1st Gen. Colt SAA - Value?

CombatCommander

If anyone can give me some general, realistic value info on a low s/n SAA I (and my Dad, since it's his) would be greatful for any and all help !It is s/n 44xx (under 4420) in .44cal(90% sure) with what appears to be walnut grips that I don't think are original, no major rust or finish for that matter. The US markings appear to have been removed eons ago...(my Dad has had this for over 50 yrs in the same condition) All other Colt markings including s/n are intact and untampered with. The only functional problem with it is that the cylinder fails to work every time when the action is cycled. The hand will engage the cylinder ratchet, at times, and it will cycle properly. I really think that the spring for the hand is broken. This is everything I can remember about the ol' girl, if there are any other questions I can call my Dad and find out. Thanks in advance for any help !

rballi

I just sold my 1st Generation (1905)Colt SAA in 45 cal in 'shooter' condition for $900. I would have a compitent gunsmith look at the hand and any other internal parts and make it functional. The Blue Book states that even a parts gun is worth $1000. I would say that your gun will sell for approx $1250 - $1500. It could bring more than $1500 if it is is working original condition. I have seen alot 'For Sale' at higher prices and they are still for sale.

john carr

C.C., are you saying that the gun may have been U.S. marked some time in the past? I'm not an authority on this but I think these revolvers were in .45 Colt.

CombatCommander

John,yes it might have been US marked, it has been a long time since I looked at it and I am going by memory. There is a small narrow indentation below the cylinder on the loading gate side(?memory?) of the weapon. I looked in my blue book last night and the trademark stamp in the pics, shown to be on the opposite side of the frame is too tall and long to account for this "grind mark".Also the "Rampant Horse" and the patent trademark are not there, again memory, but I am 98% sure, especially about the horse.The only patent marks I can recall are on the top of the barrel in italic letters.The "45 Colt" marks on the side of the barrel shown in the pictures is also missing from my memories of this weapon.Aside from the one lightly noticeable "grind mark", that appears to be the only obvious alteration.The pic's I am referring to are in the photo grading portion of the 19th edition of The Blue Book. The finish is in the 10%-15% range.I do not know what the trademark stamping/location differences between SAA government and commercial models are.I heard my Dad say once that he was told it was just a few s/n away from what would have been issued to Custer's men... Truth/Fiction, you've got me...Can anyone tell me where I can find a pic of a "pinch frame" version, and were these versions in US issue ? The sight channel is very narrow and shallow "V" on this weapon. It was not a milled square bottomed channel.Alright, do I have ya'll confused now, this weapon has been looked at by quite a few folks... The answers are never the same !!So Thanks Again for any and all input !!!

john carr

CC, The US was stamped on the left side of the frame (with the gun pointing away from you) below the cylinder opening. On the bottom of the frame will be the serial # and the inspector's marking. On mine was DFC standing for David C. Clark. I think guns of that era will have the "bullseye" ejector rod head. The reason I asked about the US marking was that I think you said yours was in .44 caliber. My revolver had mismatched parts plus a couple unwanted features but it still brought a little over $2000 and many many bids.

CombatCommander

John,I'm just not sure which side it was on. I'll ask my Dad when I talk to him in a couple of days.The caliber could very well be .45, .010 is hard to eyeball even for me(automotive machinist).The s/n markings are as you describe location-wise, and all are aparently original.(frame,grip-frame,cylinder)Did these US models have the patent and horse stamps in the location you described along with the US markings ? Did they have the barrel stamped on the left side with "45Colt" ? Please describe the bullseye ejector rod head.I'm not sure what the inspector marks are. I will ask.My folks just recently moved, and are living in their motorhome... So it is very possably in storage too.

john carr

C.C.I knew I should have taken a photo of that SAA before I sold it. I'm looking at a 2nd generation SAA and it has the rampant colt to the right of the s/n's, so I assume the lst gen did too. The bullseye ejector rod head is a complete circle with the center open, and looking at it head on it does resemble a target, where the modern ones have a cut-out place to snug up to the barrell and the ejector rod housing. Also, you had to unscrew the cylinder pin retaining screw to remove the cylinder pin on the old ones, where on the more recent ones you just press on it and pull the pin out. It sounds like you do have a 1st gen Colt, whether or not is is military will take some more inspection. My U.S. SAA DID have the .45 Colt stamp on the barrell, but it had been re-barrelled with a post war Colt barrel.

