Well, the 3rd Gen kicked off true mid-70s (1974 last 2nd Gen/1976 first 3rd Gen), although there were some transitional models as the OP posts show. If your cylinder ratchet is different from the older (and with different hand to turn cylinder) and has a fixed collar to front of cylinder, then it is a 3rd Gen. If ratchet same as earlier and cylinder bushing which slides out, then it a 2nd Gen. There are also SN tables giving good approximations on DOM, and generally 3rd Gen had an SA prefix SN while 2nd Gen has SA suffix.I thought so too on the 3rd Gen thing, but some Colt guys say it's 3rd.
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