Colt SAA Key Information

Although Turnbull Restoration works on all three generations of the Colt SAA, this article will concentrate on the first generation (1873–1941).

DID YOU KNOW?

• The development of the Model 1873 SAA revolver can be credited, at least in part, to the United States Army’s rejection of Colt’s Model 1871-72 Open Top revolver.
• Re-imagined with the inclusion of William Mason’s top strap design, and chambered for the new .45 Colt round (developed by Colt in partnership with the Union Metallic Cartridge Co), Colt re-submitted their revolver to the U.S. Army. The Army accepted, and thus production of the Single Action Army model 1873 began in 1873. It was also referred to as the “New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol”.
• As Winchester released its Model 1873 lever action rifle in .44-40 around the same time, Colt answered demand for identically-chambered six-guns in 1877 with its Frontier Six-Shooter.
• The moniker “smokeless frame” (i.e,. referring to a switch in frame design in 1896) actually has little to do with smokeless powder, as colt didn’t certify its SAAs for use with smokeless powder until until around serial number 180,000 (produced in 1898). This is mainly a collector’s term to differentiate between two different eras of thee SAA’s first-generation design.
• The Bisley model was introduced in 1894 as a target pistol. The name Bisley came from the famous firing range in Bisley, England. The Colt Bisley can be distinguished by the longer grip, the wider hammer spur, and the wider trigger.