Colt SAA New Frontier Serial Number

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Today I recieved a Colt SAA New Frontier 45 Colt which I purchaed from GunBroker.com. It is advertised as a second generation SAA produced in 1972. It is in new condition, in the box and has never been fired. Serial number is 01081 NF. I have been trying to verify that this is the year of production and that it is a second generation SAA. Can anyone help me?

Also, it did not come with the owner's manual. I looked at the Colt online site but did not see that they offer manuals. Where can I get one?

Thanks,
 
NF ser#

All second gen guns have 4 digit ser#'s.Third gen guns have 5,the 0 is the fifth digit. I'd say that your gun was made in 77 or 78
 
That's a 3rd generation. Common error because of the “NF” suffix, it’s clearly noted in the Blue Book of gun values.

"BBGV"

REINTRODUCED IN SEPTEMBER
1978 01001NF 04424NF
1979 04425NF 06274NF
1980 06275NF 11374NF
1981 11375NF 16584NF
1982 16584NF DISC. 1982
 
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Hopefully the seller didn’t deliberately misrepresent the gun. You’ll know for sure by the way he responds to the question “what’re you going to do about it”. Good luck!
 
I sincerely hope you did not pay 2nd generation prices! This is why it's critical to get info like this before the first bid. Don't depend on the seller's description to be factual.
 
Thanks everyone. It is an early third generation SAA NF. Made in 1978. The seller initially listed it as a second generation SAA NF but then added an addendum 3 days before the end of the auction, which I missed, stating that several people had emailed him stating is was a third generation gun. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that. Also, he stated in the description that it was produced in 1978. I didn't know before this that the last second generation SAA's were made in 1974. So I've learned a very good lesson. Ask for the serial number before bidding, read everything very carefully, then research the facts. I'm not sure he listed it as a second generation SAA on purpose. The gun is in new condition, never fired. I paid $1,105.00 for it, so hopefully I didn't get burned too badly.
 
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I'm no expert but I think you were lucky and got a good price. Lucky for you the guys competing with you knew what it was. LOL
 
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That seems like a more than fair price for a never fired 3rd Generation NF to me.

I'd be quite happy with that purchase.
 
If yours fits and shoots as nice as my 45 Colt New Frontier I would have paid that much. I think the New Frontiers are one of the best buys around. I also have purchased a 45ACP cylinder for mine.

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Just to get us all on the same page, if I understand Colt history correctly the New Frontier had an adjustable rear sight and was sold and referred to as the 'New Frontier." The Single Action Army (or Model 1873) had no rear sight. It is an inaccurate conflation to describe any pistol as a "SAA New Frontier." It's either a SAA OR a New Frontier; it can't be both.
 
Just to get us all on the same page, if I understand Colt history correctly the New Frontier had an adjustable rear sight and was sold and referred to as the 'New Frontier." The Single Action Army (or Model 1873) had no rear sight. It is an inaccurate conflation to describe any pistol as a "SAA New Frontier." It's either a SAA OR a New Frontier; it can't be both.
Click to expand...

You are correct only a Colt SAA is a SAA and clones of it are only SA's
 
HOLD THE PHONE HERE GUYS !!! ALL of my COLT NEW FRONTIER SIXGUNS are marked .... NEW FRONTIER S A A 45, or whatever the caliber is of that particular pistol.
I have them in every caliber and every barrel length [ all shootin' guns including the 38SPL, the second rarest of ALL COLT guns..] except one, and they are ALL marked in that fashion.
They are a COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY also.....model NEW FRONTIER.
And so it goes....
 
How does $1,105 compare to the price of a new one? I've read some glowing reports on current production, such as the finish being nicer than ever, etc.
 
It's a good price for an older 3rd generation gun that is in NIB condition. The new production guns are gonna be $1350-$1450 street price. They will be much nicer guns as Colt has made great improvements in their SAA product. No longer are they overpolished with dished-out screw holes, rolled-over edges and mushy-looking lettering. They're very good guns and Turnbull is doing the case colors. They cost a bit more but they're better guns and the shorter barrel lengths that are so scarce in the earlier guns should be more readily available.
 
Everyone says that the early 3rd gen Colt single actions are crap, yet I have a 1984 production the exhibits none of the faults listed above. While it may be hit or miss as to whether you find a good one, I do not think that all of them are junk.

When I bought mine I compared it to a 1965 production SAA that was for sale also. Both were NIB, outside of the minor differences that will exist on nearly any firearms that are produced twenty years apart, they were identical in fit and finish. In deference to the the fact that they were unturned, I didn't test the triggers. I wound up buying the 3rd generation gun largely because it was half the price, and it had the blackpowder frame.

It shoots just fine and there have been no issues with it.

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CAn Anyone tell me what I have here

I picked up a Colt New Frontier .22 lr today and want to know a little more about it. What it exactly is and how much its worth? Any Does snybody have some original grips?

IMG_0962.jpg

IMG_0514.jpg

Colt.jpg
 
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