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Third generation

8K views 65 replies 37 participants last post by  johnh 
#1 · (Edited)
I wonder why some forum members say to buy a 3d generation over a 1st generation. I contend that a 3d is just a clone , the same as a Uberti or Pietta. A 3d is assembled of outsourced parts. They have no historic value. The workmanship is of varying quality. They say they are shooters but you can get the same effect by shootings a Ruger Blackhawk. First and second SAA are made by Colt. The 1st have historic value. As a shooter they are a clumsy inaccurate pistol. A modern S&W is more accurate and a lot easier to load and eject. Holding The 1st generation you can wonder who had it in the 1870's and how it was used. 3d generations have no history. Third generations are over priced and of not much value historic or as a shooter.
 
#4 ·
I don't believe the 3rd Gen revolvers are any more outsourced than the rest of the line...the raw forgings all come from a vendor that specializes in such items. They're not made from Italian sourced parts as such misinformation has been spread. Colt does all the machining, finishing and assembling plus I believe Colt makes the barrels themselves. Many gunmakers buy their raw forgings and castings from outside vendors. I get the uneven quality at times but one can say that about other Colt products as well...they are different periods of time with different corporate owners...union strife...lazy management and other reasons why such quality control issues occur. S&W has definitely had the same issues over time...so has Charter Arms, Dan Wesson, Winchester, Marlin and others. That doesn't justify it but does explain it.

If I'm incorrect I'd appreciate the correct story.
 
#6 ·
I do not belittle you for your purchase, oblivious you wanted a Colt and you got it, but I just wonder why people buy 3d generations colts. The only reason I can think off people want the name. I would rather have a reblued 1st generation from the 1880's with all the faults but was around when firearms were a important part of the founding of the country. I still think that the 3d generation have as much in common to the original as a 1920 Chev roaster has to a corvette, they both have 2 seats, a baggage rack and wheels, and go down the road.
 
#7 ·
Sebastian21, I am in agreement with you. Many people probably buy 3rd gen SAA's because they see them rapidly escalating in value. The same phenomenon that was seen with Pythons when the Walking Dead TV show introduced many novices to that gun.

Of course, for real shooters, the later 3rd gen SAA's exhibited exceptional quality, but that higher quality version seems to have 'slipped away' or devolved to an SAA of lesser quality.
 
#8 ·
Walk a gun show some day with your overbuffed, no CCH, reblued 1st gen and see what kind of interest you get. "But it was made in 1880" wont get you very far. I would rather pay more for a 1st gen that had no trace of finish left.

Trust me, I have been down that road
 
#9 · (Edited)
I have a very small herd of SAA's- to me they are shooters, I like the deadly. archaic feel of them and the old world suffer no fools design of them- when you pick a SAA up you know it was made for hard use over 100 years ago. I have Colts from all era's of production.

I'm not very good with them but I keep one loaded sometimes in the hut to repel boarders and if I was in a free state I am goofy enough that I would carry one.

All of the different generations are Colt SAA's, and in the 3rd gen- for sure there are wild variations of quality.

When you pick up a Colt SAA you enter the past- a very different country. A Ruger won't do that for you just saying, and I am a big fan of the Ruger new Vaquero..

They are rugged and well suited for field use, plinking, self defense, etc and no fire arm is as much fun- as a Colt SAA.

The bad thing is Colts Management does not have a clue about the golden goose they are sitting on with the Colt SAA and have turned it into the equivalent of a Rolex watch or something pricing it out of range for the many thousands of people that still want them. It is one more idiot move- by the suits at Colt.

Make me sad that it seems folks won be buying the venerable SAA for hard use and shooting enjoyment for much longer.

Never got my paws on a good Italian SAA 4 Clicker yet- or a Standard arms version, but I am damn glad they are around

YMMV
 
#11 ·
I agree with both Saintclair and 29aholic. I often wondered why Pythons went so high. I never see the walking dead. And 29Ahold is correct. Younger collectors are not much interested in history. I do not think 3d generations are going to go up in value for the same reason. Young people want Glock and Sigs not some slow firing clunky revolver. I see the same thing at gun shows the crowds are around 9mm fast firing auto not around historic guns.
 
#14 · (Edited)
"Seeing that I am picking up my first real SAA, a 3rd gen nickel 357 mag in a couple hours, this thread saddens me."

Don't worry Amigo-

When you touch off that thumb buster, the sadness will fly out of your soul the dark clouds will part and you will see yourself back in Dodge city Kansas circa '76 in a saloon with Miss Kitty sitting on yer knee...

In 20 years the finish of that Colt will be cloudy it will be well worn from honest use- after a range trip you will head home have a cheese burger and a beer, grin- and reflect that you are damn glad you bought that Colt...

