A friend is looking for a Sheriff's Model 3rd gen SAA and wonders if anyone has ever bracketed the serial number range when their quality was not so good. I have seem many in the SA0XXXX range that have very poorly fitted parts and where the screw holes were eroded during improper preparation for final finishing. I have not seen many of the very early 3rd gen SAA's which had the SA suffix (78XXXSA).

Any comments from members? The one he was looking at recently was in the SA4XXXX range.

Exclusive Web Extra: The Second Generation Colt SAA. Up where serial numbers left off 15 years before they. I have a 2nd generation Colt not a 3rd. Jan 20, 2014 A friend is looking for a Sheriff's Model 3rd gen SAA and wonders if anyone has ever bracketed the serial number range when their quality was not so good.

Colt has had some clunkers over the years. Every gun company does. That stated, I believe that each gun needs to be evaluated on an individual basis.

As noted above, the current manufacture Colt SAAs are great in terms of fit and finish. Problem with getting a new one is I think a Sheriff's Model would be a special order and I do not think Colt is accepting any special orders at this time. The wait would be quite long even if the special order was accepted. Look on GB and some of the other on-line auction sites and buy with a 3 day inspection period only. The SA4XXXX range 1981-82, is about the peak of the worst period. I'll try to put a bracket on it: The very early 3rds with an SA suffix are fine and compare well to late 2nd gens. Starting about 1980 # SA3XXXX range thru about 1989 #SA94XXX, inspect very closely for: cyl end shake (fore and aft play), flattened hammer spurs, off center firing pins in the hammer, bad backstrap to hammer base fitting like shown below, crooked front sights, sloppy actions with more than four clicks, crooked rolled stampings on frame and barrel (sometimes patent dates are missing altogether), lousy case coloring, poor grip strap to frame fit, over polished edges or edges so sharp you could cut yourself, etc., etc.

The labor strike was in 1986. Now having said all that, I have found an occasional decent gun in that period. After that period things start to improve with typically only one of those problems per gun but sometimes more, and sometimes none. The lousy backstrap 'ears' to hammer base fitting like shown below is still fairly common as are flattened hammer spurs. Once the SA in the serial number splits SXXXXXA in 1993, they continue to get better thru 1999. Janome 6019 Service Manual here. At #S26XXXA in 1999 the authentic removable base pin cyl bushing like 1st and 2nd gen guns is re-introduced and cyl end shake is all but eliminated.

Case colors really improve as well as fitting. Hammer spurs are correct as well as most backstrap ears to hammer base fit. Now the guns are approaching late 2nd gen quality and do to this day. However the trigger guard/front grip strap still does not have the bevel of the early 3rds with SA suffix or wide loading gates of the early 2nd gens and probably never will again.

Electronic Measurements And Instrumentation By Kalsi Ebook Free Download on this page. The 2nds never had the 2 line short barrel address (except on Sheriff models) or 1/2' radius flutes of the 1st gen, and even the late 1st gens lost the case colored hammers and all vestiges of the front cyl chamfer. At least those two pre c. 1936 features can be special ordered now on 3rd gens but the cyl chamfer is not accurately done. The 2 line address can also be ordered.

There you have it and hope that helps, Jim.