Colt is Back...

Jeff Higgins · 03:20 PM

I've been hearing for some time now that Colt has pretty much gotten their act back together with regards to the quality of their Single Action Army revolvers. They had let it slip a bit over the last decade or so, with the company going through some ownership and leadership changes. They had been concentrating on military sales to the detriment of their civilian market, and it was really showing.

As a matter of fact, for quite some time now, many fans of the single action have been resorting to buying clones from the likes of United States Firearms, who provide a top notch gun by any measure. Many have even gone so far as to suggest Colt turn the manufacture of their single actions over to USFA under license (who, ironically, build their guns in the old Colt factory, under "the Dome"). USFA had gotten that good, and Colt had gotten that bad.

Well, I'm happy to confirm what I had been hearing for the last couple of years - Colt quality is back. I was in one of my favorite gun shops yesterday, poking around for Christmas presents and whatnot (mainly just killing a rainy Saturday) when the proprietor spied me from across the shop. He called me over, just grinning ear to ear, saying "you gotta see this...". "This" was a brand new production 5 1/2" SAA in .45 Colt.

He knew I would be hooked the moment I saw it. He was right. I bought it on the spot after a cursory inspection, and thumbing the hammer back a few times. The action is every bit as nice and smooth as several of my much older "tuned" Peacemakers. The fit and finish is the best I've ever seen on a production revolver, bar none. Pictures don't do it justice, but I'll try. I've included the last brand new Colt I bought, sometime back in the early to mid '90's, before quality started to slip. The finish on the brand new one is head and shoulders above even what is acknowledged as a "good" third generation gun. So, here is the new 5 1/2" sitting side by side with about a 20 year old 4 3/4".

I'm excited. If it shoots a good as it looks (and there is no reason why it shouldn't), that will be the final confirmation (to me at least) that Colt is back in the game on my all-time favorite gun.

JTO · 12-16-2012, 01:54 PM

I read about the New Frontier recently and started to covet it immediately! Nice to see Colt rising again
Troy

Jeff Higgins · 12-16-2012, 03:35 PM

I've seen several New Frontiers in local gun shops. They either don't get snatched up as fast as the SAA's, or they are making more of them. I bet they are making more of them, even though there is less demand for them.

Colt is funny that way, and it kind of pisses me off. They have consistently held Peacemaker production to just under market demand for as long as I can remember. They are doing their best to keep the damn things just scarce enough to maintain some false aura of "specialness" and/or "mystique" about them.

Granted, they have always been better in fit and finish than the average handgun, even when folks were complaining about them. Now that they are back on their game again, they are truly exceptional. And yes, there is a good deal more machining and subsequent hand fitting required of its antiquated design - it's by no means "designed for manufacture" to anywhere near the degree of, say, a Ruger Blackhawk with all of its investment cast parts.

There is all of that, but most of us are convinced that Colt artificially keeps production below what it could be. Word on the street is that they are going to reduce Peacemaker production next year, now that they are getting it right again. Gotta keep 'em "exclusive" for the collectors, I guess.

Oh well, maybe that just means they are planning on firing up the Python line again... one can only hope...

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Beautiful! Congrats!

Jeff Higgins · 12-17-2012, 03:37 PM

Thanks, Art. This one was truly "love at first sight". I'm actually really not all that fond of the 5 1/2" barrel length, considering it to be "neither fish nor fowl", but this one really really caught my eye. I just couldn't let it get away. Now if it would only quit raining long enough to get out and shoot it...

vash · vash's Garage

will the Python come back?

Jeff Higgins · 12-17-2012, 03:56 PM

I sure hope so, Vash. I sold my last one over 20 years ago before they started to skyrocket in value, and now I'm reluctant to lay out the cash for a used one. The one I sold was a late 1970's manufacture and, to be honest, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

I've since handled and fired (but have not owned) earlier examples, and having done that, I can see where they built their reputation. The problem is, though, those early Pythons demand a premium. Not quite early Peacemaker money, but a fair chunk of change nonetheless. If I'm spending that kind of money on a wheelgun, I would prefer it to be a single action. Now if they started producing them again at about the price of the new SAA, with the same level of quality, I would be all over one. We'll have to wait and see.

vash · vash's Garage

thanks jeff..thanks for the update. i thought they went the way of the Dodo. for good.

this is good news.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

will the Python come back?

Yeah, that would be very all right. Wouldn't mind a spankin' new Diamondback too, the baby version of the Python. Trigger is little tight out of the box, maybe the small frame, but that can be fixed.

