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.