Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation. One of approximately 213 made in this configuration (flat-top hammer).

Serial Number: 25167SA

Year of Manufacture: early to mid 1959, shipped May 2, 1959 (reference Factory Letter).

Caliber: .45 Colt

Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder

Barrel Length: 4 3/4”

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 Colts in ovals at their tops. The inside of each panel is hand-scribed “167”, matching the last three digits of the revolver’s S/N. The grips have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There is good detail in the Rampant Colts. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Excellent Condition.

Type of Finish: Nickel

Finish Originality: Original, matching serial and assembly numbers.

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 cylinder has minor turn-wear. There are some tiny spots of oxidation around one of the cylinder flutes. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in Fine Plus Condition.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This revolver comes in an original Colt 1950s hinge-lid black cardboard box with correct end labels, green interior, and manual, warranty card, and "Handling the Handgun" pamphlet inside. The matching serial number is hand-written on the bottom of the box. Also included is a Colt Archives factory letter indicating the revolver was shipped May 2, 1959 to Ken’s Gun Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the only gun of its type in the shipment.

Our Assessment: The expiration of Smith & Wesson's patent on the bored-through cylinder in 1869 led Colt to design the revolutionary M-1873 Single Action Army, which soon earned the moniker the "Peacemaker", "Equalizer", and "gun that won the West". Carried by soldiers, cowboys, ranchers, rustlers, lawmen and outlaws alike, the Colt SAA quickly became synonymous with the untamed wilds of the American West. Manufactured from 1873-1941, the Single Action Army was discontinued by Colt as they tooled up to provide for the war effort in WW2. Colt also believed that the design was obsolete, as swing-out cylinder revolvers had been around for half a century, and autoloaders were gaining in popularity. The SAA most likely would have never been made again if not for the “cowboy craze” of the 1950s. Demand for Colt SAAs skyrocketed, and led Colt to reintroduce this American classic in 1956, birthing the 2nd Generation Colt Single Action Army.

This Colt 2nd Gen SAA was made in early to mid 1959 and is in Fine Plus Condition. It features a 4.75” barrel, 98% of its gleaming, original factory nickel finish, last three digit serial-matching, classic two-piece checkered black hard rubber grips with Rampant Colts in ovals at their tops, strong mechanics, a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion, and an original serial-matching Colt 1950s hinge-lid black cardboard box with correct end labels, a green interior, and the manual, warranty card, and “Handling the Handgun” brochure inside. It comes with a Colt Archives factory letter confirming its configuration, and indicating it was shipped May 2, 1959 to Ken’s Gun Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as the only gun of its type in the shipment. According to author Don Wilkerson, approximately 213 nickel, 4 3/4" SAA revolvers such as this were produced in the 2nd Generation with the early flat-top hammer. We don't like using the term "unfired", but we'd be surprised if this revolver saw much, if any, use outside the factory. This would make a fantastic addition to a Colt collection as a desirable variant of the 2nd Gen SAA.