Colt Single Action Army 3rd Generation Factory Engraved

The engraving is what stops you here. This is a third generation Single Action Army wearing Colt's "C" coverage floral scroll, cut deep and tight against a punch dot background that runs from the muzzle to the backstrap. Look closely at the recoil shield and loading gate area and you can see how the scroll wraps the curves rather than just sitting flat on the panels. That kind of work rewards a slow look.

The barrel address reads COLT'S PT. F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD CT. U.S.A. inside an engraved ribbon, with .45 COLT marked on the left side. The three patent dates sit on the left of the frame, and the black powder frame configuration carries through. Chambered in .45 Colt, it runs the 5.5 inch barrel that has always been the sweet spot for this gun. Long enough to balance, short enough to handle without thinking about it.

The finish is bright nickel, and against that mirror the scrollwork reads even sharper. A blade front sight and frame notch rear keep it true to the original sighting setup. The grips are checkered with a heart motif at the top, fitted full and clean to the frame. The four click cock works just as it should when you bring the hammer back.

It was built in 1995 and comes with its original Colt blue presentation box and shipping carton, both still in good shape. The box label carries the factory callouts, barrel length, caliber, black powder frame, grip type, and the engraving notes, all printed and preserved.

For a collector who wants the look of the old West married to the work of Colt's custom shop, this one earns the glass case. It is a shooter's caliber and a showpiece finish in a single package, and the engraving is the kind you keep coming back to.