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Colt Single Action Army

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10 comments

  • forthhorseman
    I'm confused. Can someone tell me what the proper way is to refer to Colt Single Action Army revolvers both before and after the addition of the transverse cylinder pin release button and the change to the crescent shaped ejector rod head is? I see so many different references, i.e. pre-war, black powder frame, first gen, etc., and have become confused as to what is proper.
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  • duckhunter
    Get yourself a GOOD Colt book.

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
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  • forthhorseman
    That's what Ask The Experts is for, so we don't have to spend money on books [;)]
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  • perry shooter
    Hello the first Gen is all guns without a prefix or sufix on serial. most of them are pre WW2 but there were a few made after the war from leftover parts Black powder were one with screw holding in the pin and the BULLS-EYE ejector rod were early Black powder. As with all colt there are exceptions.
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  • gotstolefrom
    Now I need to ask a question.

    Are you saying the screw type pin holder and crescent shaped ejector should not be on the same generation of gun ?

    If we do not hang together,
    We will most certainly hang separately.
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  • forthhorseman
    I think that falls under "exceptions", because I've seen black powder frame SAAs (screw type cylinder pin retainer) with crescent ejector rod heads and I've seen early first gens with transverse push button cylinder pin release with bull's eye ejector rod heads. I guess that's part of what causes the confusion.
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  • forthhorseman
    So, are their 1st gen smokeless powder SAAs that don't have the cross pin and are there pre-smokeless SAAs that have the cross pin?
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  • perry shooter
    Yes This is the part that has exceptions The colt books have a serial number break If you have serial I can tell you what COLT says. In doubt dont shoot and old colt with modern loads.
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  • forthhorseman
    Thanks perry shooter. Can you recommend a good book on Colt Single Action Armys?
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  • v35
    The SAA with transverse cylinder pin catch is called the Smokeless Frame
    but it's a misnomer because the catch (first used on the 1877 Double Action Lightning) was installed in 1892 beginning with s/n 144000.
    In 1898, Colt issued precautions against the use of smokeless powder.
    In 1900, starting with s/n 192000, Colt guaranteed their revolvers
    for use with smokeless powder.
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