Colt SAA .45 Cosmetics
I just got a Colt Single Action Army in 45 Caliber. It's a mid-range 2nd generation, with a SN in the 62000SA range (+/- 1972). Black plastic grips, 7.5" bbl, blued, with case hardened frame. The gun has some pitting on the cylinder, topstrap, and barrel; the rest of the blue on the gun is in good shape. I'm pretty sure it's holster damage. I shot some 800 & 900 fps loads and it shoots right at point of aim.
I'm asking for advice because this gun is kinda right in the middle as far as condition & collectability goes. If it was a 1st generation, there would be no question about leaving it alone.
Should I :
1.) Leave it alone, oil it, and keep it as a shooter?
2.) Clean it up and touch up the pitted areas with cold blue?
3.) Re-blue the whole gun?
4.) Nickel it?
5.) Trade it off to my buddy who really, really wants it?
F.Y.I. I paid $550 for it.
I'm asking for advice because this gun is kinda right in the middle as far as condition & collectability goes. If it was a 1st generation, there would be no question about leaving it alone.
Should I :
1.) Leave it alone, oil it, and keep it as a shooter?
2.) Clean it up and touch up the pitted areas with cold blue?
3.) Re-blue the whole gun?
4.) Nickel it?
5.) Trade it off to my buddy who really, really wants it?
F.Y.I. I paid $550 for it.
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Even in 60-70% condition, it's worth $8-900. I'd leave it as it is. 0 -
1.) 0 -
Thanks for the advice so far.
Just to clarify, they are pits, not freckles.0 -
I had an abused SAA .45 that I shipped to the factory for repair. It looked new when they finished. At least you know that if the cylinder or barrel need to be replaced, they just might have the part right there, and it will be a perfect match.
I'm reminded of Dean (Dean's Gun Restoration), whose motto is: "Life is too short to own an ugly gun."
Neal0 -
Is this the same gun under your engraving removal post? In that post you said a 'copy'. I don't consider a 2nd generation SAA a copy. Leave it in the condition it currently is in, Please!!!
AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY0 -
Shoot it and enjoy it. As long as it is not abused, someone will be happy to pay you a nice profit to take it off your hands when you're
tired of it. You can always do a rework later, after you've shot it a few thousand rounds, if you decide to keep it.0 -
Punchie,
not the same post, the other gun is a Hawes Western Marshall which is a Colt SAA copy.0 -
Gun shoots great, but a friend of mine noticed something the other day. When you half cock it to load/unload, if you spin the cylinder fast, the hammer will go forward. You can rotate the cylinder all day and nothing will happen, it only moves forward when spin it fast, as in hold the gun by the frame, start with the cylinder on your palm, and spinnnnnnn fast from your finger tips like a zzzzzzzzzzzz sound.
Is this normal? What could be the problem? Should I slap by buddy in the back of the head and tell him to stop acting like Josey Wales?0 -
You should be arrested for gun abuse! Stop that!!! 0
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