Colt Single Action Army (1st Generation)

Notes: Also known simply as the SAA or the Peacemaker, the Single Action Army is possibly the most famous handgun in history, rivaling the reputation of the later Colt M-1911 series. Like the M-1911, the SAA came in a bewildering variety of variants, ranging from differing barrel lengths and calibers to models with different-shaped frames, grips, hammer spurs, triggers, etc., like Bisley, Bird’s Head and New Frontier. Numerous reproductions and replicas have been made by many companies over the years, in varying quality, and there is also a thriving market in SAA fakes. The original SAA was introduced in 1873 as a blackpowder weapon, but was modified to use smokeless powder in 1892 (though both were available until 1898). Original SAAs used a screw to secure the cylinder base pin, but later models used a base pin secured by a latch. Before World War 1, SAAs were chambered in 30 calibers (not all of which I have been able to find out), with .45 Long Colt being by far the most popular chambering. Civilian models used several barrel lengths; military models originally had 7.5-inch barrels, but this was changed starting in 1895 to a 5.5-inch barrel. (Most of these shorter-barreled military models were simply 7.5-inch-barrel versions with the barrel reduced by armorers, but some 7.5-inch military models survived and were passed on to state militias.) Frames for pre-war models were of solid steel but designed for economy of line; the standard version also had a large checkered hammer spur which was easy to use. The cylinder rod is inside a slotted housing offset to the right lower side of the barrel. The front sight is a simple blade, while the rear sight is simply a groove atop the frame (though early production models had a V-shaped notch instead). Most were plain blued, with plain oil-finished wooden grips, though some were color-case hardened and had better wood for their grips. Civilian models typically were polished blue or color-case hardened, with varnished walnut grips or checkered rubber grips (in some 1882 or later models). Barrels for the civilian models could range from 2.5-inch snubbies to 18-inch Buntlines (typically, a revolver with a barrel of 9 inches or more was known as a "Buntline"). Many deluxe and presentation models also were made, with finishes ranging from nickel to gold plating, and possibly engraved. Many Buntlines have a slotted grip to attach a stock to create a sort of carbine, but these stocks were typically of the wire-type, rather flimsy, and difficult to find today.

Some of the variants of the original model were the Sheriff’s Pattern (also known as the Shopkeeper’s Pattern), usually with a 3-inch barrel, and with no ejector rod shroud. It was generally finished in blue, though nickel-plating was also common. Often, the front sight blade was deleted, as this could snag when pulled from a pocket. The Long-Flute Cylinder model was simply an SAA using a Model 1878 cylinder (done to allow Colt to use up older parts), and produced in a limited amount of chamberings. It could come in any barrel length available to the SAA, and is identical to an SAA of the same caliber and barrel length for game purposes. The SAA Rimfire was an unpopular model produced only from 1875-1880, and firing the old and rare .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge. It was originally produced with a 7.5-inch barrel, but many had their barrels shortened by their users. Only about 2000 were built, and most of those were quickly dumped by Colt and the customers in Central and South America. About 90 were later converted to .22 Long Rifle, and a single model was chambered for .32 Rimfire for experimental purposes (and will not be covered here). This model does not have an ejector rod shroud, was typically nickel-plated, and surviving models show the generally bad treatment they received at the hands of unsatisfied buyers and later on in Central and South America. The Flattop Model was designed for target shooting, and is basically a standard SAA with a flat topstrap mounting a dovetailed target-quality fixed rear sight and a German-silver front blade pinned onto a slotted block at the front of the barrel. It came from Colt with an ejector rod shroud, but these were frequently removed by the shooter to enable reloading by exchanging cylinders. Barrels ranged in length from 4.25-9 inches, with 7.5 inches the most common. It came in 21 chamberings, even though only 914 Flattops Models were built before World War 1, with the most common chambering being .38 Long Colt and the least common .44 Special (only one built in response to a special order, and not covered here). The Bisley model has the distinctive hump-backed Bisley frame and grips and low hammer spur, and is derived from the Flattop model, but built in far greater numbers. The trigger is also longer and more curved. Some 18 chamberings were made, with the most common being .32-20 Winchester, and the least common being a smoothbore .44 Special version and two smoothbore .45 Long Colt versions, again made to special order and not covered here. Barrels ranged from 3.5 to 7.5 inches, and most were blued with checkered rubber grips. At the same time, the Bisley Flattop Target model was made; only 976 were built, though they were chambered for 14 rounds. Almost all had 7.5-inch barrels. The .455 Webley Revolver Mk I chambering was the most common, and the .38 Smith & Wesson chambering the least (only 5 built). Virtually all of these versions of the Single Action Army are identical to a standard SAA of the same caliber and barrel length for game purposes.

