Colts. Pulled out another SAA .45...I think it's 2nd gen (vs 3rd gen.) because the serial number is 62238SA and the cylinder bushing can be slid out of the cylinder (towards the front). This one is unfired. (Don't know why I just said that, it has no bearing on the discussion). Anyway, It has a floating firing pin. The only reason I'm writing this is because I'm disappointed that my firearms have swapped parts. And, I might easily have two 2nd gen. colts with their hammer replaced/altered. Go figure. The best, Joe (givette) (ps..ser. no. places DOM in the early-mid 70's, I think)
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  • Spider7115
    I don't know exactly when the "floating firing pin" came into use. I had a brand new Second Generation Colt SAA in the "Stagecoach" box made in 1969 and it also had a floating firing pin.
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  • givette
    To Spider: Tks from givette. Perhaps my 2nd gen. SAA's weren't altered after all. Your commentary made me feel better. Side Note!! Can't seem to change the font size/type boldness. How do you do it?
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  • v35
    OK, the 2nd generation had four hammer profiles. The last two profiles had the floating firing pin. The tenth hammer style with floating firing pin started being installed in the late 1960s. All earlier second and first generation revolvers had a hammer with a fixed firing pin.
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