New to the SAA thing.

[NewGunslinger]

Alright I know next to nothing about guns of value. I used my fathers guns groing up, and know how to use and care for both a 9mm Beretta and some high powerd revolver of his. I currently own a Glock 26. Only reason I say all that is so people get an idea of my limited knowledge of anything revolver or even gun history/society.

Anyways to my question, I plan on getting a NIB Colt 1873 SAA 3rd Gen. To be exact a p1876 as far as I know all that means is it is the 7-1/2" 45 cal version made recently. Yes the only reason I got it is cause when I think of cowboys I think Colt 45. I know that the usual pistol was a lower calibur like a .38 but that is off subject. I like the name Colt and aparrently I am mostly getting the name for the price tag. I want it for the status as you can tell. So I am going to get some walnut grips, and put some silver coild snakes on it like in the Spaghetti Westerns. Doing a lil research I think I am going to start a Colt collection. My next plan is to get a Navy 1861 1st Gen.

Is making the change gonna drastically affect the worth/quality/accuracy? When I talk to people who know alot about SAA should I tell them my reasoning, or just keep quite cause I spent $1700 on a childhood whim? Would you suggest getting the 1st Gen first? Would I be able to actuallt fire something so old?

Thanks for your time, and please not to many insults. Thank you.

 

[SASS#23149]

first.; Welcome to the Board!!
and welcome to saa shooting.

since you're buying it to shoot,the value is not gonna change at all by just changing the stocks.Just hang onto the old ones.
I like ur choice of caliber too.I have several colt copeis in that caliber.To own a real colt is a dream of mine.

AS to telling folks why ya bought it,say in a loud,determined voice;
It's a COLT!! 'NUFF SAID.

If they dont 'get it',take em out to shoot it.
They'll get it.

 

[Jamie C.]

If you're buying either of those two guns for their value/worth, you really don't want to fire them.

"NIB" is not the same as "used". Which is what the Colt will be the very first time you fire it, or even dry fire it.

With the Navy 1861 1st Gen, there's also the risk of the thing blowing up in your face when you shoot it, since those old guns aren't know for having the best metallurgy in the world... the steel is closer to cast iron, by some accounts...

Anyway, just thought you'd like to know. Me, I won't own a gun I don't shoot. You may be different. *shrug*


J.C.

 

[NewGunslinger]

Ok no 1st gen

I want to try and stay away from the replica, well actually I just want to stay with authentic Colt. There are ones called reproductions that just means 2nd or 3rd gen right? If I got a 2nd or 3rd model reproduction would it actually be made by Colt? Can these be fired with less fear of bodily harm? --Strictly talking about the Navy model in this one.--

 

[Jamie C.]

Colt doesn't make the 1863 Navy any longer. Hasn't for a very long time now.

And all the reproductions are just that; copies. These are made by various companies... Uberti, Pietta, etc.

Even the "Official" Colt BP revolvers that were offered a while back were made by somebody else, but finished and sold by Colt.

If you buy a real Colt 1863 Navy, it will be an antique, not a modern-made gun.

As for "1st generation, 2nd generation, etc.", that's the designation Colt uses for the various versions of the SAA that they've produced over the years... these are not reproductions. Currently Colt produces 3rd gen guns... if they make changes to it, it'll probably be referred to as 4th gen.


J.C.

 

[Harry Stone]

I'd also like to have a Colt, just because it's a Colt. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Have you thought about buying the Colts for the collection, and buying a replica to shoot?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Nowadays Colt advises buyers not to shoot the new SAAs they are making -- they are for collectors only.

 

[Jim March]

You need to read this thread next:

http://forums.sixgunner.com/colt_v%_clones/m_71895/tm.htm

All three pages of it.

Short version: if you buy a Colt, you will impress the ignorant. If you buy a USFA, (or better yet, a Freedom Arms!!!) you will impress those who know what's really going on.

Your call.

