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Current Market Value of a Colt Single Action Army (SAA)
How much is a Colt Single Action Army worth? The average used Colt Single Action Army revolver is worth $600 to $1,500, but prices vary by model. Collectible Colt SAAs often cost more than $1,500. At retail, the current (third generation) Colt SAA price is $1,799.
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What Affects the Value of a Colt Single Action Army?
Colt Single Action Army value is dependent on its condition, variant or model, customization, and even documentation in a few select cases.
Some of these will drive its price up while others will drive it down.
Value Factor 1: Condition
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For Colt SAA resale value to be at its best, you want a gun in amazing condition. The better the condition, the higher the valuation.
If you want to know how much your Colt SAA is worth based on its condition, have an expert appraise it. This often requires a fee, but we do antique gun appraisal for free for sellers.
Here are the tiers for Colt Single Action Army cost. Note that they’re for guns that have been in the possession of a private individual before, as opposed to being bought new from a dealer.
New or Mint
- Has never been fired
- Absolutely no sign of use, handling, or wear
- For still-in-production guns, worth up to 90% of MSRP
- At the top of the used Colt Single Action Army value range
Excellent
- Fired only a few times
- Used rarely enough to make finding marks difficult
- Around 10% less than mint value
Very Good
- Used, but lightly
- Has only mild wear or handling marks
- Around 20% less than mint value
Good
- Used regularly but also well-maintained
- Has no functional issues
- Around 30% less than mint value
Fair
- Used regularly but not maintained well
- Worn and may have a mild functional issue
- Around 40% less than mint value
Poor
- Clearly beat-up and damaged, possibly rusted
- May have major functional issues
- At least 50% less than mint value
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Value Factor 2: Colt SAA Models
There are many variants of the Colt Single Action Army revolver. They can differ a lot from each other, which is why Colt Single Action Army specs can also be highly variable.
We’ve tried to list the most noteworthy Colt SAA models and their values here. Note that many of them are no longer in production.
1st Generation Colt Single Action Army Value
The average First Generation Colt SAA is worth around $2,400, but prices vary.
Made from 1873 to 1941, this was also called the “Pre-War” model. It had at least 30 chambering options and at least 5 barrel lengths.
Special sub-variants within this generation can sell for more, like the sub-models we listed below.
Flattop Target Model Colt SAA Value
The average Flattop Target Model Colt SAA is worth $3,000 to $6,000.
Made from 1890 to 1898, this is another first-gen Colt SAA. It’s also very rare: only 914 of these revolvers were manufactured.
The name comes from the flat-topped frame combined with an adjustable leaf rear sight. Expect to sell a Colt SAA Flattop easiest to collectors.
1873-1891 US Cavalry Colt Single Action Army Value
The average first-generation US Cavalry Colt SAA is worth $3,000 to $6,000.
Another first-gen Colt SAA. Often identified by their longer barrels, most were inspected by David F. Clark from 1880 to 1887. This means that the D.F.C. cartouche is common on them.
1873-1891 US Artillery Colt Single Action Army Value
The average US Artillery Colt SAA is worth $2,500 to $5,000.
Yet another first-gen Colt SAA. These guns were made from 1873 to 1891 and issued to a number of groups, including the Infantry and Light Artillery.
These often have mixed numbers, “U.S.” on the frame, and the inspector’s stamps (which may be on different parts of the gun).
Orville Ainsworth Colt Single Action Army Value
The average OWA Colt SAA is worth around $8,000 and up.
These were the very first issued SAAs, with an OWA cartouche on the left side of the wood grip. They were inspected by Orville W. Ainsworth, Colt’s ordinance sub-inspector, from October 1873 to November 1874.
They may even include the SAAs said to have been used at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, which often have serial numbers from 4500 to 7527. Overall, OWA SAA revolvers typically top the list in any Colt Single Action Army valuation list.
Henry Nettleton Single Action Army Value
The average Henry Nettleton Colt SAA is worth $4,000 to $9,000.
These were inspected by US Principal Sub-inspector Henry Nettleton in 1878 at the Springfield Armory. They also have a cartouche on the left side of the wood grip, this time with HN.
The Nettleton SAA revolvers are often among the most popular among collectors, second only to the Ainsworths.
Colt Bisley Value
The average used Colt Bisley SAA is worth $450 to $1,500.
This was a modification of the Colt SAA for target shooting. Made from 1894 to 1912, it used the same frame as the SAA but had a longer grip and wider trigger and hammer spur.
Aside from other differences, the Bisley also had adjustable rear sights. The most popular Bisleys are obviously the first-year (1894) ones.
The most valuable are still the ones owned by historical figures, though, like Pancho Villa’s and Audie Murphy’s Bisley SAAs.
2nd Generation Colt Single Action Army Value
The average used 2nd Generation Colt SAA is worth $1,500 to $4,000.
Colt stopped SAA production during World War II, then resumed it in 1956. SAAs made from then to 1975 are called Second Generation SAAs.