CombatCommander

John,Cylinder pin retaining pin unscrews, and it has the bullseye ejector rod head.I would sure like to know more on the patent/rampant horse and barrel stamps differences, if any, between commercial and US issue models.

v35

Of the s/n's 4001-5400,1395 went to the Army and 5 were civilian. All shipped 1/5/1874. If the trigger guard is marked 44cal(RF Henrys had their own number series) it was made between 1875 & 1880. The early ones had no rampant colt marking on the frame by the patent dates. That is where U.S. is stamped.On an early gun, caliber marking should be on the trigger guard below the head of the hammer screw; either 44cal (44 Henry rimfire) or 45cal (now known as the 45LC). If it's caliber marked, your barrel is either a factory or non factory replacement.The pinched frame sight looks like an hourglass when viewed from the top. Your frame shouldn't have one.The hand spring is either weak or broken and is a no brainer to replace. If you cycle an SAA with a bad hand spring you are likely to bugger up the cylinder cylinder notches or scratch the cylinder between notches.

CombatCommander

Thanks v!,Would the US markings be just above the patent marks? And would all of the 1395 been stamped US?Out the 5 civilian weapons, were the s/n's in a block or scattered thru those 1400?This one has no barrel or trigger guard caliber marks, all s/n's match. They are all uniform in depth, type and style.There are no US marks... I think they have been removed, my Dad doesn't think it ever had them... Only an expert on these would know for sure.There is wear on the cylinder from the lock dragging on it. Like I said the original finish is poor.My Dad traded work for a pair, consecutive s/n, around 1950. This was the only one that got delivered. The s/n is just over 4400.He(Dad) called Colt several years back to get the history done on it, and was told that it was too old, the plant/factory had burnt and there were no records to go by. From Colt at least.Where do/did you get the s/n and ship date information you provided, v ? I would like to be able to get as much documentation as possible on this ol' girl!Thanks again guys! I knew I was in the right place to figure this out!

v35

The U.S. stamping would be alongside the patent dates on the frame and at least as deep. The giveaway that this is a cavalryrevolver is a tiny "A" for Ainsworth which would be stamped in a number of places on the gun including the outside of the cylinder. There would hopefully be a OWA cartouche on the bottom side of the grips. Examine this gun with a magnifying glass and record the markings. While all the early guns were earmarked for the Army, Colt did sell some to officers for a personal weapon.Guns failing Army inspection were sold and some had US markings. If you see grind marks, the gun may have been stolen and the U.S. marks and unit markings removedI believe this might be a valuable gun, not to be left out of your sight with some expert for evaluation. I had a bad experience with a well known expert who exchanged some of my unused parts with well worn parts and still fuming after 15 years.You could look at "A study of the Colt Single Action Revolver" by John Kopec

v35

The U.S. stamping would be alongside the patent dates on the frame and at least as deep. The giveaway that this is a cavalryrevolver is a tiny "A" for Ainsworth which would be stamped in a number of places on the gun including the outside of the cylinder. There would hopefully be a OWA cartouche on the bottom side of the grips. Examine this gun with a magnifying glass and record the markings. While all the early guns were earmarked for the Army, Colt did sell some to officers for a personal weapon.Guns failing Army inspection were sold and some had US markings. If you see grind marks, the gun may have been stolen and the U.S. marks and unit markings removedI believe this might be a valuable gun, not to be left out of your sight with some expert for evaluation. I had a bad experience with a well known expert who exchanged some of my unused parts with well worn parts and still fuming after 15 years.You could look at "A study of the Colt Single Action Revolver" by John Kopec