COLT STANDARD/CUSTOM SINGLE ACTION ARMY SAA (3RD GENERATION) Description
.32-20 WCF (mfg. 2005-2011), .357 Mag. (disc. approx. 1983, reintroduced 2005-2019), .38 Spl. (reintroduced 2005-2011), .38-40 WCF (reintroduced 2005-2011), .44 Spl. (disc. approx. 1983), .44-40 WCF (disc. 2011), or .45 LC cal., 4 (disc. 1988), 4 3/4, 5 (disc. 1987), 5 1/2, or 7 1/2 in. barrel, 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 in. barrels have the one-line barrel address, fixed sights, standard finishes include full blue (disc.), color case hardened/blue or nickel (disc. 2018), plastic black eagle or walnut grips (used mostly during 1991-92) standard, current mfg. of black powder frames are available in .45 LC cal. only (see separate listing for current mfg.), most recent mfg. has blue shipping box with white slip cover. Mfg. 1976 to date. Original 1976 issue price was approx. $242.
The following calibers .32-20 WCF, .38 Spl., .38-40 WCF, .44-40 WCF, and .44 Spl. are available through special order from the Colt Custom Shop. Please contact the Custom Shop for availability of options and pricing.
Some Colt SAA dealers and collectors have recently commented that current NIB 3rd Generation SAAs are bringing premiums over the 100% values listed due to the custom shop not producing SAAs per individual order like it used to. This has resulted in a decrease in supply (especially nickel-finished SAAs), and the result is that values on these NIB specimens have gone up accordingly.
Through 2001, Colt offered the SAA as both Standard and Custom Models. The difference is that single actions, which are further customized with engraving, special barrel lengths, stocks, etc., are packaged more elaborately because of the added value of the customizing.
Beginning 2001, all orders for SAA models are processed through the Colt Custom Shop. The 2001 Custom Shop MSR for the Custom SAA was $2,100.
Various custom order barrel lengths have been available on this model for some time.
The .357 Mag. and .44 Spl. cals. were mostly discontinued by 1983.
Colt manufactured approximately 100 screwless frames during the 1970s, and assembled approximately 50 guns at the time. The other 50 sat in the warehouse until Colt started assembling the screwless frames again during the 1990s. Most of these recent guns are engraved and in .38-40 WCF or .45 LC cal., and have either a 4 3/4 or 5 in. barrel.
To reference factory coding for the various Standard Model P (SAA) configurations, please refer to the Colt Single Action Model Numbers within the Colt Serialization section in the back of this text.