I have been holding off selling my 70s made New Frontier .44 Spec. 7.5" , which I shot a few cylinders full to adjust the sights, found it was capable of astounding accuracy , minutely stripped and cleaned and put it back in the factory box in early 80s , because of the low prices they fetch. The polish and finish is generally better than most standard Gen 2 &3 SAAs that I have bought or had since. but a standard SAA seem to sell for substantially more despite the vastly superior sights. The grips , even way back gen 2 on the New frontier have been less than spectacular , I swapped a set Colt Gutta Percha "Eagle" grips on mine for a while to match my 1972 New Frontier .22 convertible .
Those grips you had made are gorgeous and yes the 4.75 " New Frontiers sell better. There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel and the price of a New Frontier seems to be Creeping up close to Gen 3 SAA now. Interestingly a new Frontier shares the "SAA" roll marking on it's barrel . It is a stronger gun in smaller than .45 calibers IMHO than s standard frame SAA , certainly much better field accuracy too .
I have always liked the Colt New Frontier and would have have anything, when Colt was making them back in the 70s and early 80s. Trouble was, I didn't have the money back then. When Colt started cataloging New Frontiers in 2012, I should have got one ordered then. I almost waited too long. I got my order in, right at the cutoff, when they were going to stop making them. I am really glad, I didn't miss out. It took a year and three months to get it. I figured Colt was not going to deliver it because it was so close to the cutoff. I remember seeing New Frontiers in the gun cases, when I was a kid and young man, with a family and a young baby to boot. All I could was look at them and a lot of other fine firearms, that were being produced then. I wish I could go back in time, to that time with a few thousand and buy some of what I lusted after then. I guess, stuff like the New Frontier, doesn't get the younger crowd excited. Seems like firearm manufacturers are trying to produce the cheapest firearm now, that will shoot and function. When you go in a gun shop now, you don't see a lot of walnut and steal. It's mostly synthetic and polimer. Very different world now, as firearms go. I see a lot of your post and see your taste runs, like mine. I have always liked pretty wood on my firearms. A handgun is perfect to stock in some pretty wood. I have a 1911, that I have ivory grips on, but they don't do it for me, like pretty, figured wood. You are right, even on the old new frontiers, the factory grips left a lot to be desired. From looking at New Frontiers, listed on auction sights, I believe the current New Frontiers, come with worse grips. They honestly look like pallet wood. No finish at all. I bought another New , the gun shop i frequent, received after I bought this one. I bought it too. It's a 4 3\4" . 45 Colt also. I am considering selling it, but if I keep it, I will be sending it off for grips to, because, it has rough looking grips too. Looks like Colt could do better, on grips. But it's not just colt, some Rugers look like a monkey made the grips. Rugers usually have wide gaps, between the frame and grip frame. I guess the all just put something on them, to get them out the door and leave it to the buyer to correct. Just seems they could all do better on grips, especially in the single actions.
