Colt Intermediate Smokeless Powder SAA (Mfg. 1908 - 1920, ser. no. range 300,000-339,000) Description

physical changes continued to occur during this period. Rampant Colt medallions were inserted into pearl, ivory, and checkered walnut grips in 1909, the .44 Special caliber was introduced circa 1912, the blueing process was gradually changed, and the circled rampant Colt on the frame began to lose its circle as the die stamps wore. The company, however, did not quickly give up the use of black powder rifling (wide grooves and narrow lands) completely until 1914, although an experimentation and transition period with narrower grooves and wider lands had begun about 1910. Similarly, the small and low black powder front sight did not change to the larger and higher smokeless profile until 1914. WWI came and went, and SAA sales began to decline. The year 1920 is very significant to Single Action collectors since this was the year that the serial number relocation was completed. Those numbers on the trigger guard and backstrap were moved under the grips beginning in the late 338,000 serial range (1919), leaving only the number on the frame visible. For a short period during this transition, serial numbers were stamped on the frame and the bottom of the backstrap, but not on the trigger guard. These are known as "two number guns." This brought to a close a practice which had begun in the 1840s with the percussion revolvers. Many collectors regard this as the end of the "cowboy" period.