- In fact Colt merely pulled the tooling from storage to begin production. However, instead of taking up where serial numbers left off 15 years before they started again plus added an SA suffix as in 0001SA. Naturally the initial chambering offered was.45 Colt, but in the latter half of the 20th century gun buyers’ tastes in calibers had changed.
- Dec 16, 2019 Serial number 58 is one of the earliest known SAA revolvers, enough so that earlier examples are specifically known to the collecting community (1, 2, 4, 20, 24). An example or a rare and early 'pinched frame' Colt Single Action Army.
- Antique Colt Revolver Serial Numbers
- Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Check
- Colt Saa Serial Number Location
- Colt Year By Serial Number
- Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Form
- Colt Saa Gen 2 Serial Number Location
- Colt Saa Dates Of Manufacture
In 1978, The New Frontier went back into production with the Third Generation Colt Single Action Army. Serial Numbers began at 01001NF, using five digits instead of four. In the last, and according to Colt, final run of New Frontiers, calibers were.45 Colt,.357 Magnum,.44 Special, and.44-40.
WHEN WAS MY COLT MADE?
Antique Colt Revolver Serial Numbers
WHAT COLT MODEL DO I HAVE?
Camtasia studio 8 serial key 2019. A common first question for a Colt owner is 'When wasmy Colt made'.The second questionis often 'What Colt do I have'?
And therein lies a real can of worms.
Before you can determine when a Colt was made, you firsthave to determine WHAT Colt model you have.
This can be a most difficult question to answer.
First, identifying a Colt revolver can be frustratingbecause beginning in 1840 Colt always started each new model at serial number'1', and progressed upward until the model was discontinued, OR untilthe mid-1960's when the serial number system changed to meet Federal law.
Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Check
Since all Colt's started off at number '1' it'spossible to have a number of older Colt firearms all with the same serialnumber.
In 1968 the Gun Control of 1968 was passed.This law mandated that from then on all newfirearms had to have a serial number and that number had to be unique.
To comply with the law, Colt began adding letters to theserial numbers as prefixes and suffixes to make each firearm have a uniquenumber.
An added issue is Colt's often confusing serial numbersystem.Colt often mixed several modelsin the same serial number ranges or split models out by caliber.
During the mid-1950's the serial number data is so mixed asto be almost incomprehensible.
As example you may have a model of revolver made in .22 andin .38 Special, with the .22 revolver serial numbers mixed with a differentmodel Colt, and the .38 caliber version of that model in yet a different modelrange.
Even after Colt began using unique serial numbers in the1960's, Colt often combined a number of models into one serial number range.
As example in the late 1960's Colt started combining allsmall 'D' frame models like the Detective Special, Cobra, Agent,Diamondback, Viper, Police Positive Special, etc in the same serial numberranges.
Because of Colt's serial number systems it may not bepossible to identify what model a Colt is based on just the number.
Since many of these guns used the exact same barrel exceptfor the model name stamped on it, we have situations where an owner isconvinced he has a rare, unknown model of aluminum frame DetectiveSpecial.
In fact, he doesn't. What he has is an aluminum frame Cobrasomeone installed a Detective Special barrel on.
When he attempts to determine when his Colt was made, itcomes back as a totally different model than what is stamped on the barrel.
Since these guns shared the same serial number ranges, itcan be quite confusing as to just what you have.
The problem with identifying a Colt is that Colt onlystamped the model name on the barrel.Most Colt revolvers had the same thread size and it was often possibleto install a barrel from a totally different model on a frame.
Since the frame had no identifying name and often sharedserial numbers with a totally different model, identifying what Colt model youhave can be almost impossible in some cases.
Years ago gun parts were terribly expensive and often almostimpossible to obtain.A gun owner or evengunsmith couldn't just log on or call up a big parts house and order the partshe needed.
Since parts were so difficult to get, it was common forbarrels from other models to be used as replacements.Most people were happy to get their gun repaired and since thebarrel was entirely usable, most people didn't care that the gun was one modelbut the barrel was marked as something else.
When you have anomalous information and just aren’t surewhat you have, then is when you need the experts and that's the experts on theColt Forum. Wch ch351l parallel port driver full windows 7.
In most cases they can help you identify exactly what modelof Colt you have.Then you can proceedto determine when it was made.
This leads us to HOW to determine when your Colt was made.
There are several ways.
The first source is the Colt Firearms Company.
Colt now has a serial number look-up data base on their website.You plug in the serial number andit will give you a list of guns it could be.Since the data base seems to be a work in progress, many newer modelsmay not be listed.
Here is where problems may first appear when the data basedoesn't list what you think your Colt is, or returns no information.
