Colt SAA dilemma

[n8dawg16]

Hello all,

I've go the hankering to get a SAA, probably in .45 with a 4.75 barrel. I've currently got a 3rd Gen New Frontier and I have to say, while it looks good it's not actually finished that well (common I know). So my issue is do I buy a current production gun or track down a 1st generation gun that's been refinished so I can actually afford it. I don't know if that's the smart thing to do since you immediately have more money into a gun that has a deteriorated finish and likely not in the caliber you seek. However, the 1st generation guns are well made.

[bigmuddy]

I will weigh in here...

First I will say that the most current production Colt SAA's are about as finely built, fit, and finished as any gun I have ever seen. In my opinion at least. There were some 3rd gen guns that were not all that great, but these ain't it. I would not hesitate to buy one.

If you are really looking for a 1st gen gun, do you really think even re-finished it will be cheaper? Not the case with any I have looked at around here. I have a 1st gen gun but it sure is not the best one I have. It is 112 years old and even if it was re-finished it would not be as good as my recent 3rd.

I say buy a new one and shoot it until all that finish wears off.

Dan

[hammerdown77]

Mar 22, 2012 17:56:10 GMT -5 bigmuddy said:

I say buy a new one and shoot it until all that finish wears off.

This.

Then maybe 100 years from now someone will be paying 100 times what you paid to get their hands on your well worn Colt ;D

[justahunter]

I just bought a new SAA. Fit and Finish are excellent in my opinion. Trigger needs work however. I'm sending it down to Bob Munden to improve things in that regard. Otherwise I really like it.

[n8dawg16]

A little more homework and yeah the idea of finding a 1st gen gun is out, I'm not made out of money (unfortunately). Gotta get my paws on a current production SAA, or maybe a New Frontier (I confess to liking adjustable sights).

[reconciler]

My first love is the Colt SAA and I have been shooting and collecting them for about 10 years. I own several 1st and early 2nd Gen guns plus a 2007 3rd Gen. I kept hearing how good the new SAAs are, but really didn't believe it. That is until I finally saw one last weekend. Absolutely stunning! The fit and finish was darn near perfect. I went back the next day to buy it, but it was already gone.

[coyote]

snooze you loose. been there personally too many times. now i jump so fast they never see me move...

[olddoc]

My two cents. I have one 1st generation, factory refinished by the way, three 2nd generations, two early 3rd generations and two recent (2005 & 2011) 3rd generations. I agree the recent ones are top notch and that is what I would buy. I would look for guns with serial numbers S37XXXA and up. That is roughly when they went back to the removable cylinder bushing.
First generation guns may be fine for collectors looking for a particular variation or model but why pay two or three times the price of a new one for something that often looks like it has been dragged behind a train ? Likewise, the prices on 2nd generations have climbed mostly because the quality control on the early 3rd versions was so spotty. Many of us now feel that with the quality of the recent guns equalling or surpassing the 2nd generation guns, why pay a premium , in some cases double, for the older gun ? From an investment standpoint, if I were younger and had the money, I would buy every new Colt I could get my hands on.

[CraigC]

First choice for me will always be a USFA. Don't care one whit about the Colt name, I want a well-made sixgun. They cost less to boot! If I wanted to spend Colt money, I'd get the Pre-War model.

A distant second would be a brand new Colt, not more than two years old. They are vastly improved over previous 3rd generation guns.