Construction of the Single Action Army was interrupted by World War 1. Low-rate production picked up again after World War 1 and then stopped again in 1941, but the SAA didn’t really come back strongly until the 2nd Generation models produced after World War 2. A genuine, unaltered pre-World War 1 SAA is, in real life, extremely valuable; original blackpowder models are even more valuable. They are also quite rare.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.66 kg

6 Cylinder

$83

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.67 kg

6 Cylinder

$89

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.69 kg

6 Cylinder

$106

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.7 kg

6 Cylinder

$114

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.72 kg

6 Cylinder

$134

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.73 kg

6 Cylinder

$149

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.76 kg

6 Cylinder

$180

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.81 kg

6 Cylinder

$221

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.22 Winchester Rimfire

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$241

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.62 kg

6 Cylinder

$71

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.63 kg

6 Cylinder

$76

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.65 kg

6 Cylinder

$94

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.66 kg

6 Cylinder

$101

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.68 kg

6 Cylinder

$122

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.69 kg

6 Cylinder

$137

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.72 kg

6 Cylinder

$167

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.76 kg

6 Cylinder

$208

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$228

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.7 kg

6 Cylinder

$112

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.71 kg

6 Cylinder

$117

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.74 kg

6 Cylinder

$135

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.75 kg

6 Cylinder

$142

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.77 kg

6 Cylinder

$163

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$178

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.81 kg

6 Cylinder

$208

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$249

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.32 Long Colt

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$269

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.67 kg

6 Cylinder

$91

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.68 kg

6 Cylinder

$96

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.71 kg

6 Cylinder

$114

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.72 kg

6 Cylinder

$121

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.74 kg

6 Cylinder

$142

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.75 kg

6 Cylinder

$157

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$187

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$228

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.32 Smith & Wesson

0.85 kg

6 Cylinder

$248

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.74 kg

6 Cylinder

$138

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.75 kg

6 Cylinder

$143

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$160

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.8 kg

6 Cylinder

$168

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.82 kg

6 Cylinder

$188

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$204

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$234

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.92 kg

6 Cylinder

$275

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.32-20 Winchester

0.94 kg

6 Cylinder

$295

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.68 kg

6 Cylinder

$119

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.69 kg

6 Cylinder

$124

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.72 kg

6 Cylinder

$142

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.73 kg

6 Cylinder

$149

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.75 kg

6 Cylinder

$170

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.76 kg

6 Cylinder

$185

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.79 kg

6 Cylinder

$215

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.84 kg

6 Cylinder

$256

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.38 Smith & Wesson

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$276

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.74 kg

6 Cylinder

$140

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.75 kg

6 Cylinder

$145

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$163

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.79 kg

6 Cylinder

$170

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.82 kg

6 Cylinder

$190

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$206

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$236

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.91 kg

6 Cylinder

$277

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.38 Long Colt

0.94 kg

6 Cylinder

$297

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.77 kg

6 Cylinder

$149

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.78 kg

6 Cylinder

$154

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.81 kg

6 Cylinder

$172

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.82 kg

6 Cylinder

$179

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.85 kg

6 Cylinder

$200

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$215

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.9 kg

6 Cylinder

$245

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.95 kg

6 Cylinder

$286

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.38-40 Winchester

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$306

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.84 kg

6 Cylinder

$174

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.85 kg

6 Cylinder

$179

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.89 kg

6 Cylinder

$204

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.92 kg

6 Cylinder

$225

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.94 kg

6 Cylinder

$240

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$270

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

1.03 kg

6 Cylinder

$311

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.41 Long Colt

1.06 kg

6 Cylinder

$331

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$168

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.84 kg

6 Cylinder

$174

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.87 kg

6 Cylinder

