Colt Single Action Army (SAA) Peacemaker

The Colt Peacemaker pictured on the left, is a "First Generation" gun, chambered in .45 caliber, click here for a picture gallery. "I learned something very important when I purchased this gun online and I will share it with you on this page, it may save or make you hundreds or even thousands of dollars." "This is one of only two cowboy-style guns that I own today. Bat Masterson special ordered a Colt SAA in .45 caliber, with nickel finish, 4¾ barrel and ivory grips. This is not that gun, but the appearance would have been very similar."

Gun Collecting: All original, good condition first generation Single Action Armys, (those produced between 1873 and 1941), are among the most valuable to the collector. These guns are distinguished by the serial numbers below 375000 and with no letters.

After this gun arrived I checked the serial numbers and immediately picked up the telephone to call the Office of the Historian, Colt Archive Properties, LLC in Hartford, Connecticut to order a letter of authentication. The letter I had ordered for my Colt Python had taken a full 125 days (4 months) to arrive. To my surprise, the very nice lady on the phone, after taking my credit card information, asked "would you like to hold just a moment while I check that serial number?" I said, "sure", thinking she was just going to tell me that it was a valid serial number when she returned.

When the lady came back on the phone in less than a minute, she gave me all of the pertinent information that is contained in their letters of authentication. I was astonished! I ask her how that was possible. She said that Colt's Single Action Army records are more readily accessible than the records for the Python.

Had I known that obtaining this information by phone and in less than a minute was possible, I would have invested in the letter before making the purchase. I discovered that the finish of my gun was originally blue when shipped from the factory. The fact that the gun had been nickel plated (refinished) at some point in it's life greatly affected the collector value.

Although the gun is very valuable, it could be worth three times as much with the original finish! Life Lesson #118: Get the Colt SAA's serial number and call 1-800-962-COLT before making the purchase. This is certainly worth it, when you are considering purchasing one of these guns. NOTE: Colt's website says the phone service is available for first generation SAA's up to the 343,000 serial number range (although mine was slightly higher) and the fee is $150 which includes the letter in two to three weeks.

Now, it is true that had the lady told me the gun was nickel, I still would not have known whether it was the original finish or not, because I was buying this gun online from a dealer three states away. But, I would have been a far better informed buyer. Who knows? She could have came back to the phone and told me it was special ordered by Bat Masterson.

First Generation .45 Colt Peacemaker: Questions to ask the seller before buying a First Generation Colt; Do you have an authentication letter from Colt? If the answer is YES, send it to me, (mail, fax or email), if NO, you should factor in the cost of the letter in your offer, Click here for more pictures.

45 Colt SAA	Nickel plated finish
Note: No letter in serial #	Single Action Army
1871, 1872 & 1875 Patents	Colt .45 Peacemaker
Elephant Ivory Grips	Click here for picture gallery