Some of your information is at odds with this page, quoted for me in another thread by Arjay.The Third Generation began in 1976, characterized by a change in barrel thread pitch and a solid cylinder bushing replacing the removable/replaceable part from the first and second generations. This series ran until 1982 as a limited-issue product with the serial number range of SA80,000 to SA99,999. In 1994, production of the SAA resumed with the increase in popularity of "Cowboy Action Shooting" matches. These models are known either as "Late Third Generation" or sometimes Fourth Generation. They have the original style removable/replaceable cylinder bushing. The serial number for this series started at S02001A and continued to use the "S" prefix and "A" suffix to 2009. Colt currently offers the Single Action Army in one of two finishes: either an all-nickel, or blued with color case-hardened frame; in the traditional three barrel lengths: 4¾", 5½" and 7½"; and six chamberings: .32-20, .38-40, .44-40, .38 Special, .357 Magnum or .45 Colt; a total of 36 variations.[SUP][19][/SUP]
Colt manufactured Third Generation Buntlines and New Frontiers through the Colt Custom Shop, as well as many engraved pistols. In 2010, Colt released a "revival" of the Frontier Six Shooter with a nickel finish.[SUP][19][/SUP]
This is where some of the confusion comes in, because that page shows that in 1999 "cylinders with removable bushing reintroduced", and it also states that in 2003 "the 2nd gen removable bushing is reintroduced" So I guess to have a definitive answer, we need to hear from some SAA owners who have guns that were manufactured after 1999 and before 2003, whether or not their SAAs have removable bushings.Some of your information is at odds with this page, quoted for me in another thread by Arjay.
According to this, there was not break in production (maybe a slow down?) in the 3rd Gen. years, and the removable cylinder bushing was reintroduced in 1999. I'm not saying which is correct, just looking to find out which of the two is right, so I can have an accurate knowledge base.
There is no "4th Generation" (according to Colt!) and SAA production never stopped in 1982. Where did this information come from?The Third Generation began in 1976, characterized by a change in barrel thread pitch and a solid cylinder bushing replacing the removable/replaceable part from the first and second generations. This series ran until 1982 as a limited-issue product with the serial number range of SA80,000 to SA99,999. In 1994, production of the SAA resumed with the increase in popularity of "Cowboy Action Shooting" matches. These models are known either as "Late Third Generation" or sometimes Fourth Generation. They have the original style removable/replaceable cylinder bushing. The serial number for this series started at S02001A and continued to use the "S" prefix and "A" suffix to 2009. [SUP][19][/SUP]
[SUP][19][/SUP]
Nothing is absolute by serial #s when it comes to gun manufacturer changes. They are not built with updated parts in order or shipped in order. Therefore one can only give a range of when the changes actually show up on the guns.At approximately what s/n did Colt switch back to the removable cylinder bushings on the 3rd gen SAAs?
Best regards,