KFC911 · 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

... If I'm spending that kind of money on a wheelgun, I would prefer it to be a single action. Now if they started producing them again at about the price of the new SAA, with the same level of quality, I would be all over one. We'll have to wait and see.

Bout how much are we talking here?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

Yeah, that would be very all right. Wouldn't mind a spankin' new Diamondback too, the baby version of the Python. Trigger is little tight out of the box, maybe the small frame, but that can be fixed.

I've had a "baby snake" in .22lr for 30 some years...don't see how it could be any better

. Way back in the day...I opted for a S&W M27 over a Python. The M27 was bout the same as the D-back (and Pythons) in price, but sure hasn't escalated like the all my Colts (revolvers and .45 ACP) have...go figure

. Doesn't really matter...I bought all of mine to use, not for resale...

Joeaksa · 12-17-2012, 08:17 PM

Very nice looking! Glad to see their quality return.

Jeff Higgins · 12-18-2012, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC911

Bout how much are we talking here?

You can't touch any Python for less than about $1,800-$2,000 these days for a "shooter" quality example. New Peacemakers are $1,300, with newer used "shooters" going for about the same. Every now and then you'll see a third generation SAA for a grand or so, but they tend to be pretty well used. First and second generation guns are all over the map, starting around $1,500 and going through the ceiling from there. I've seen guys asking $4,000-$5,000 for guns with nothing really special about them - no special features, no history, nothing.

The idea that if it's an old Colt it must be worth something has really infected the market. When I was a kid in the '60's and early '70's, my dad and uncles had SAA's because they were cheap old guns that nobody really wanted. A lot of "bang for the buck" so to speak. I sure wish I had a few of those now; except for my dad's, I have no idea what ever happened to any of them.

SAA's kind of strike me as having gone through the same thing early 911's are just went through. As antiquated as they are, they somehow developed some sort of mystique around them that started attracting folks who really don't know anything about them. All they know is it is somehow "chique" to have one, and to speak knowingly about them. And, just like the early 911, often the best cure for wanting one is actually getting one. Unfortunately, though, most folks find it easier to hang onto a revolver they don't particularly like than a car they don't particularly like. So, while we see some reality returning to the early 911 market, I'm not sure we ever will in the SAA market. Hell, there are folks out there snatching up the brand new ones with no intention of ever using them, waiting and hoping for the day they become "collectable". I'm hoping they have a long, long wait...

MMiller · 12-19-2012, 05:04 AM

Jeff, can you shead any light on these 2 Colts of mine? Might you know the year of manufacture of my Python. Early or late?
What is the overall build quailty difference between a SAA and my Colt Cowboy?

Python s/n K80537
Cowboy s/n TF11890

Sorry about the really poor pics....

Thanks Mike

KFC911 · 12-19-2012, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panerai

Jeff, can you shead any light on these 2 Colts of mine?

If David (Targa911s) doesn't chime in, shoot him a PM...I bet he can nail down the specifics on the S/Ns. I'm turning green reading this thread (envy)

Jeff Higgins · 12-19-2012, 05:39 AM

Yup, David (or tabs) will be a lot more help on serial numbers and dates of manufacture than I can be.

As far as the Colt Cowboy, it was Colt's attempt to provide a revolver at about the same price as a Ruger Blackhawk. The fit and finish are about like a Ruger, which is nowhere near that of the SAA. The lockwork is far different as well. The Cowboy uses coils springs, has a frame mounted firing pin, uses a transfer bar, etc. Unlike the Ruger, though, it still uses a half cock notch as the loading and unloading position. It's a more "modern", and somewhat "safer" (it's safe to carry with six rounds in it) gun than the traditional SAA, and a fine shooter, but it never really seemed to catch on.

MMiller · 12-19-2012, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yup, David (or tabs) will be a lot more help on serial numbers and dates of manufacture than I can be.

As far as the Colt Cowboy, it was Colt's attempt to provide a revolver at about the same price as a Ruger Blackhawk. The fit and finish are about like a Ruger, which is nowhere near that of the SAA. The lockwork is far different as well. The Cowboy uses coils springs, has a frame mounted firing pin, uses a transfer bar, etc. Unlike the Ruger, though, it still uses a half cock notch as the loading and unloading position. It's a more "modern", and somewhat "safer" (it's safe to carry with six rounds in it) gun than the traditional SAA, and a fine shooter, but it never really seemed to catch on.

Thank you....that's helpful on the Cowboy.