A Colt Single-Action Primer

Since the late 1870s, three different barrel lengths have been standard for the
Colt SAA. The 7½" length (left) came first in 1873, the 5½" (center) in 1875
and the 4¾" (right) was made a standard option in 1879.

Since its beginning in 1873, the Colt SAA has been made in three distinct “generations.” First generation SAAs ran continuously until 1940 with serial numbers stopping at 357859; there were no letters in the serial numbers. During this time there were two broad sub-categories — both of which were misnamed and were concerning the cylinder’s base pin securing latch. They were termed by collectors: black powder frame and smokeless powder frame. The former have a screw angling in from the front of the frame and the latter a spring-loaded transverse latch.

The truth of the matter is those different frames have absolutely nothing to do with smokeless powder or black powder. Colt began phasing out the angled screw in the early 1892, but did not make the transverse latch standard until 1896. Furthermore Colt did not warranty any SAAs for smokeless powder ammunition until serial number 192000 in 1900.

Inclusive of all three generations, Colt SAAs have been chambered for these
eight cartridges in significant numbers. From left: .45 Colt, .44 WCF (.44-40),
.38 WCF (.38-40), .32 WCF (.32-20) .41 Colt, .38 Special, .44 Special and .357 Magnum.

Due to the popularity of television westerns in the 1950s, Colt reintroduced the SAA in 1956 with total interchangeability of parts. Serial numbers started over again at 0001, but to keep old and new sorted they added an SA suffix. This was the 2nd Generation SAA production. Serial numbers reached somewhere into the 74000SA range by 1974, when Colt shut down SAA manufacture again. This time the recess was to allow retooling.

When Colt began shipping SAAs again in 1976, they skipped to serial number 80000SA. These revolvers now became known, as the 3rd Generation and this time not all parts were interchangeable. The hand that rotates the cylinder was redesigned, and the ratchet at the rear of the cylinder was altered to match the new hand. Whereas the cylinder’s base-pin bushing was removable in the first two generations, now they were pressed in. Also the barrel threads were changed from 20 per inch to 24 per inch. Third Generation cylinders could be fitted to 1st and 2nd Generation SAAs if the hands were also changed appropriately. Barrel swapping between 3rd Generation and the previous two generations was now out.

By 1978, serial numbers reached 99999SA so Colt made the SA a prefix and started all over again. By about 1994, numbers had reached SA99999 so Colt split the SA to either side of the numbers. At the time of this writing, the highest numbers personally observed by me have been in the S61000A range. Worthy of note is that somewhere along the way in the past decade or so, Colt saw fit to go back to the removable cylinder-pin bushing.

The reason for the Colt SAA’s development in the first
place was as a sidearm to accompany sabers for cavalrymen.

Throughout its long history and all three generations, the two basic
finishes offered on the Colt SAA are a full nickel-plating or color
case-hardened frame (and sometimes hammer), with the rest of the metal parts blued.

These are both 1st Generation SAAs. Note the one on left has a nickel-plated
grip frame, as was offered as a custom option by Colt in 1st Generation production.

Barrel Lengths

When developed, the SAA was intended specifically for the US Army as issue sidearm for cavalry regiments. As such, it was given a 7½" barrel. When civilians became enamored with SAAs, shorter barrel lengths became more popular. Colt introduced the 5½" length in 1875. The even shorter 4¾" length was made on request, but did not become standard until 1879. In the late 1800s, firearms manufacturers welcomed custom orders, and Colt SAAs are known to have been shipped with barrels as short as 2½" and as long as 16". However, the first three lengths mentioned above were considered standard.

When the 2nd Generation SAAs appeared in the 1950s, the same held true in regards to barrel lengths. Then some variations of barrel lengths began to gain names for themselves. There was the Buntline made popular by the Wyatt Earp television show; it was a standard SAA with 12" barrel length. On the other end of the spectrum, came the Sheriff’s Model; it had only a 3" barrel but no provision for an ejector rod. A sub-variation of this was the Storekeeper’s Model; it was exactly the same as a Sheriff’s Model, but had a 4" barrel.

In the 2nd Generation of production and carrying over into the 3rd
Generation, Colt SAA serial numbers had an SA suffix added. Also, in
the 3rd Generation the SA became a prefix ranging from SA00001 to SA99999.

In the 1st Generation of production, Colt SAA serial numbers were simply numerals.

About 1994, the SA letters were split and numbers started over again at S00001A.
The most recent numbers Duke has personally seen have been in the S61000A range.

All 1st Generation .38-40s were caliber-stamped as this 3rd Generation one,
but some 3rd Generation SAAs are also stamped .38-40 as well.

Calibers

It has often been written that 1st Generation SAAs were chambered for about 30 cartridges. However, only five of those 30 were made in enough quantity to be considered significant. In order of number produced, we have the .45 Colt, .44 WCF (.44-40), .38 WCF (.38-40), .32 WCF (.32-20) and .41 Colt. Now, let’s hit some details. Often, .41 Colt is called .41 Long Colt but SAA .41s were never stamped with “Long.” Also in 1st Generation SAAs, none were marked .38-40 or .32-20 — they all carried the WCF designation.

