OT-Colt SAA

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 5:44 pm

Went to a crummy gun show this morning, but did find what I think was a good buy on a Colt SAA. It's a .357 magnum, with 5 1/2" barrel, made in 1978, and still NIB!
Seller had it priced at $1250, but after a short haggling process I got out the door at $950. I've always wanted one, and thought this was a good deal for an unfired early 3rd Gen Colt.
Mainspring seems a bit heavier than my AWA .45 SAA, but the trigger is crisp and clean. It wont stay unfired for long!

jazman · Post by **jazman** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:09 pm

Wow!
Good bargaining and a good buy, nice going. Jim

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 6:36 pm

Marlinman, Good snag. Like you said, the early 3rd's have a nicer fit & finish, plus you get the nice wood grain box, not some stupid looking blue piece of modern junk plastic.

My experience with Colt handguns chambered in .357 are most always better shooters than S&W. Pythons and SAA's slug out at .357 as opposed to S&W's .358, along with tighter chamber mouths of the Colts. (hey! what are you doing with handgun and a semi-modern at that?)

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:58 pm

Sixgun,
How come YOU know what the bore measures

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:59 pm

Sounds like good deal to me.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:23 pm

Sixgun wrote:Marlinman, Good snag. Like you said, the early 3rd's have a nicer fit & finish, plus you get the nice wood grain box, not some stupid looking blue piece of modern junk plastic.

My experience with Colt handguns chambered in .357 are most always better shooters than S&W. Pythons and SAA's slug out at .357 as opposed to S&W's .358, along with tighter chamber mouths of the Colts. (hey! what are you doing with handgun and a semi-modern at that?)

Yea, wood grain box, with strofoam insert.

Thanks for the info. As I said, I've always admired and lusted for a real Colt, but they seemed to keep increasing in value at such a rate that I just couldn't justify the prices.
I had a 7 1/2" SAA in .357 before, but didn't care for the long barel's balance. Traded it for an original 1875 Rem. .44-40. This 5 1/2" has really good balance

.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:27 pm

I agree with Sixgun, you got a good deal.

GEOFF · Post by **GEOFF** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:57 pm

mm93,

Well it looks like you got more than a Marlin and Ballard magnet!

I think you did really good! I've never had a real COLT to compare them to but I know my U.S. Firearms single actions sure bring me a lot of happiness.

I got a new generation Smith&Wesson Schofield to compare the balance and feel of the Colts to and there is NO COMPARISON! Colt knew what they were doing when they used the Navy grip frame size and geez it just feels great in your hand.

I agree with you on barrel length too. I got that Nettleton .45SAA, then I got a 4 3/4" .45 also and when and if I order one in .38-40 it'll be either 4 3/4" or the 5 1/2" like you just got. Won't be another 7 1/2", I just like the feel of the shorter guns better. But you just about have to try them all to see what works and feels best for you. That's what I'm in the process of doing.

Also I like the fact you are going to shoot this nice little Colt! No sense leaving them tucked away. Great attitude!

Geoff

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:01 pm

Have fun with your Colt SAA! They are like no other!

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:18 pm

Vall, you did plumb good on that deal like I told you before God will still smile on us when He wants to. I bought my Colt .45 SAA 5 1/2 inch in 1959 and it is still my main carry piece most of the time.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:56 pm

Pictures? PLEASE!

Congrats! I bet it looks a lot like this

:

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:06 am

Sixgun wrote:Marlinman, Good snag. Like you said, the early 3rd's have a nicer fit & finish, plus you get the nice wood grain box, not some stupid looking blue piece of modern junk plastic.
My experience with Colt handguns chambered in .357 are most always better shooters than S&W. Pythons and SAA's slug out at .357 as opposed to S&W's .358, along with tighter chamber mouths of the Colts. (hey! what are you doing with handgun and a semi-modern at that?)

What stupid looking blue piece of modern junk plastic

"the early 3rd's have a nicer fit & finish" (hummm

)

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:29 am

casastahle wrote:
What stupid looking blue piece of modern junk plastic

"the early 3rd's have a nicer fit & finish" (hummm )

Casastahle,
Yes, I should have remembered they got better after a junk period of about 10 years. There was a time when fit and finish declined and when you bought one, it came in a ugly blue plastic box. This was in the late eighties and early nineties when they retailed for about $900. I have a few and they all needed a complete takedown and polishing of parts.
fast forward a few years and they started coming in nice boxes like yours and they were tuned much better. I have only bought 2 of them but have yet to shoot 'em as I had 'em custom serialed numbered. The below SA Colt is not mine but belongs to a guy out West who bought it from my buddy Tom. It was a Colt showpiece at the Shot Show in 2001. Was master engraved by John Adams Sr.----Has a full blue frame and if you notice, no screws through the frame.-----ONE piece ivories with solid gold medallions.------------She's a beauty

cshold · Post by **cshold** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:09 am

That is one sharp looking Colt

Where did he get the solid gold medallions?

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:39 am

I bought a NIB 32-20, with the 7.5" barrel, last year. Dealer sold it to me for $1125 because the "new" blue box had a couple of splits in the corner. It was everthing I had hoped for.

Vall,
I know you're doing like I did and just sat at home cocking it and listening to the CLICK....CLICK.....CLICK......CLICK .

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:51 am

casastahle wrote:That is one sharp looking Colt
Where did he get the solid gold medallions?

Whoever does the grips for Colt got them. Colt subcontracts most of its custom grips and engraving out.--------Sixgun BTW-it sold for $6500

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:15 am

Gotta love a Colt SAA. I do.

blackhawk44 · Post by **blackhawk44** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:44 pm

Clones and copies are nice, but no matter which one you choose, it will never be a COLT.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:34 pm

Sixgun,

I recall that gun, somewhere I saw the secret as to how it's assembled.

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:18 pm

Griff wrote:Sixgun,

I recall that gun, somewhere I saw the secret as to how it's assembled.

Griff,
One night we were playing around Targetmaster and I tell Tom that I'm gonna take that engraved SA apart to see what made it tick. He knows I can take one completely apart and back again in a couple of minutes. He tells me if I take that screwless frame SA Colt apart, he's going outside and is going to start working on my Jeep Rubicon with an 1911 loaded with Cor-Bons

-----------------Sixgun

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:54 pm

I've got three clones too. An AWA .45 Colt, a Cimarron Uberti .32-20, ad a very early Ubert adjustable sight .38 Spl. with the brass grip frame.
I actually like them all, and they shoot well. The early Uberti broke the hammer notch years ago, and I replaced the hammer and pawl with a Colt SAA version. It's been great since that one repair.
The AWA has the nicest action, even lighter than the Colt, but not as crisp. I think I'll probably replace the mainspring, (or rework it) on the Colt, as it seems too heavy when cocking it. Other than that it's much nicer fit and finish than the others.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 11:40 pm

Sixgun wrote:
Griff wrote:Sixgun,

I recall that gun, somewhere I saw the secret as to how it's assembled.
Griff,
One night we were playing around Targetmaster and I tell Tom that I'm gonna take that engraved SA apart to see what made it tick. He knows I can take one completely apart and back again in a couple of minutes. He tells me if I take that screwless frame SA Colt apart, he's going outside and is going to start working on my Jeep Rubicon with an 1911 loaded with Cor-Bons -----------------Sixgun

I think I'd go real slow on taking his Colt apart! I wouldn't worry too much, they built plenty of Jeep Rubicons. You do have comprehensive, right?