If that doesn't return valid data, you can call Colt duringnormal business hours and they will give you a production date over the phone.
Colt Saa Serial Number Location
Note that they won't give you any more information.For that you have to buy a Colt ArchiveLetter.
Also note that the people working the phones are rushed, maynot be totally familiar with Colt models and have been known to give outincorrect information.
Another source of information online is Proofhouse.com.
This site has a data base that ends in 1979, so any Coltmade after that won't be covered:
Colt Year By Serial Number
R.L. Wilson is the last outsider to have access to the ColtArchive, and he has Colt serial number listings in several books andbooklets.His book 'Colt: AnAmerican Legend' has all Colt serial numbers for all models from 1836 into1986 along with magnificent color photos of every Colt firearm model made since1836.
On his web site he sells 'The Blue Book Pocket GuideFor Colt Dates of Manufacture' that goes into 2008.
Last, you can ask for help on the Colt Forum where a gooddeal of data is available from the members.
Colt Python
The finest production revolver ever made.
Colt Saa Serial Number Identification Form
The Colt Python was first introduced in 1955 as Colt's top-of-the-line model. The gun pictured here was made in 1962. Pythons produced from 1955 to 1969 have no letter in the serial number and are the most desirable to collectors. The Pythons from the 1955-1963 era were all hand made and hand finished (prior to CNC machining and mass assembly line production).
Use the Colt Serial Number Database Lookup Tool.
Colt Database Search
Colt Saa Gen 2 Serial Number Location
1962 .357 Colt Python wearing period elephant ivory grips
Pythons have a distinct appearance. A full barrel underlug, ventilated rib and adjustable sights combine to give the gun its unique look. Originally, Colt manufactured Pythons with hollow underlugs but quickly left them solid to add stabilizing barrel weight. The Python was originally available in two finishes: Royal Blue and Bright Nickel. The Bright Nickel model was discontinued with the introduction of the more durable satin stainless and mirror-polished Ultimate Stainless models. NOTE: My nickel plated gun pictured on this page is a half century old and has been used throughout the last 50 years (not stored in a safe). How much more durable are those new finishes?
The very last guns of this model were produced only through the Custom Shop by special order and are also highly prized by the collector. I enjoy swapping out the grips on the Python from time to time. It really looks like a different gun with the walnut vs. ivory. This is one of my all-time favorite guns. The action is smoother than any revolver I've ever handled. According to Colt, it was designed to shoot 2' groups at 15 yards, and it does, even 44 years later. We recently had a visitor looking for the date of manufacture (DOM) of his Colt Python with a low serial number beginning with the KT prefix. He called Colt at 1-800-962-COLT and they informed him that the DOM was 1991. Thanks Ken, for letting us know!
Serial Numbers
Toward the end of 1969 the letter 'E' was added as a prefix to the serial number. In 1975 the letter 'E' was moved to the end of the number, becoming a suffix. In 1978 and later other letters were used.
Colt Saa Dates Of Manufacture
According to the Colt Python Serial Number Table here, production of the Python peaked in 1981 (the highest production year). Colt produced more guns in that one year than the first ten years combined! However, 1978 is a 'question mark' due to missing information surrounding guns with serial numbers that have the 'N' Suffix. If more than 9,900 Pythons were produced with the 'N' Suffix, 1978 would be the highest production year.
At any rate, the five year period from 1977 through 1981 appears to be the peak demand period (Life Cycle Peak) or 'golden years' of production for the Colt Python. After 1981 production numbers fall off rapidly, culminating with the gun eventually being produced by the Colt Custom Shop to order only, up until production ceased altogether.
Some very lucky person out there owns the very last Python produced by Colt. I suspect the value of that gun to a collector would be very high. However, as long as Colt remains in business the remote possibility exists that they might produce another Python, thus de-throning the 'last produced Python', a proposition that could never threaten the 'first Python produced'.
Hand Made vs CNC Machine Made
'You made a statement that CNC machining had an impact on the possible quality or value of guns made after 1965. I have been in the CNC machining business since its introduction to the manufacturing industry. It really did not have much of an impact until the mid to late 70’s. Most machining was done on manual machines before that. One of the main reasons was the cost of the equipment and high degree of training to program and operate older CNC machines. Also they were highly unreliable. In the beginning, one needed to know a great deal about electronics just to keep them going. By 1980 they were very reliable, easy to program and produced very high quality components, much more so than a good machinist on a manual machine. So as far as quality of the parts in a Colt revolver: the ones produced on modern CNC machines were most likely superior to the older hand made versions.
I love your web site and hope it continues to grow.' Ron