[kip595]

Being raised on John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies and having collected for almost 20 years, with Colts long a favorite, you'd think I would have certainly had one or two Model P/1873s pass my way over the years, but for some reason while I always admired them, I've just never come across one at a time and place that worked out - until the other weekend.

Below are a few snaps of this quite nice (IMO) very early 3rd gen. (1978) 5.5" .45 caliber example with original grips. When I came across it the action was stiff to say the least; the bore was sooty with powder residue from God knows how many years ago, and the overall finish was so dull as to make the piece seem almost matte.

But the serials all matched and after a quick disassembly (I know my way around them, just never owned one before!), quickly spotted the 'issues' the seller had gotten in over their head with, all simple fixes in the end: two metal burrs needed to be taken down just slightly on the edge of the hand as well as the interior edge of the hammer - took about two hours work, mostly due to the awkward angles. The piece came to me with the original grips in a bag and horrible plastic one-piece stocks on it - the grip pin was missing, so that was all of ten dollars. Then lastly I noticed the hand would still fail to completely engage without a strong, aggressive cocking motion, or a slow, click-by-click still requiring heavy force. Disassembled once more, the hand spring showed wear and heavy toning under my jeweler's loupe. New spring from Wolf later, and now it cycles through each chamber almost as smoothly as my early-era Python. *Couldn't find a bore light for pics yet, but happily once throughly deep-cleaned the lands and grooves glisten with no pitting - I think it may have gotten a few boxes of non-corrosive and then stuck away for a long time, if occasionally carried.

Serial: 9818XX SA

Once deeply cleaned, the case-coloring really came out nicely as well, I think. Not pristine and shows one or two scuffs (which maybe it's just me, but it's a Peacemaker for cripe's sakes, I want it to have some character!), but for a solidly under 2k, proper Single Action Army I'm pretty pleased with it, and it's a joy to shoot with traditional loads - enjoy the pics folks!

 

[rabun creek]

Congratulations.
That is the only 3rd generation I've ever seen with a round-top hammer.

 

[Walter Rego]

That's a nice gun and I'm sure you will be pleased with it.
I would spend a few bucks and replace the buggered screws in the frame and any others that may be deformed. That would greatly improve the looks. I hope you have been using correctly fitted hollow ground screwdrivers.

 

[martin08]

That's a nice gun and I'm sure you will be pleased with it.
I would spend a few bucks and replace the buggered screws in the frame and any others that may be deformed. That would greatly improve the looks. I hope you have been using correctly fitted hollow ground screwdrivers.

The rest of the finish on the gun is in good enough condition to warrant the investment into nice screws. I agree entirely with the suggestion.

 

[veeman]

And sent the hammer to Lever Action Bill for CCH! Nice score!

 

[kenhwind]

You also need to take the grip frame, or backstrap off and retighten the trigger guard screws, I see a gap in between the trigger guard and frame as well as the backstrap and frame.
Nice SAA.

 

[Alan Woodward]

Good find! looks great, wish you had taken a before picture.

 

[ricn]

The first of "anything" is always nice! in this case, a nice Colt. I sure remember my first one. Congratulations, enjoy.

 

[SHOOTER13]

Congrats on your 1st Colt SAA...she's a real beauty Kip !!


My 3rd Gen Colt SAA...circa 2008...shown with Sambar Stag Antler stocks:

.

 

[weagle99]

Point of order: The only way to own an SAA is for it to be a Colt.

Corvettes aren’t made by Volvo.

 

[kip595]

Thanks for the comments guys - actually have a local gent who may have screws for me - he's checking to see if it's a complete set, but I agree with the suggestion.

The hammer is the oddity here - I suspect that someone tried to correct how 'rough' the action was by simply dropping in a replacement without fully checking fit and the frame itself - but how that ended up being a hammer from about a decade and a half earlier, minimum - though a local Colt smithy did agree it looks to be proper Colt, between the toning of the metal and the checkering especially.

All things considered, even the hammer quirk aside, it's a great shooter-level SAA for my collection, at least.

*Thanks for the note about the grips; didn't notice myself until looking at the photos - another half turn (with a proper smithing driver from my kit) snugged them up nicely again.

Hope to take new photos soon if my local guy has that full set of screws - cheers all and have a great weekend!

 

[kenhwind]

I had a 2nd Generation for years but had to sell it. We had a 3rd Gen. that made an Uberti look righteous.
We tried the Uberti thing, but had to have the Colt SAA, now we have three., a late 2nd Gen .45, an early 3rd Gen. 44 Spl., and a late 1990's .45, and I still have my Pietta .44 WCF.
When my brother picked up the 2nd Generation from someone he does work for, even he admitted, "There's something about a Colt."

