Colt 3rd Generation Single Action Army .44 Special 5.5 Inch Revolver, Manufactured 1982
Archival record: Specifications and condition reflect the firearm as listed at the time of auction.
Final Auction Price: $1,806.00
Few American handguns possess the enduring identity of the Colt Single Action Army. This 3rd Generation SAA was manufactured in 1982 and combines the classic 5.5 inch barrel with the highly regarded .44 Special cartridge, original blue and case colored finish, and traditional black checkered Colt grips. Remaining in Fine to Excellent condition with approximately 98 percent of its original metal finish, this example retains matching numbered major components and is accompanied by its matching Colt box and factory paperwork.
Identification
MMA#: 260627CM003
Make: Colt
Model: Single Action Army, 3rd Generation, P1750
Serial Number: SA61724
Year of Manufacture: 1982
Caliber: .44 Special
Action Type: Single Action Revolver with Side Loading Gate Cylinder
Barrel Length: 5.5 Inches
Sights / Optics
The front sight is a traditional quarter round blade fixed to the barrel.
The rear sight is a square groove machined into the top strap, maintaining the simple fixed sight arrangement closely associated with the Single Action Army.
Grip Configuration & Condition
The revolver is fitted with two piece checkered black plastic grips featuring Rampant Colt emblems and E Pluribus Unum eagle motifs.
Both grip panels are internally inscribed “61724,” matching the revolver’s serial number.
There are a couple of tiny nicks and light handling marks. The checkering remains strong and well defined.
Overall grip condition: Excellent.
Finish & Overall Condition
Type of Finish: Blue and Case Colored
Finish Originality: Original
This revolver retains approximately 98 percent of its original metal finish.
The cylinder, front strap, and back strap are serial matched to the frame. Some of the case coloring has lightly muted with age. There is a small area of finish loss on the barrel beneath the ejector rod tab, while the front strap has developed a plum colored hue.
Light handling marks are present. Thin marks extend around the circumference of the cylinder along with a faint turn line.
The screw heads remain sharp and the markings are clear.
Overall condition: Fine to Excellent.
Bore & Mechanics
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. In the original evaluator’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. Lockup produces minimal side to side play.
The revolver was cleaned and received a mechanical function check prior to cataloging. Additional cleaning may be desired depending on individual maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories
Included are:
Faux wood Colt factory box
Matching end label
Foam trays
Factory paperwork including the owner’s manual
Our Assessment
The Colt Single Action Army is one of the foundational designs in American handgun history. Introduced in 1873, the revolver became inseparably associated with the American West, military service, law enforcement, and civilian use. More than a century after its introduction, demand for the traditional Colt single action remained strong enough to repeatedly bring the design back into production.
Colt’s 2nd Generation Single Action Army production ended in 1974, marking the second interruption in the revolver’s manufacturing history. The absence proved brief. Colt resumed production in 1976 with what collectors now identify as the 3rd Generation Single Action Army.
Externally, the essential character of the SAA remained immediately familiar. The traditional barrel lengths of 4.75, 5.5, and 7.5 inches continued, as did the classic single action lockwork, loading gate, fixed sights, and unmistakable profile that had defined the revolver since the nineteenth century.
Internally, however, Colt incorporated several manufacturing changes. Among the best known was the adoption of a pressed in cylinder pin bushing rather than the removable bushing used on earlier generations. Changes were also made to the cylinder ratchet and corresponding hand, while barrel thread pitch changed from the earlier 20 threads per inch specification to 24 threads per inch.
This revolver was manufactured in 1982, placing it relatively early within 3rd Generation production.
Its .44 Special chambering gives this example additional appeal. Developed during the early twentieth century from the earlier .44 Russian lineage, the .44 Special became highly regarded for its accuracy and versatility and developed an enthusiastic following among American revolver shooters. Paired with the Single Action Army, it combines one of America’s classic revolver cartridges with one of its most recognizable handgun designs.
The 5.5 inch barrel further reinforces the traditional character of the revolver, providing the intermediate length between Colt’s shorter 4.75 inch and long barreled 7.5 inch configurations.
Condition is particularly strong. Approximately 98 percent of the original blue and case colored finish remains. Some of the case colors have naturally muted, the front strap has developed a plum hue, and the cylinder displays light circumferential marks and a faint turn line, but the revolver remains remarkably well preserved overall.
Several matching details are also worth noting. The cylinder, front strap, and back strap are serial matched to the frame, while both grip panels are internally numbered 61724 to correspond with serial number SA61724. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling and no erosion, earning a 10 out of 10 rating.
The accompanying faux wood Colt box retains its matching end label and foam trays, with factory paperwork and the manual also present. Together, these details make this a particularly complete example of an early 1980s 3rd Generation SAA.
For the Colt collector, this revolver brings together several desirable elements: the historic Single Action Army design, .44 Special chambering, classic 5.5 inch barrel, original blue and case colored finish, matching numbered components, excellent condition, and matching factory box.
More than a century after the original Peacemaker entered production, this 1982 revolver demonstrates why Colt’s Single Action Army continued to attract shooters and collectors long after its original frontier era had passed.
The Mt. McCoy Auctions Difference
Every firearm featured in the Mt. McCoy Auctions Vault is professionally photographed, carefully cataloged, and thoroughly documented to preserve its history and condition. Our archival records provide collectors with detailed information regarding originality, condition, mechanical function, and historical significance, creating a lasting resource long after each auction has concluded.