This is a 3rd Generation Colt SAA .44-40 (.44 WCF) with 3" barrel.
Colt actually made some like this in the 1st Generation, but the Sheriff’s
Model name did not appear until 2nd Generation.

Parts interchange-ability was 100 percent between 1st and 2nd
Generation SAAs. These are 1st Generation .44 WCF (.44-40)
Colt Frontier barrels Duke found; he installed one on what
started as a 2nd Generation .357 Magnum.

Caliber choices were much more restricted in the 2nd Generation production. Of course .45 Colt was tops, but the only other calibers offered as standard were .44 Special, .38 Special and .357 Magnum. In 1975, a special run of commemoratives was made and was called Peacemaker Centennials. A total of 2002 each were produced as .45s and .44 WCFs. Also it’s worth noting, the only caliber ever chambered in the SAA, which gained its own specific moniker, was .44 WCF. SAAs so chambered were usually, but not always, stamped either Colt Frontier Six-Shooter or Frontier Six-Shooter. I have never seen a Colt SAA marked as “.44 WCF.”

When the 3rd Generation SAAs came out, the first caliber offered was .45 Colt. It was soon followed by .357 Magnum, and in 1978 the .44 Special became available again. We shooters who loved the old and obsolete calibers were exceedingly pleased in 1982 to learn Colt was once again going to sell .44 WCF/.44-40 SAAs. I got one of the very first, but was surprised it was caliber stamped .44-40 and not .44 WCF or Frontier Six-Shooter. Eventually, the latter marking did appear again. Also in 1993, Colt reintroduced the .38-40 simply marked as such, but later on some got the original .38 WCF stamp — I’ve had both. Spurred by the popularity of cowboy-action competition, Colt also brought back .32-20 and .38 Special. By their 2011 catalog, which I picked up at the SHOT Show, all the calibers mentioned (in this paragraph) are listed as currently available.

Starting as early as 1892 but not becoming standard until 1896, Colt changed the
manner in securing the base pin to a spring-loaded transverse latch.

When introduced and until the 1890s, the cylinder’s base pin was secured by a screw angling in from the
front of the frame. This frame style is often mistakenly called the black powder frame.

Finishes

As adopted by the US Army in 1873, SAAs were shipped from the factory with frames and hammers color case-hardened, and the rest of the metal parts blued. Very quickly thereafter, Colt began offering full nickel-plating as a finish option. Such was popular in the black powder-era because nickel-plating resisted rusting, and the fouling left by shooting black powder ammunition cleaned off nickel-plating easily.

As said before, however, Colt accommodated custom requests in those days, so, a great number of variations in finish are known to exist. Shipped from the factory were full silver and gold plated SAAs, plus mixtures of nickel-plated and blued parts. For instance, SAAs are known to exist as factory originals with color case-hardened frame, blued barrel and cylinder, and nickel plated grip frame. Conversely, fully-blued SAAs were made too.

In 2nd Generation production, standard finishes were blue/color case-hardened and full nickel-plating. The same was true when 3rd Generation versions appeared in 1976, and they remain so today, although mixtures of finishes are known to exist. Here’s one interesting tidbit: SAA frames, when nickel-plated, have never been hardened.

Sheriff’s Model Colt SAAs carry nicely under a coat.

Left: Colt SAAs are perhaps the easiest of all revolvers to fit with custom grips.
These six illustrate the variety of grip materials on Duke’s own SAAs.From top
going clockwise: Buffalo Horn (Eagle Grips), Bison bone (custom), Stag (maker
unknown) hard rubber (Colt’s standard grip), ivory (Colt custom shop) and
1-piece walnut (Bozeman Trail Arms).

At this point, we should mention grips. The US Army wanted the toughest grips possible on revolvers that were going to be carried for weeks and months at a time on horseback. So they specifically requested “1-piece” walnut … and they literally are just that. The wood was inlet so the revolver’s grip frame could set into it. As the SAA became popular with civilians, 1-piece wood grips were replaced with other materials such as ivory, bone, horn and mother of pearl, as good examples. Eventually hard rubber, 2-piece grips became standard and they remain so.

Speaking Personally

I’ll wrap this up on a personal note. My first SAA was purchased in June of 1968, just after turning 19. It was a used 2nd Generation .45 with a 5½” barrel. The last one I bought was in 1999. It was a brand new 3rd Generation .38 WCF with a 7½” barrel. In between were scores of others in all the different calibers, generations and finishes. The barrel lengths ranged from 3″ to 12″. My favorites are .44 WCFs first, and .38 WCFs second, with 7½” barrel lengths as first choice. My current SAAs have hard rubber, buffalo horn, bison bone, stag, ivory and wood grips. Since I’m a shooter not a collector, I could care less what generation my SAAs belong in, as long as they hit point of aim and place bullets close to one another.

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