My recommendation: get a Freedom Arms '97 in 357Mag. Finest SAA-sized sixgun ever made. Ungodly accurate. The manufacturing process is entirely different than anything else. Once the frame is built, the cylinder is installed into it and drilled in a fixture that screws in where the barrel will go. That means the cylinder is bored CUSTOM to each frame, matching it's tolerances exactly. The FA '97 in 22cal has been documented as being able to put all shots into a one-inch group at ONE HUNDRED YARDS. That is rifle-grade accuracy. The centerfire variants won't quite match that but they'll beat, on average, literally anything else this side of a Korth, or SOME Colt Pythons made on very good days back in the 1960s.

http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom_97-22.htm

http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom_97-32.htm

The '97 frame is also available in .44 and .45cal but they are five-shot guns instead of six in the 357 and smaller bores. I personally would rather have a sixgun and while not traditional, the 357 is a fine caliber.

http://www.gunblast.com/Freedom_97.htm

People who can't afford an FA customize Rugers . That's my boat.

 

[Hawk]

Thanks for the link, Mr. March. I derived some minor comfort from Bane's remarks on the Texican - I caved and ordered one - should be delivered in about a month.

My first SAA and it's a clone by a manufacturer that never made one before. Worst of all, since it's my first SAA, I'll be totally unqualified to judge if it's better or worse than any other clone - this, perhaps, is for the best.

 

[NewGunslinger]

Why would you not fire a circa 2005 firearm? Depreciate in value, or reliabilty issues? Actually I remember seeing something that said people use em in SASS competition.

Looks like I will be firing the SAA but will be getting both the replica and original Navy. I'm glad the replicas are relativly inexpensive. Since I have now decided to spend tons on Colt I think I'll invest in a book or two, is there an essential one I should get to help me with collecting choices?

With the colt SAA since there is no safety bar how likley is an accedental fire? I don't plan on leaving it loaded but, like if I was horse back would a gallop cause it to go? or trying to quick draw and accidently punch the hammer insted of grabbing the grip? The saftey issue is more of just dropping it right?

Once I get the Colt 45 if(when) I really enjoy the relover pistol firing I will deffenetly go Freedom Arms. If nothing more then my uncle and cousins have Rugers. Rimfire is just a name for small Cal right? What would be a "long" range for a 97 7-1/2" firing the 22LR?

 

[Jamie C.]

I think I'll invest in a book or two...

Might be a better idea to do that before you spend a bunch of money on a gun.

With the colt SAA since there is no safety bar how likley is an accedental fire?

Very. Which is why the original SAAs were/are carried with only 5 chambers loaded, and the hammer down on an empty chamber.

Rimfire is just a name for small Cal right?

No. Rimfire denotes the type of ignition. Rimfire cartridges like .22 LR and .22 mag have the primer compound spun into the hollow rim of the case. Centerfire cartridges have a separate primer set in a pocket in the center of the case.

At one time there were a couple of large-caliber rimfire cartridges... .44 RF comes to mind... Nowdays, the little .22s and the .17s are about all that's left, and are probably why folks tend to think "rimfire" equals "small caliber".


Edit: One other thing you need to know about Colt SAAs and the replicas of them... if you shoot them often enough, you will eventually break a spring or wear out a small part. Bolt springs, hand springs, and the "leg" on the cylinder bolt are the items most prone to breakage. Mainsprings can go as well.
Someone else will have to comment on whether or not you can replace these parts with something other than Colt manufacture, or if you'd have to send the gun back to the factory for repair.


J.C.

 

[Jim March]

A lot of people buy brand new Colts (or USFAs for that matter) and don't fire them or even work the action in order to maintain maximum long-term resale value. "Unhandled" will often be referred to as "unturned" (for "cylinder never rotated").

Also known (somewhat derisively) as "safe queens".

Which is why Colt got away for many years with selling guns that either won't fire at all or have horrid triggers, etc. All that mattered was cosmetics.

To their credit, Colt has improved. But NOT yet to the level of USFA, which is building guns with a lot of old-school hand work. Or apparantly STI, which is trying to get there with ultra-modern manufacturing techniques (much like Freedom Arms) and is by all accounts succeeding.

---------

The Ruger New Vaquero is Ruger's newest single action. It's almost identical in size, weight and feel to the Colt SAA, but instead of flat springs inside there are modern coil springs. There's a good internal safety so it can be carried fully loaded. And it's compatible with an array of other Rugers so there are alternate parts available cheap and bolt right in. I paid $35 for my lower-slung hammer fr'instance, not $200 to have a gunsmith modify my original.

Accuracy is about equal to a Colt. Trigger feel isn't bad, not quite up to the standards of the best Colt or USFA but not bad. Case coloring is fake (chemical process!) but for a $500 that I don't feel bad about tweaking the hell out of, it's great .