If in a rush for the Colt letter you can call them on the phone to speed things up a couple of months. When I checked out my Bisley a number of years ago the fee for a SAA, which is actually the category the Bisley ser# range falls within, was $100. They charged an additional $50 for any model like the Bisley, engraved, or had historical significance. You never know where those old guns have been. You could be sitting on a treasure. They also charged an extra $50 for giving you the info over the phone, once you gave them your credit card# of course. You'll get the letter within 2 weeks, but check current fees. I just did it last year for a Kornbrath engraved Colt Officer's Model Target HB made in '38 for $175.
My Bisley was, as far as I know, the only one that was factory converted to a SAA by machining the rare of the frame and replacing the grip strap and trigger guard and hammer from a SAA mfg. in 1904. It was made in 1906. I do have a slightly fuzzy photo in my computer taken by my cousin, but only know how to attach it to an email. On the internet you can check out an article from the October 2007 American Rifleman written by Gary Johnston, regarding John Wayne's SAA, which was also a converted Bisley. His Bisley was converted by someone unknown, but mine had Colt's 3 digit #'s on various parts of the gun to prevent putting the gun back together from parts of another gun. Colt expert John Kopec advised me about my gun.
I spoke to Mr. Johnston a couple of weeks ago about it and told him if in the future if he wanted to do a followup article on the converted Bisley I'd be more than happy to assist him with mine. When he saw my photo he thought maybe it was a SAA with a replaced Bisley barrel, which was common. But I told him I had the letter from Colt that it was in fact born a Bisley. He said the only other example he knew of was Elmer Keith's conversions where he attached a Bisley back strap to his guns, but it isn't the same.
Anyway, careful with the grips on yours and under no condition even think of touching it's finish. If you don't want to screw it up then stay away from black powder. That's nasty stuff, though fun to shoot. Ist generation SA's prior to approx ser#165,000 were black powder frames made of cast iron, which most people don't realize and not steel. Smokeless in those frames at the very least caused numerous cracks. If there's a stamped triangle with VP on the left side of your trigger guard, that means that Colt gave a warranty for smokeless powder, which was in around 1901 at ser#192,000. It took them a long time to do it. Let a gunsmith check it out for you and if it's in good condition there's no reason for you not to use moderate factory loads. Those Bisleys are under valued, but going up in price. Don't let anyone snooker you out of it. Take care of it and good luck.
