1st gen Colt SAA .32-20 questions

[brewer]

Hello there All:

I am new here, but not new to single actions. Great forum! I have a few questions and am looking for some sage advice from the forumites. Speccifically:

I have a lead on a 1st generation Colt SAA in the 335XXX serial range, making it 1916 or '17 production, I'd imagine. It's a .32-20, blue/CCH, 4.75" barrel with about 40% finish left overall. Timing is perfect; the original hard rubber grips are broken but have been replaced with a set of 2nd gen stocks. The seller wants $1500 - is this a good price? .32-20 is a rare chambering, but doesn't seem to command anywhere near the demand of .45 Colt and .44-40, etc. As to the chambering - how's the .32-20 for shooting? What are the ballistics like out of a 4.75" barreled Colt?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Brewer

[wickerbill]

Brewer
Welcome to the forum. I checked my books and it looks like the DOM is the year 1890. Also checked the production numbers and it looks like there were around 29,000 made in 32WCF. Only 38-40, 44-40 and 45 Colt had higher production numbers. And at $1500 on any 1st gen gun, jump on it. I would.

32-20 is a good little cartridge. It's got a lot more potential than a lot of people give it credit for. I like the round.
Bill

[cubrock]

A serial number in the 335,000 range would definitely be well into the 20th century.

.32-20 isn't considered as desirable by collectors as .45 Colt or .44-40. However, for shooting they are dynamite and a lot of lawmen carried .32-20s, especially Texas Rangers. If the bore and chambers are nice, I'd be mighty tempted at $1500. If you pass on it, I'd appreciate contact info.

[e-mail]

[patdaddy]

i agree, a 1st gen colt saa for 1500 is good.
btw, Collectors Firearms has a 1900 example for 1695
collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=41355

[brewer]

Thank you gentlemen! It sounds as though this is a deal I should make. I wasn't planning on it, having recently shelled out a lot of gun money for a gorgeous, silver-plated 3rd gen SAA .45 with C+ engraving by John Adams, Sr. But, it sounds as though this is a pistol I should add to the collection. I did not know that the Texas rangers favored the .32-20. Why? Was it for its presumed controllability, or flat-shooting characteristics? What kind of velocities is the round capable of with factory ammo? I'm imagining it's somewhere on par with the 9mm, like a 115 grain lead slug at about 1200 fps - am I in the ballpark?

Thanks again!

Brewer

[cubrock]

Here is a good article on the capabilities of the .32-20.

www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

The Rangers had to, well, range more than a lot of lawmen. They had to carry everything they might need with them. For the same weight, you can carry a lot more .32-20 ammo than you can .45 Colt or .44-40. Also, it is flatter shooting, especially out of a rifle. A lot of them had SAAs in .32-20 because they had Winchester Model 73s in .32-20.

It is a great cartridge. I love it. I have a non-factory refinished 1st Gen shooter from around 1911 that I bought a couple years ago. Its mate is a Winchester Model 53 in .32-20. Great combo.

[brewer]

Thanks again,

I've decided to go for it, just need to move some ol' stuff out of the safe first to free up some cash.

cubrock, thanks for the explanation - seems to make sense that the lightweight ammo would have been an advantage given the distances involved, and the general lack of well-stocked ammo shelves at the local Wal-Mart, circa 1900

brewer

[patdaddy]

be sure to post lots of pics when u get it.
theres something really cool about old colts. the history, and wondering where they've been and what theyve seen. ive got a 7.5 inch 45 from 1877.

[swamprat]

:)The 32-20 is one of my favorite cartridges, here a some of my 1st gen Colts:

[cubrock]

That engraved SAA is just about my idea of perfect, swamprat. I love it when you post pics of your stuff!

[patdaddy]

holy underwear!

[dmize]

Yea what Patdaddy said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kinda embaraases my stainless Vaquero/1894 CB combination....

[swamprat]

"That engraved SAA is just about my idea of perfect, swamprat. I love it when you post pics of your stuff!"

Thankss, Cubrock, here's some more 32-20's although not single actions:

S&W Hand Ejector:



S&W 32-20 HE with extra factory 32 Long cylinder:


Colt Army Special:


S&W HE 32-20 King Super Target:


S&W 32-20 HE Target Mdls:


S&W 32-20 HE Target factory nickel:


Colt Police Positive 32-20's:

[patdaddy]

i love those king-modified revolvers. they always look so cool

[cubrock]

I want that King gun!