[brianfede]

My local dealer has access to a Colt .357 SAA new from factory and a 1980 Colt .357 SAA unfired. Price is the same. Any thoughts which is the better deal? Gun will be used to shoot at the range won't be a safe queen. Is Colt still producing premium products or am I better off with an older production model.

 

[Fox]

You may want to ask this question on The Wire, a forum for the Single Action Shooting Society.

http://sassnet.com/

 

[Fox]

My advise is to buy both!

 

[Sniperfox]

From what I have seen, the quality of the newer SAAs has not suffered in any way. They are still beautifully made weapons.

 

[CajunBass]

You best bet is to ask on the Colt forum. Those people are most likely to know of any issues with either.

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/forum.php

My instinct is to always buy the oldest one, but I understand that the Colt Custom Shop is still turning out very good guns. Might be worth it to go new just for the box and papers in this case.

 

[Baba Louie]

New from factory are pretty much hand built one at a time, nowadays with a backlog, so there's always that to ponder.

Both have same barrel length? Blue or nickel? Is the NIB mfg last year or this year (175th year rollmark)?

Can't go wrong with either. Me? I'd grab the one with the right barrel length (partial to the 4-3/4" myself, others like the longer tubes)

 

[fnfalman]

Colt of the 1980s weren't exactly good representations of the marque. I'd say go with the current one.

 

[brianfede]

Looking at 2011 production, blued (becuz I want to shoot it) 4 3/4 barrel.

 

[bac1023]

Colt of the 1980s weren't exactly good representations of the marque. I'd say go with the current one.

:agree:

 

[fowler]

Yes the new ones are better made than the 1970-80 guns. CNC makes um a lot tighter and the new finishs are deep and true.

 

[Three-Five-Seven]

Current ones are the best they've ever built.

 

[bac1023]

I always felt that 45 Colt was THE caliber for a Colt SAA.

 

[Narkcop]

I'd like to have a Colt SAA in .357 because it would be less expensive to shoot with .38 spl rounds.

 

[bac1023]

I'd like to have a Colt SAA in .357 because it would be less expensive to shoot with .38 spl rounds.

That's true.

 

[TonyT]

Most devotees of Colt SAA's seem to prefer the 2nd generation models. In terms of shootability I would not expect to see a difference.