Serial numbers for these often fall within 0001SA to 73,205SA.
Early 3rd Generation Colt Single Action Army Value
The average used 3rd Generation Colt SAA is worth $1,200 to $3,000.
In 1976, a design change altered the barrel thread pitch and added solid (fixed) cylinder bushing to the SAA. This version of the SAA was in production until 1982, with serial numbers within the SA80,000 to SA99,999 range.
Late 3rd Generation Colt Single Action Army Value
The average used Late 3rd Generation Colt SAA is worth $1,000 to $3,000. At retail, it costs $1,799.
The Late 3rd Gen Colt SAAs are the ones Colt has in production today. They were originally introduced in 1994, following another hiatus in the revolver’s production.
Take note that some people refer to these guns as “Fourth Generation” Colt SAAs as well. Either way, these get serial numbers from S02001A. They also bring back the removable cyl bushing.
Colt New Frontier Value
A used Colt New Frontier SAA .22 LR is worth around $275 to $500. Larger-caliber New Frontiers can sell for around $750 to $1,500.
The New Frontier was made in 1957 and is a 2nd Generation SAA with adjustable sights. It was made until 1977, though limited runs were done later on.
Anyway, limited supply makes the 2nd Gen SAA New Frontier desirable. Nickel-plated ones especially so, as most of the 4,200 original New Frontiers were color case-hardened.
Colt Buntline Special Value
The average used Colt Buntline .22 LR is worth $250 to $450. A used larger-caliber Buntline SAA is worth around $850 to $2,500.
This one’s for you if you like long-barreled revolvers. Often linked to Wyatt Earp thanks to Stuart Lake’s biography of the lawman, this SAA sported a bighhonking 12-inch barrel!
Buntlines were made from 1957 to 1992, so there are actually 2nd Gen, and 3rd Gen examples. Older ones in excellent condition and larger calibers are worth more.
Colt Frontier Scout Value
The average used Colt Frontier Scout is worth $200 to $1,000.
Made from 1957 to 1986, the Frontier Scout was Colt’s response to Ruger’s release of a .22 sixgun. It’s a rimfire SAA with an aluminum frame and blued steel with black grips.
There are some rare commemorative versions. There are Buntline or long-barreled versions too. Colt Single Action Frontier Scout value usually goes up for Buntline variants.
Colt Peacemaker Centennial Value
The average Colt Peacemaker Centennial is worth $1,000 to $2,500.
The SAA Centennial is a 2nd Generation SAA. It was made to commemorate 100 years of production in 1973.
As this is a copy of the original six-shooter from Colt, it tends to be very popular with collectors. Well-kept guns with the original display case sell for the best prices.
Colt NRA Centennial Value
The average used Colt NRA Centennial is worth $500 to $1,100.
This is another 2nd Generation SAA. About 6,000 were made and most of them had the Royal Blue finish.
These guns came chambered for either .357 Magnum or .45 Colt. Most buyers are more interested in the latter version, so these usually sell faster.
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Value Factor 3: Colt SAA Finishes
Finish desirability varies with model. For example, only around 1% of 1st Gen SAAs and 400 of 2nd Gen SAAs were factory-engraved. So, they're rarer and cost more.
Here’s a rough ranking of SAA finishes from most valuable to least valuable:
- Factory-engraved (usually on nickel)
- Special-edition finishes (usually gold or silver)
- Traditional case-hardened or Royal Blue
- Modern case-hardened or Royal Blue
- Factory nickel
Value Factor 4: Colt Single Action Army Customization
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Colt Single Action Army Revolver values are almost always higher when the gun is in factory configuration.
Why? Because most people buying one don’t want a modern or customized gun. They want an iconic, historically accurate one.
So, expect to drop Colt SAA price estimates by as much as 10% per customization. Let’s go over the general rules for the three most common customizations.
Engraving
Factory-engraving is worth more than aftermarket engraving. The only time when this may not be true is when the aftermarket engraving is done by a renowned and sought-out artisan.
Grips
Modern grips only add value if both of these are true:
- They’re applied to modern or Late 3rd Generation SAAs.
- They’re of great quality and condition.
Adding aftermarket grips to an antique Colt SAA often lowers its value.
Refinishing
In nearly all cases, this lowers the value of an older gun. Colt SAAs are often worth more in their factory finishes, even modern ones.
Value Factor 5: Documentation
Papers don't usually increase modern Colt Single Action Army value. They can boost value of collectibles, though.
When that happens, it’s often for these reasons:
- The gun is a highly collectible SAA and the buyer wants added proof of authenticity.
- The gun was originally owned by someone famous, which adds to its historical value.
Colt offers authentication and history letters for guns. Visit the Colt Archives website and use the form there. Note that there’s a fee for the service, however.
The hope is to at least recoup the cost of getting the SAA lettered. That’s if the letter’s revelations fit into one of the cases mentioned above.
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