Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation

Serial Number: 25364SA

Year of Manufacture: 1959

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Barrel Length: 7 1/2”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a quarter-round blade fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a square notch at the rear of a groove in the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at the top. The inside of each panel has "364" hand-scribed. The grips have light handling wear with some minor scuffing. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent very minor erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at some edges. The frame's case color is generally strong with some minor oxidation on the right above the trigger and some muting on the recoil shield and loading gate. The grip areas show light handling wear. There are some minor nicks, scuffs and small scratches. The action shows operational wear including turn-wear on the cylinder. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this revolver. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes with a hinge-lid black cardboard Colt box with the serial number hand-written on the bottom. The box shows moderate-heavy wear, the lid has torn free from the tray and there are losses.

Our Assessment: The Colt Single Action Army is perhaps the quintessential old west handgun, produced for more than a century, serving the U.S. Army as its sidearm from 1873 into the first world war and captivating audiences on the silver screen. The SAA was discontinued by Colt as it tooled up to provide for the WWII war effort, and it was thought by Colt that the design was obsolete, swing-out cylinder revolvers had been around for half a century and autoloaders were gaining in popularity. Then, with the advent of television and western programs such as Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, The Cisco Kid, and The Gene Autry Show, American interest in the guns that won the west was reborn. In 1956, Colt reintroduced the Single Action Army, this new production run now referred to as the 2nd Generation SAA's.

This example is from fairly early in the 2nd generation, 1959 and is chambered for the classic .45 Colt cartridge. Originally developed as a black powder cartridge, smokeless powder breathed new life into the cartridge, giving it comparable power to modern self-defense revolver cartridges as well as being suitable as a hunting sidearm. This example shows wear consistent with its age and responsible use, retaining a strong bore and good mechanics. This is going to be a hit with the collectors with its original box, but would also be an example you could take out shooting without worrying about ruining a museum piece. Please see our photos and good luck!