Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army
Serial Number: 350192
Year of Manufacture: 1926
Caliber: .45 Colt
Action Type: Single Action Side Loading Gate Revolver
Barrel Length: 7 1/2"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a "V" notch integral to the topstrap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops. The inside of each panel has "350192" hand-scribed. The grips have minor handling wear with only a few small marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue and Case Color
Finish Originality: Most finish is Original to the parts. Most numbers match, the rear of the cylinder appears to be marked "097", indicating replacement. The cylinder has worn areas treated with cold blue.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and a little stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 8+/10.
Overall Condition: This handgun retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is wear along the ejector housing and light handling wear in the grip areas. The frame's case color shows some muting with strongest color in protected areas. The cylinder has scattered wear showing treatment with cold blue. There are scattered minor nicks, scuffs and scratches with some spots of minor surface oxidation. The action shows light operational wear, more notable on the cylinder. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, a few are poorly struck. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition as not parts-original.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included is a Colt Archives letter indicating that this revolver shipped November 10, 1926 to Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis, MO as one of two guns of the same type in the shipment.
Our Assessment: Colt's Single Action Army is, perhaps more than any other, an iconic American pistol. It was the U.S. issue sidearm for the last two decades of the 19th century, used by pioneers, outlaws and lawmen across the expanding nation, and captivated audiences on the silver screen and television. Produced for more than a century and a half, they are still being made, today!
This example is a 1st Generation Single Action Army made in 1926. It is chambered for the original .45 Colt cartridge with a 7 1/2" barrel, reminiscent of the original SAA introduced in 1873. The revolver is in good shape for its age, though the cylinder appears to have been replaced. The included Colt Archives letter indicates that it originally shipped to Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis in a shipment of just two such revolvers, showing the declining demand with the advent of swing-out cylinder revolvers and autoloading handguns. Any 1st Generation SAA would make a great addition to a Colt collection, and this early 20th Century example should be no exception. Please see our photos and good luck!