$191

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$199

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.91 kg

6 Cylinder

$219

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.93 kg

6 Cylinder

$235

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

0.97 kg

6 Cylinder

$265

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

1.02 kg

6 Cylinder

$306

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.44 Henry Rimfire

1.05 kg

6 Cylinder

$326

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.44 Special

0.9 kg

6 Cylinder

$195

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.44 Special

0.91 kg

6 Cylinder

$200

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.44 Special

0.94 kg

6 Cylinder

$218

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.44 Special

0.95 kg

6 Cylinder

$226

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.44 Special

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$246

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.44 Special

1 kg

6 Cylinder

$261

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.44 Special

1.04 kg

6 Cylinder

$292

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.44 Special

1.09 kg

6 Cylinder

$332

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.44 Special

1.12 kg

6 Cylinder

$353

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.82 kg

6 Cylinder

$167

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.83 kg

6 Cylinder

$172

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$190

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.87 kg

6 Cylinder

$197

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.9 kg

6 Cylinder

$217

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.92 kg

6 Cylinder

$233

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

0.96 kg

6 Cylinder

$263

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$304

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.44 Smith & Wesson American

1.04 kg

6 Cylinder

$324

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

0.93 kg

6 Cylinder

$214

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

0.94 kg

6 Cylinder

$219

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

0.97 kg

6 Cylinder

$237

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$244

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$265

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

1.03 kg

6 Cylinder

$280

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

1.08 kg

6 Cylinder

$310

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

1.14 kg

6 Cylinder

$351

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.44-40 Winchester

1.17 kg

6 Cylinder

$371

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

0.97 kg

6 Cylinder

$231

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

0.98 kg

6 Cylinder

$236

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.01 kg

6 Cylinder

$253

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.02 kg

6 Cylinder

$261

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.05 kg

6 Cylinder

$281

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.07 kg

6 Cylinder

$297

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.12 kg

6 Cylinder

$327

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.18 kg

6 Cylinder

$368

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.45 Long Colt

1.21 kg

6 Cylinder

$388

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.84 kg

6 Cylinder

$173

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.85 kg

6 Cylinder

$178

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.87 kg

6 Cylinder

$196

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.88 kg

6 Cylinder

$203

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.91 kg

6 Cylinder

$223

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.93 kg

6 Cylinder

$239

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

0.97 kg

6 Cylinder

$269

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

1.02 kg

6 Cylinder

$310

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.455 Webley Revolver Mk I

1.05 kg

6 Cylinder

$330

Single Action Army (2.5" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.86 kg

6 Cylinder

$182

Single Action Army (3" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.87 kg

6 Cylinder

$187

Single Action Army (4.75" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.89 kg

6 Cylinder

$205

Single Action Army (5.5" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.9 kg

6 Cylinder

$212

Single Action Army (7.5" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.93 kg

6 Cylinder

$233

Single Action Army (9" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.95 kg

6 Cylinder

$248

Single Action Army (12" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

0.99 kg

6 Cylinder

$278

Single Action Army (16" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

1.04 kg

6 Cylinder

$319

Single Action Army (18" Barrel)

.476 Enfield

1.07 kg

6 Cylinder

$339

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

SAA (2.5", .22 WR)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

2

SAA (3", .22 WR)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

3

SAA (4.75", .22 WR)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

7

SAA (5.5", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

8

SAA (7.5", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

1

3

Nil

11

SAA (9", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

2

3

Nil

13

SAA (12", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

2

4

Nil

18

SAA (16", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

3

3

Nil

23

SAA (18", .22 WR)

SAR

1

Nil

3

3

Nil

26

SAA (2.5", .22 Short)

SAR

-2

Nil

1

2

Nil

4

SAA (3", .22 Short)

SAR

-2

Nil

1

2

Nil

5

SAA (4.75", .22 Short)

SAR

-2

Nil

1

3

Nil

8

SAA (5.5", .22 Short)

SAR

-2

Nil

1

3

Nil

9

SAA (7.5", .22 Short)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

11

SAA (9", .22 Short)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

13

SAA (12", .22 Short)

SAR

-1

Nil

2

3

Nil

18

SAA (16", .22 Short)

SAR

-1

Nil

3

3

Nil

24

SAA (18", .22 Short)

SAR

-1

Nil

3

2

Nil

27

SAA (2.5", .22 Long)

SAR

-2

Nil

1

2

Nil

4

SAA (3", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

5

SAA (4.75", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

8

SAA (5.5", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

9

SAA (7.5", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

12

SAA (9", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

1

3

Nil

14

SAA (12", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

2

3

Nil

19

SAA (16", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

3

3

Nil

25

SAA (18", .22 Long)

SAR

-1

Nil

3

3

Nil