Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army 2nd Generation
Serial Number: 7515SA
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Caliber: .38 Special
Action Type: 6-Shot 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 groove in the top strap.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered hard rubber with rampant colt in oval at their tops. The interior of each grip has "7515" hand-scribed. The grips show even minor handling wear with a few light marks. The checkering is well defined with good detail in the rampant colts. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in Fine-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue and Case Color
Finish Originality: Original, numbers match.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore, just a little stubborn fouling. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This revolver retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. Most of the balance is handling wear in the grip areas. There is a braze-repair to the cylinder stop bolt. There is scattered turn-wear on the cylinder. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is infrequent minor oxidation, mostly in the grip areas. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. There is notable oxidation on the head of the grip screw. The markings are clear. Overall, this revolver is in about Good condition, see Mechanics.
Mechanics: The cylinder can be rotated out of lock to the left, likely due to the cylinder stop bolt. Otherwise, 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 requirements
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Production of Single Action Army revolvers was halted at the outset of World War II to free up machines and manpower for filling wartime orders. After the war, Colt decided not to bring the iconic revolver back into production as it was seen as obsolete. The advent of swing-out cylinder revolvers and reliable semi-automatic pistols, they thought, meant that there was no place in the market for the antiquated single action revolver. 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 SAAs.
This is an example from 1956, the very first year of 2nd generation production. It has a 7 1/2" barrel and is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. The revolver appears in Very Good condition, retaining 80% original metal finish. The cylinder can be rotated out of lock and the stop bolt has a braze repair. The revolver otherwise appears to have seen more handling and cycling than actual shooting, retaining a strong bore. With a proper repair or replacement of the stop bolt, this will make a fine addition to any collection and should still prove to be a good shooter. Please see our photos and good luck!
