Make: Colt 

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation. One of only 70 made in this configuration.

Serial Number: 32705SA

Year of Manufacture: 1960 (https://www.colt.com/serial-lookup), manufactured July 1, shipped July 11.

Caliber: .357 Magnum

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 "705". The screw escutcheon has come free from the left panel. The left panel is cracked across the screw-hole and has been repaired with adhesive. The grips otherwise have minor handling wear with some scattered tiny marks. The checkering is well defined. There is good detail in the rampant colts. There are no chips. Overall, the grips are in about Good Condition with the left grip repaired.

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. There is minor turn-wear on the cylinder, mostly at the front of the lead-in grooves. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Fine condition and would rate Excellent but for the broken grip.

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 in a hinge-lid cardboard Colt box with black exterior, green interior, manual, "Handling the Handgun" pamphlet and a Colt Archives letter. The serial is hand-written on the bottom of the box. The letter indicates that this revolver was manufactured July 1 and shipped July 11, 1960 to Bell Gun and Sport Shop in Franklin Park, Illinois as the only gun of its type in the shipment. 

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 comes from early in production and is a particularly rare configuration. According to author Don Wilkerson, only 70 nickel, 4 3/4", .357 Magnum revolvers were produced in the 2nd Generation. The discerning Colt collector may overlook the repaired break in the left grip panel due to this rarity. The revolver is in Fine condition with a great bore and strong mechanics. The gun comes with its original box and is a wonderful example of the 2nd Gen SAA. This would make a fantastic addition to a Colt collection as one of the most rare variants of the second generation. Please see our photos and good luck!