Uberti SAA/45 Colt

[bangswitch]

First Gen Colts were chambered for a bewildering number of cartridges. Yes, 45 Colt was first in 1873 and 44-40 followed in 1878. These were the two most popular chamberings, Colt made 158,885 First Gens chambered for 45 Colt and 71,391 First Gens chambered for 44-40. However, the list of cartridges First Gens were chambered for is 22 Rimfire, 32, Rimfire, 32 Colt, 32 S&W, 32-44 S&W, 32-20, 38 Colt, 38 S&W, 38 Special, 38-44, 357 Magnum, 380 Eley, 38-40, 41 Colt, 44 Colt, 44 Smooth Bore, 44 Rimfire, 44 German, 44 Russian, 44 S&W, 44 Special, 44-40, 45 Colt, 45 Smooth Bore, 45 ACP, 450 Boxer, 450 Eley, 455 Eley, & 476 Eley.

Damn, them cowboys way back when must have had a helluva time finding the right ammo at the general store.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

I would also expect a BP type frame gun have the BP cylinder taper too as in the second gun pic driftwood shows.

it is known as the Black Powder Bevel.

I got this photo off the internet, this is not one of my Colts. Notice how the bevel on the front of the cylinder varies in depth.

This First Gen Bisley of mine has the Black Powder bevel on the front of the cylinder. This revolver shipped in 1909.

Interestingly enough, Remington used the same type of bevel on the front of their cylinder. At the top of this photo is a Remington Model 1890 with its cylinder, at the bottom is a Remington Model 1875 with its cylinder. These are originals, not reproductions.

In this photo, left to right the cylinders are from Remington Model 1890, Remington Model 1875, Colt 2nd Gen, and S&W New Model Number Three. Note the 2nd Gen Colt does not have the Black Powder Bevel. I do not know when Colt stopped putting that style bevel on the front of the cylinder, but I suspect it was simpler (and probably less expensive) to make a cylinder with a constant bevel rather than the varying depth of the Black Powder Bevel.

Interestingly enough, this Uberti Cattleman has a Black Powder Bevel on the front of the cylinder. I bought this Cattleman used around 20 years ago. No, it does not have a 'Black Powder Frame' frame, just a 'standard' frame with a regular cross frame cylinder pin latch.

I took the liberty of pasting this photo from Bob Wright of an Uberti 'Black Powder Frame' revolver here. This is one of the best photos I have ever seen of a Black Powder Bevel.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Damn, them cowboys way back when must have had a helluva time finding the right ammo at the general store.

Don't forget, the First Generation of Colts went from 1873 until 1940. The most recent chambering on that list is 357 Mag, which was introduced in the SAA in 1935, the same year S&W introduced the cartridge. 45 ACP in 1924. Other than those two, the most recent 1st Gen chambering was 1891, for the Smith and Wesson 38-44 target cartridge.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I ain't gonna state here how much I have paid for some of my other Colts.

By the way, I am not reluctant to shoot my Colts, or turn the cylinder. They are not investments, they are shooters.

Judging from the size of your (enviable) collection, and the finances needed to support it, your willingness to shoot your guns isn't surprising.
Those of us, with more limited means, may make different choices.
BTW, viewing guns as 'investments' is not apt to reap rewards. I buy things I'm apt to shoot, and that appeal to me in some way. Spaghetti SAAs fit that category.
Moon

 

[Jim Watson]

the most recent 1st Gen chambering was 1891, for the Smith and Wesson 38-44 target cartridge.

Having owned and shot a S&W No 3 Target .38-44, I think that would be a great find.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

were did you get those bad boys?

I used to attend a nearby auction. I have since stopped. This auction used to be a live auction only, with a few lines for phone in bids.

Then they put the auction on line, and with the more bidders able to bid online, prices skyrocketed.

That is when I stopped going to the auction.

Then Covid happened.

Like I said, I would never buy a new Colt today.

The 7 1/2" 2nd Gen shipped in 1973. It came with the original box and the owner's manual.

The 4 3/4" 2nd Gen shipped in 1963. I bought it at the same auction, a few months apart from the other one.

Both are almost like new, with hardly any wear.

No, I ain't gonna say here how much I paid for them.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I used to attend a nearby auction. I have since stopped. This auction used to be a live auction only, with a few lines for phone in bids.

Then they put the auction on line, and with the more bidders able to bid online, prices skyrocketed.

That is when I stopped going to the auction.

Then Covid happened.

Like I said, I would never buy a new Colt today.

The 7 1/2" 2nd Gen shipped in 1973. It came with the original box and the owner's manual.

The 4 3/4" 2nd Gen shipped in 1963. I bought it at the same auction, a few months apart from the other one.

Both are almost like new, with hardly any wear.

No, I ain't gonna say here how much I paid for them.

Price… was just about to ask! you are one classy guy!

 

[AlexanderA]

The 7 1/2" 2nd Gen shipped in 1973. It came with the original box and the owner's manual.

This is my 2nd generation Colt that I bought new in 1974, for $225 otd (which was a lot of money for me at the time). It's shown with its original eagle grips, and with the one-piece grip that I put on it later.

It came in a "stagecoach" box, like yours. I threw the box away because it was shopworn (about to the same extent as yours is). Someone has been making these boxes as reproductions and selling them for $400 on ebay (just the boxes).