Colt Single Action Army .45 Colt

["DoubleAction"]

....Called the Colt Single Action Army, The 1873 Model P Colt, The Colt .45, and later versions of The Peacemaker. A lot can be said of the Colt Single Action Army through it's history.

[SingleAction]

DoubleAction, I was wondering if you ever shot this gun? And is the gun in the holster the same with wood grips?

I think I'm getting closer to getting one of these, but they are very hard to find in nickel($1450), and very expensive! I need 2 guns for CAS, and can afford only 1 Colt. So far, I found a Cimarron, in nickel which will match it perfectly for $ 550.00. My dealer is also checking a USFA Rodeo, in nickel, which I understand is a better gun then the Uberti, but I think the price is going to be much closer to the Colt.

At this time, the wife and self are going share the one set of pistols, rifle, and shotgun. We also have to get the leather, hats, etc. This is a very expensive segment, of the sport/hobby.

I have had a lot of people telling me to get the Rugers, and I'm sure they are fine guns, but they are bigger and heavier, and don't have the feel of the Colt and clones.
The newer version is closer, but they have hiccups.

SingleAction

["DoubleAction"]

SingleAction; This is the same Colt in both pictures, just different grips.
The Colts are of the indentical lockwork as their historically famous ancestors, unlike the Rugers and some of the clones. One can invest a healthy sum of money in a serious rig, authentic clothing, and possibily a mount, later down the road.
Many find the Uberti revolvers an option to the more expensive Colt revolvers; They can be found through Cimarron Arms and several others ( Uberti manufactured for Cimmarron).
I would not rule out the S&W Schofield Model; It's easier and faster to reload, Jesse James had one. You can find the Schofield through Navy Arms or Smith & Wesson and it will not cost as much as the Colt.
There is a holster maker in California who made a couple of rigs for my Vaqueros, called Tombstone Leather. He made my Loop Holsters for $140. each.
You'll find the Colt to be well balanced steel, although many prefer the Bisley grips on the Single Actions. If I were to have but one handgun for serious events it would be one to my every liking.
An action tuned Uberti from Cimmarron Arms will be an excellent choice in the Single Action Army but the Nickel Plate is not what the Colt is. A plating company called Checkmate Plating once provided Colt with their services, but I tried visiting their website and found it gone.
The Ruger Vaqueros are accepted in the Single Action Shooting Society but they do not have the four notch hammer with the loading notch, the cylinder has to be lined up for loading and ejecting. Rugers are good shooters but I like the carbon steel over the stainless in my .44-40 guns.
Since I already have an action tuned Uberti, chambered for the 44 magnum and 44 special, and two Ruger Vaquero revolvers, chambered in .44-40, my Colt Single Action Army 45 serves only as a part of my collection of Colts, along with the other Colts that I've shot many times. The Colt Single Action Army is a gun that "sells itself ", with appearance, feel, and historical significance, while being very functional. If your looking for authenticity, orginallity, and historically accuracy in the scheme of 19th century re-enactments; You might want to consider the choices of a Colt or Smith & Wesson. I would first check out the choices of those that are already involved in the events you will be participating in. Even if you obtain a new Colt, it will still be a third generation and reproduction of the original but it will be a Colt nonetheless.

[SingleAction]

"An action tuned Uberti from Cimmarron Arms will be an excellent choice in the Single Action Army but the Nickel Plate is not what the Colt is. A plating company called Checkmate Plating once provided Colt with their services, but I tried visiting their website and found it gone."

DoubleAction, I'm a little confused about your statement, about the nickle plating. Are you saying that the Cimarron plating is inferior to the Colt's, and won't look the same, or not to get either gun in nickel to shoot? I found out that Colt uses a company in Florida called Preferredchrome, which I called the other day, and was told that they corrected the problem with the plating peeling off the front of the cyl. on the Colt. The reason I called was to find out how much they would charge to nickel plate a Rodeo. I'm still waiting to find out from my dealer what a plated Rodeo will cost. USFA, told me the suggested retail price was $1400.00. Off the wall!!!!!!!!! The plater wanted $300.00 to strip, polish, and nickel.

I just like the look of the nickel guns. Do you think I'm foolish spending that much money($1400) on a real Colt to shoot CAS?

Did you say you shot the gun in the box(.45), I wasn't clear on that.

Lastly, I joined SASS, and they have a good deal on Colt SAA in nickel, with your member # as the serial #, for $1290. The catch is you have to wait 9 months to a year!

["DoubleAction"]

SingleAction; I've owned this Colt for over ten years, which retailed for $1215. at the time (which I paid less for). With my other handguns I own, I have never found a sensible reasoning in shooting it, nor have I found any reason to chamber a cartridge in it, and only cocked the hammer very few times. In reality, this Colt is factory new in box condition.
I've looked over the nickel plating on other revolvers in the past and compared those with the Colt, however, many improvements in plating might have taken place since then, but not when this one was manufactured. The plating company that you mentioned in florida was not the same one which plated this Colt; At the time in which this one was plated, Checkmate Plating was on the Colt contract.
I do not think it's foolish to spend $1400. on something that will provide you with so much pleasure and prestige; I know of some who drops twice that much on a set of cowboy boots.
If it's nickel plating your looking for, I would take a close look at the current offerings from those on your list and compare. Colt is like any other company when looking at cost effectiveness and profits, especially where outsourcing work is concerned. You might find others are currently offering a competitive level of quality as you'll find in the newer Colts.
Since many of the Colts are retained as investments; Have you given any thought in pursuing the Pre-Owned market?
My thoughts are with the money you save on a pre-owned Colt, that amount can be put toward an action job and you might obtain a better gun.
If you decide on a clone, you'll always want the Colt, and find that the money you spent on the clone could have been put toward the Colt in the first place.
As for nickel being a choice for carry and shooting; The nickel actually provides a lubricity to the moving parts and a corrosive resistance protection for the gun.
There are many others to choose from that are formitable choices from that era, like the S&W Schofield, The Remington and Colt Richardson conversions, and many more.It's obvious that your interest in the old west is more than just a notion, and it's in that reasoning that you'll probably never settle for anything less than Colt's Single Action Army .45. For myself; I find that no Colt collection would be complete without this gun, unless it involves one specific design. As small as my own assortment of Colts is, this one will always out shine even the best of my shooting guns.