Since getting my 3rd gen recent production Colt SAA in 45LC last year I have been jonesing for a second generation in 357 mag. I have found a few in the low 2000s which seems like a pretty good deal considering they have pretty good fit and finish and are barely used. I was always told that the second generations were fit among the best out of all of them.

The one I’m looking at in particular actually comes with factory walnut grips which at first I wasn’t really a fan of but that’s kind of growing on me the more I look at them. It’s a 1966 model so it should come with the stage coach box but the box is missing. I guess my question is what are you all think about the second gens that you have and is there a better year or production string among the second generations? With the walnut grips be desirable more so over the plastic grips that came on most of them?

A very much non-expert opinion here. I find walnut grips much more desireable than the plastic ones. And if the walnut grips happen to be the one-piece variety (no screw), then even better.

Yes, if I were to get a second generation Model P, it would be in .357 Magnum. Quality on postwar Colt revolvers (up to about 1970) is superb.

Wood grips? Most likely, they will be two piece. The one piece Peacemaker grips require individual fitting to the grip frame.

I own an early (1980) third generation in .44 Special. 4 3/4", nickel plated, with two piece walnut grips. I bought it in the 1980s but if I were to do it again, I'd want blued with the plastic grips. FWIW

^^^^^see finally I find someone who fancies the 357 in the SAA. I figure it would be a blast to shoot 38s out of it for practice and occasionally some full house load 357s for giggles.

I believe yes it is a two piece as the back strap is showing and there is a screw through the middle of the grip so that makes sense. I’m still on the fence about if I like the wood enough as I’ve always liked the plastic look the best like on my 2019 model. That said the old late 1890’s artillery models with the wood look great. Either way grips are easy to change sometimes with only minor fitting I’d think.

By 1957 Colt had announced that the Single Action Army revolver was being discontinued. But the intense popularity of television shows and movies of the time forced Colt to reconsider, and the result was the Second Generation SAA, with a few minor changes in manufacturing to facilitate production. At the time it was hugely expensive, at $125 retail which was far more than most working people earned in a week. Compared to a brand new Smith & Wesson Military & Police .38 revolver at about $70 retail, the price tag was astronomical for that time period.

The .357 magnum cartridge had been on the market for about 20 years at the time, and proved to be a very popular caliber in the Gen-2 SAA. One of my favorite SAA shooters is a 1957-production .357 with 5-1/2" barrel. I feed it .38 Specials as a steady diet.

Some of my others include a 1882 US-marked .45 with original 7-1/2" barrel, 1902 Bisley Model .32-20, 1914 Frontier Six Shooter .44-40, and a 1979 3rd Gen .44 Special (Custom Shop gun).

Functional pieces of history, and very good investments over the long haul.

As far as investment, the eagleless hard rubber type grips that are standard to the gun (except late 2nd Gen eagle grips), are your best bet. Usually they are hand fitted wonderfully. Two piece walnuts were standard on many nickel 2nd Gens, and special order on for the most part on blue C/H guns. But of course buy what you like.

quote:

Originally posted by LincolnSixEcho:
I figure it would be a blast to shoot 38s out of it for practice and occasionally some full house load 357s for giggles.

I have a 3rd Gen SAA .45 Colt 4 3/4". I love it, only shot in once this year. I then bought a Cimarron Frontier made by Pieta in .357 Magnum and I have shot it a lot since getting it. Without a doubt, it is my single-action shooter, sights are almost dead on and far cheaper to shoot than my Colt, mostly using .38 Special ammo.

I have owned my Gen 2 Colt SSAs for many years now. They are beautifully made, and great to shoot. I prefer shooting the 45LC models, but that is just me. I am a handloader, and can load my ammo to exactly how I want it. My Second Gen guns are nicer than my First Gen (1905) in 38-40, but I enjoy shooting it also.

I don't own any third gen SAA.