 

[dandak]

Nice gun!!! Can someone please explain what is meant about the "round top" hammer?

Corvettes aren’t made by Volvo.

I LOVE IT! Trust me I will use this quote often, but will give full credit to you!

 

[lestert45]

Can someone please explain what is meant about the "round top" hammer?

Round top hammer, used on 2nd generation SAA’s for several years starting about 1959/1960…..

As compared to…..

which is found on 1st generation, very early 2nd generation, late 2nd generation, and 3rd generation SAA’s

 

[lestert45]

Note the second picture in post #14 above is only intended to show the general flat shape of the hammer at the top; the hammer depicted is not representative of knurling, firing pin shape, or finish for all SAA generations.

 

[kip595]

Note the second picture in post #14 above is only intended to show the general flat shape of the hammer at the top; the hammer depicted is not representative of knurling, firing pin shape, or finish for all SAA generations.

Thanks for the helpful comparative pics, Terry; it's enough of an oddity I should've highlighted it in the original post really.

 

[bill-in-texas]

Round top hammer, used on 2nd generation SAA’s for several years starting about 1959/1960…..
View attachment 837445

As compared to…..
View attachment 837447

which is found on 1st generation, very early 2nd generation, late 2nd generation, and 3rd generation SAA’s

Mine, from 1875:

A better view of the top “flat” of the hammer, bottom picture.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Question? Are there supposed to be markings on the rear face of the cylinder? Pete

 

[kip595]

Question? Are there supposed to be markings on the rear face of the cylinder? Pete

I was curious about that and researched before buying - from what I can find many early/earlier cylinders in the 3rd gen lacked any markings at all. I've seen and looked over several in the last few weeks with unmarked cylinders, none dating earlier than '77 and the most recent was '82 or '84-ish. So from this and the consultation of several locals I've gathered not all cylinders will be marked (this is also true apparently for 1st gen guns to some degree re S/N stampings on cylinders, but I digress). EDIT: A couple of hours of google research also produced mixed results for cylinder markings during this era. I did see one that should be about a circa 1980 example, but it did have the rampant Pony stamping on the cylinder backside. Being an estate gun, the fellow who had that one openly said it could be a replacement cylinder, as the gun had definitely been worked on.

So what I can't determine is if/when the switch 'back' to the placement of the rampant Pony on the back of 3rd gen cylinders was standardized again, or if it was simply hit and miss. I know later 3rd gens can be found with caliber, Pony, or in one case I've seen, both. I believe that one had been purchased as a 'standard' then sent back to the Custom shop for factory fine tuning, IIRC.

*If this info I'm obviously lacking is readily available in Wilkerson's book please forgive me for my ignorance; I haven't found a copy yet!

 

[dkay62]

Being raised on John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies and having collected for almost 20 years, with Colts long a favorite, you'd think I would have certainly had one or two Model P/1873s pass my way over the years, but for some reason while I always admired them, I've just never come across one at a time and place that worked out - until the other weekend.

Below are a few snaps of this quite nice (IMO) very early 3rd gen. (1978) 5.5" .45 caliber example with original grips. When I came across it the action was stiff to say the least; the bore was sooty with powder residue from God knows how many years ago, and the overall finish was so dull as to make the piece seem almost matte.

But the serials all matched and after a quick disassembly (I know my way around them, just never owned one before!), quickly spotted the 'issues' the seller had gotten in over their head with, all simple fixes in the end: two metal burrs needed to be taken down just slightly on the edge of the hand as well as the interior edge of the hammer - took about two hours work, mostly due to the awkward angles. The piece came to me with the original grips in a bag and horrible plastic one-piece stocks on it - the grip pin was missing, so that was all of ten dollars. Then lastly I noticed the hand would still fail to completely engage without a strong, aggressive cocking motion, or a slow, click-by-click still requiring heavy force. Disassembled once more, the hand spring showed wear and heavy toning under my jeweler's loupe. New spring from Wolf later, and now it cycles through each chamber almost as smoothly as my early-era Python. *Couldn't find a bore light for pics yet, but happily once throughly deep-cleaned the lands and grooves glisten with no pitting - I think it may have gotten a few boxes of non-corrosive and then stuck away for a long time, if occasionally carried.

Serial: 9818XX SA

Once deeply cleaned, the case-coloring really came out nicely as well, I think. Not pristine and shows one or two scuffs (which maybe it's just me, but it's a Peacemaker for cripe's sakes, I want it to have some character!), but for a solidly under 2k, proper Single Action Army I'm pretty pleased with it, and it's a joy to shoot with traditional loads - enjoy the pics folks!

View attachment 837356
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Very nice Colt. I'm sure you'll be buying more!