Make: Colt

Model: Single Action Army, 2nd Generation

Serial Number: 6956SA

Year of Manufacture: 1956

Caliber: .38 Special

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 integral to 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 has "6956" hand-scribed. The grips have only a few scattered minor 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 about 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 10/10.

Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 97% of its metal finish. There are some scattered tiny marks. The cylinder has very minor turn-wear. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The frame retains strong case color. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about 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: None.

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 that first year of production. The revolver is in Excellent condition with a great bore and strong mechanics. We're quite hesitant to use the word "unfired", and most all of these are test fired at the factory, but one look at the forcing cone or the front face of the cylinder, and its easy to see that this gun has seen little if any use since leaving the factory, though it has seen some handling. The gun is chambered for the common .38 Special cartridge, so if you choose to shoot it, ammunition should be easy to find in a variety of loads. The gun is a very nice example of the 2nd Gen SAA. This would make a great addition to a Colt collection as one of the earliest of the second generation, but it will also make for a fun shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!