The last one sold was a 4 3/4" 1971 .45 Colt which was new until I got it. The prettiest was a 1960 nickled 4 3/4" .45 NIB with last of the fixed cone firing pins which was too pretty to shoot, and me having no use for a gun I can't shoot, was sold at a show.View attachment 517564
This one has a story to tell, although the cylinder remains unturned, and not fired since the factory.
This is a 1974 2nd Gen, 5 1/2” barrel in .44 Spl. It has a non-removable cylinder bushing. It was at the VERY tail end of 1974 S/N wise. The Colt S/N lookup indicates that it’s a 1975. That simply cannot be as no SAA’s were produced during 1975 due to retooling of the line. It shipped in April, 1976.
Two well known Colt experts have examined this SAA and both surmised that it has a 1974 barrel and frame. It has a 3rd Gen cylinder, hand, and hammer.
The revolver was purchased from the George Gamble Estate Collection (Bradenton, FL) who was a renowned Colt collector. It still retains the Colt gun grease in the loading gate.
It’s estimated that perhaps less than twenty ever left the factory in this configuration. I feel fortunate to own it.