Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt
Model: P1850
Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt
Model: P1850
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
This is the actual Colt Single Action Army — not an Italian repro, not a Ruger interpretation. The 1873 design that won the U.S. Army contract, served the cavalry through the Indian Wars, armed Wyatt Earp and Pat Garrett, and effectively created the cowboy revolver category. Colt has manufactured it nearly continuously since 1873, with brief production gaps; today's Third Generation guns are still built in Hartford, Connecticut on what is essentially the original toolset.
The mechanical heritage shows up in how you carry it. The half-cock notch is the only safety, and tradition dictates loading just five rounds with the hammer down on an empty chamber — a working practice from the 1870s that remains the standard because the firing pin rests directly on the primer if you load six. The Cimarron Model P and Uberti El Patron are excellent SAA clones built in Italy by Pietta and Uberti respectively, and they handle the same way mechanically. The difference with a Colt-built SAA is provenance, fit-and-finish, and resale value — the gun holds value in a way no clone does.
The case-colored frame paired with the blued barrel and cylinder is the original 1873 finish combination, applied via a charcoal bone process that produces the swirled iridescent colors collectors prize. Each frame's color pattern is unique because the process is partly random. Owners report new Colts retain their color longer if kept out of direct sunlight and oiled; daily carry guns develop a patina that some shooters love and others find frustrating. This is a gun bought for what it is — the genuine article — not because the specs out-perform the alternatives.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Genuine Colt manufacture means resale value holds across decades in a way no Italian clone matches; collector market actively tracks Third Generation production
- Case-colored frame is applied via the traditional charcoal bone process; each frame's color pattern is unique and recognizably hand-finished, not a sprayed coating
- Half-cock notch is the only safety — the gun must be carried with five rounds and the hammer down on an empty chamber, the original 1873 practice. Modern transfer-bar designs from Ruger don't have this limitation.
- Fixed V-notch sights are not regulated for any specific load and cannot be adjusted; shooters wanting precision iron sights need an aftermarket setup or a different revolver entirely
- Charcoal bone case coloring fades with sun exposure and holster wear; collectors maintaining original finish often keep the gun in a soft case rather than carrying it
Category Rankings
How the Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt ranks among full-size .45 Colt handguns.
Ballistics Calculator
Calculate trajectory, drop, and energy for .45 Colt ammunition.
.45 Colt Ballistics →Where to Buy
No prices available at this time.
Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size .45 Colt handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Ruger Vaquero Bisley Stainless .45 Colt
Ruger
|
— |
|
Ruger New Vaquero .45 Colt
Ruger
|
— |
|
Ruger New Vaquero Stainless .45 Colt
Ruger
|
— |
|
Cimarron Model P .45 Colt
Cimarron
|
— |
|
Ruger New Model Blackhawk .45 Colt
Ruger
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get the blued or the stainless New Vaquero?
The blued 5.5" is the more traditional cowboy-period look and avoids the holster-burnishing issue that the polished stainless develops. The stainless 4.62" is more practical for humid climates and faster on competition draws because of the shorter barrel. Most SASS competitors choose stainless for the corrosion resistance and accept the cosmetic wear; reenactors and collectors typically go blued.
Does the high-gloss stainless finish need any special maintenance?
Owners on Ruger forums recommend a paste wax (Johnson's, Renaissance, or carnauba auto wax) applied before each match to slow the holster burnishing. A microfiber wipe-down after each session handles fingerprints and salt. Avoid abrasive polishes — they cut the polish and create visible swirl marks that don't go away. The finish is durable; the issue is purely cosmetic.
Can the stainless and blued New Vaqueros use the same holsters?
No — they have different barrel lengths (4.62" stainless vs 5.5" blued). Holsters are barrel-length specific. The grip frame and cylinder dimensions are identical between the two variants, so any holster cut for a 4.62" barrel New Vaquero or a 4.75" Colt SAA fits this revolver. Holsters built for the 5.5" blued model leave a noticeable gap at the muzzle.
What is the difference between First, Second, and Third Generation Colts?
First Generation runs 1873-1941, Second runs 1956-1974, Third runs 1976-1993, and production resumed in 1994 continuing to present. Today's production guns are late third/fourth generation. First and Second Generation Colts are collector-grade and the prices reflect that. Modern-production guns are functionally identical to their predecessors and are the SAAs available for new purchase.
Can the Colt SAA shoot modern Ruger-only hot .45 Colt loads?
No. The SAA is built for standard SAAMI-pressure .45 Colt only (14,000 PSI). The "Ruger-only" loads from Buffalo Bore and similar makers operate at pressures that exceed what the SAA frame and cylinder are designed to handle and risk catastrophic failure. Standard cowboy-action loads, factory hunting loads, and any SAAMI-spec .45 Colt are appropriate; anything labeled "Ruger only" or "for large-frame Ruger" is not.
