Value of Colt SSA PURELY as a shooter?

oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
I'll preface this by admitting I know virtually NOTHING about the REAL (or even perceived!) value of old Colt SAAs! In general terms/range, what would a Colt SAA "Frankenstein" gun value be? Looks like Gen 1 frame, Gen 2 cylinder, mixed other parts, good condition, nothing special about it. But it is DEF a Franky/parts gun. I am interested in it as purely a shooter. TIA
 
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Walks

Well-Known Member
Depends on the condition of the Revolver. Was is refinished, put together well ? was it a good job ? does it lock up & index properly ?
What kind of shape is the revolver in ? is it pitted ? when was it made ? Smokeless SN# or Black Powder ? can you shoot it before buying ?
Is it in a caliber you want ?

How bad do you want it ?
 
CZ93X62

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
"Single Action Army" originally meant 45 Colt. The 44/40s were called "Frontier Six-Shooter". If the many other calibers they came in had model names, I don't know of them. I recall my mentor Leo Reyes--who had a bunch of these--calling them "Single Action 32/20 Bisley Model" in the case of an example he did a bit of work on for my Dad (that I now have), or "Single Action 38/40". "Plow handle" and "Bisley grip" got used too. Leo didn't have any of the "Sheriff's Models", and I don't recall him using that term.

I have an old reference book "Colt Firearms, 1836-1954" on the garage bookshelf, if someone has more detailed questions about the Colts of that age I can give that tome a look-see. It is a heavy, hard-bound volume that takes two men and a small boy to manuever, but I'll put in the hours.
 
Mitty38

Mitty38

Well-Known Member
^^^^^yup. just depends on how much you want it. But I would not buying it with out a test fire.
 
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Matt

Matt

Active Member
It’s worth exactly what you will pay for it. Colt single actions have something that the reproductions I have owned and handled do not. The fit, finish, and feel is superior. Rugers feel crude and clunky compared to Colt SAAs but don’t break. Colts are relatively fragile and I am careful with the SAA I have left. Loads are conservative and I use one bullet for it to decriminate from Ruger 45 Colt loads that are too hot for the SAA. All Colts are over priced these days. The problem is once something like this starts talking to me I’m miserable until I figure out how to buy it. If you just want it for a shooter you might be better served with a reproduction or a new style Ruger Vaquero. But I’m guessing the panache of a real Colt is part of the issue. Very understandable. My last “had to have” was a Colt New Service .38/40 that caught my eye. It’s rough inside and out and needed work. I paid twice what I thought it was worth. I haven’t regretted the purchase. Lots of shop time with it and it looks like it will shoot okay.
 
CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have a couple but only cause I was in the right place at the right time and knew the right folks. They can be all over the map from 1000$ New Frontier to 10,000 first gen 44/40 beauties.

I think the NF is under rated as a shooter and hunter. Nice guns. But I tend to agree if this is a want look at the copies Uberti & Cimmeron. Cimmerion I Guarantee will Impress ya. Give them a look before ya buy.

 
W

Walks

Well-Known Member
I have to disagree on Colt SA's being fragile.

I shot Cowboy for over 22yrs with a pair of 3rd Gen SAA's in .44Spl. Any where from 100rds per month per gun to 300rds per month per gun.
All told 4 bolts, 3 hands, 4 bolt springs & 2 mainsprings. Both Revolvers had seen a couple thousand Heavier then "Skeeter" loads before I started Cowboy Shooting.

In My Old NM Ruger Blackhawk .357 from 1974 - 1987, I replaced one bolt in 35,000 rds.

In all My time Cowboy Shooting I did see a few Ruger's break. Both Old & New Models.
Use any Firearms, hard enough & often enough and they will break.

As far as feel; there is nothing that balances as well in the Hand as well as a 5 1/2" Colt SAA.
Put one side by side with a New Vaquero and You will feel/see the difference.
I have both a Colt & N. Vaq. in .45Colt w/ 5 1/2" bbl's. The difference is incredible.

But if I were to start Cowboy Shooting today; I would pick a pair of New Vaquero's in .44Mag.
Shoot My light .44Spl load of a 210gr RN over a minimum charge of Titegroup. A much better load then a mouse gas .38wimp loading.

I miss the Glory Days of Cowboy Shooting in SoCal, you could shoot every Sat & Sun. Some Days even had more then one shoot scheduled.
 
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Ian

Ian

Notorious member
I would even put a Stoeger-branded Uberti up against a Colt. Cimmaron is a step up in fit/finish and Taylor's & Co are nice too. I own at least two examples of all three of those and every one of the full-frame single-actions beats the base pin to smithereens against the cross pin. An extra power Wolf spring helps but the only cure has been to replace the base pin with one from Brownells, sometime oversized is necessary depending on how badly the frame gets messed up by the peened pin. A wire trigger/bolt spring from Wolf improves trigger pull dramatically and makes the bolt operation smoother and saves it getting mushroomed from slapping the cylinder so hard. Thise three modifications and a good cleaning of internals when you first get it make a delightful and durable revolver.
 
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Walks

Well-Known Member
I have a number of the Italian Clones, most have large chamber/throats and small diameter bbl's.
Fit & finish has improved drastically over the last 15yrs.
That last Colt SAA I bought was almost 20yrs ago. It turned out to be the 2nd best Colt SAA I've ever shot. Best looking SA too.

I've had problems with cross-pin springs on a wide variety of SA's. Only had one Colt with a weak spring. And that was with real warm loads. Ruger SBH STS 10 1/2" had a very weak spring. Worked the base pin out on the 1st cylinder. My old friend the NM Blackhawk .357 still has all it's original springs, only functional part that I replaced is a worn locking bolt. But after 35,000 hot loads anything will show some signs or wear.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Have/love the Cimarron/Uberti/Taylors ,in rifle and revolver. This one is in 44 SPC. Also understand the "don't pay more than for a clone." It is at $500 now/sure it will go up. Prob pass.
 
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Walks

Well-Known Member
I have a Uberti in .44-40 with an aux cylinder in .44Spl. It will out shoot either of My Colts in .44Spl with the same load.

GEEZ, Do I Love Single Actions !
 
fiver

fiver

Well-Known Member
I'd drop the coin on a USFA twice before I even considered buying a COLT anything.
even the real early barely finished [uberti parts] USFA Rodeo's are better colts than the colts.
 
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CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I have a couple USAF revolvers. Fine quality... at least at the start.
I bought a 5.5" BP frame flame blue revolver. Beautiful and pretty good shooter! Some years later I was presented a 7.5 Bisley from the Metropolitan League of Hartford CT. I have only shot that one once. (Engraved and personalized) Its a beauty for sure!!

CW
 
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