And not a Glock.

lol
 
#15 ·
I would guess that 95% of all SAA's made before 1900 have been changed from the way they were shipped from the factory. They were altered because they were heavy used in normal day use. Sure rifles and shotguns out sold revolvers because they were much more practical and SSA's were expensive. But I do not think most were drawer queens. The few drawer queens that surface are high priced collector guns. My first gun was a Colt SAA that I got from my grandfather in 1945. He was born in 1860. It had been shot so much that the cylinder locking notches broke through the cylinder wall. It lettered to 1875. It is still on my wall: have not shot it in 60 years. I don't think that most people bought guns after the civil war to keep in a drawer. They bought them to use.
 
#20 ·
SDRider brings up a good point. Does anybody know where SAA are assembled, by whom, and where the parts came from? I would reall like to know. I know that the past recent Colt Auto pistols where made by others and the Colt name applied. We also know the Cowboy was assembled using Uberti parts. The signature series black power were assembled by Brookland Arms with no association with Colt. So is there a factory with Colt Manufacturing Co on the door occupied by skilled workmen making SAA's?
 
#21 ·
Where are you getting your information or are you just trolling to get a rise out of people? If you're going to make such accusations give a source where it came from.
 
#22 ·
What other gun, of any type, is still made by the same manufacturer, in essentially the same form, after nearly 150 years? None that I am aware of. That, in and of itself, creates value in the currently made Colt SAA. Over that period of time there will be some variation in quality from time to time, but the Colt SAA has stood the test of time like no other firearm, ever. Uberti, Ruger and others build what are essentially copies of the Colt and they shoot just fine. None has Colts history.
 
#23 ·
I am putting "history" into my 3rd Gen 45 nearly every day. I bought it new in 1994 and every scratch, rub, and ding were put there by me. It is the history that I hope my grandkids and their grandkids will be proud (and allowed) to own.

I recently traded my last 1st Gen for a like new 2nd. It was mine for years and now it sits with a collector that is glad to own it, and the gun I got shoots sooooo much better. I'm obviously one who likes to shoot.

Yes a Smith or even an adjustable sighted Ruger may be easier to shoot well and I enjoy several of them. I don't buy that they shoot better. I like the challenge with the SAA.

Dan
 
#24 ·
One thing left out is the pride of ownership thing. Colt vs the others. And I LOVE Ruger Blackhawks. But it isnt there like with a Colt. And, I have said this before here, it applies to most everybody. You can buy the cheapest car made to get you from point A to point B. No need for Camaros or 'vettes (or Impalas or Mustangs), etc. But pride of ownership comes in....we buy a car that meets our needs and also gives us pleasure in owning. No Italian clone will do it to me like a Colt will. No Ruger does it to me, except Dads flattop Ruger 44 he bought in 1958 when he had to choose between the house payment or the gun! And a 3rd gen does it for me just like my 1st gens do. THAT is why I buy 3rd gens.
 
#25 ·
In Bill Wilson's book from back in the '80s, before he was selling guns under the Wilson Combat name...was discussing brands. He mentioned how some would put down the Colt in favor of another brand then asked that if he put down a new Colt and a Brand X .45 Auto and said you can pick one for free...which would you pick? He said the answer was obvious...you would pick the Colt.

The Colt name means something or we wouldn't be here. I'm not saying Colt hasn't fallen down sometimes when it comes to their product line or quality control at times...but the name still carries a lot of history and reputation.
 
#26 ·
I agree with all responses to my question on why people buy 3d generations. All the reasons are good and personal. My personal preference is I would rather have a good pre-1900 1st then a third but you all have put forth good reasons for buying the modern version and that what makes Colts collector item.
 
#27 ·
You can always believe what you want to believe. This is America and you entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. While you may believe that 3rd gen Colts are clones, the fact that they have "Colt" marked on the them makes them not a clone. How about 2nd gens? Are they clones? Or just 3rds, because the 2nds were outsourcing frames as well. Other parts most likely too.
 
#28 · (Edited)
I have noticed over the last 35 or so years that people who run down Colt don't have any experience with Colts. Gun store employees are the worst. but it seems lots of regular shooters are just as bad. To each there own. My first handgun was a Colt and it is too late in the game to change now. Enjoy your Colts because life is short and you are dead along time.
 
#30 ·
Dunno but this way of thinking about the Colt SAA gens reminds me of the entire line of AR-15’s from the beginning in the 1960’s to today.... every single one of them from Colt is an AR-15. Did parts come from varied vendors over the years? Did the design change over time but still the same basic rifle at the end of the day? I would say yes, to me they all are a part of the history of Colt and what we like about the company that makes it great.

I’d think the SAA is no different, the same cow poke that plunked down his coin on the table of a store in the 1800’s for his 1st gen is no more a part of the history of that weapon than me plunking down on My 3rd gen in 2014. Parts came from different places over the years, designs have been changed a little over time but I still have my SAA. And it will have its place in the history of Colt, in 2014 they made a sexy beast of a revolver and its awesome!

Stinkyrat
 
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