Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation

Serial Number: 25877SA

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 smooth walnut. The inside of each panel has "877" hand-scribed. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. There is some verdigris at the screw escutcheons. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 98% of its metal finish. The action shows faint operational wear with very minor turn-wear on the cylinder. There are some spots of faint oxidation on the sides of the hammer. There is some stubborn dried grease. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Excellent 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. Written in the same hand is "wood" under the serial number.

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 is a particularly nice example, not only in high condition, not only with its original box, but with factory smooth walnut grips. This is going to be a hit with the collectors, but would be a wonderful addition to any safe in America. Please see our photos and good luck!