colt single action army User Guide

SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER
SHERIFF'S AND STOREKEEPER'S
MODEL REVOLVERS
NEW FRONTIER@ SINGLE ACTION
ARMY REVOLVER

Copyright
This instruction manual should always accompany this flresnn.
When you lend, give or sell this firesnn, be sure this manual goes with it.

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1993 Colt's Manufacturing Company, Inc. All Rights ReselVed.

FIGURE 1-

COLT~ SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER

FRAME

HAMMER

BARREL

FIGURE 2-
COL T~SHERIFF'S MODEL
WITH BLACKPOWDER FRAME

SAFElY DEPENDS ON YOU

FRAME

CYLINDER

HAMMER

THIS IS A COLLECTOR'S FIREARM

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A'WARNING: THIS REtlO'I)JER-AAS-SEEIirFfECREATED FROM A.

HISTORIC DESIGN AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO
HANDLE WHEN LOADED.,

Collectors of fine firearms, such as this Colt revolver, should be
aware that:

1. Loading and unloading the firearm will show wear and lead

to loss of collector value.

2. Excessive handling will lead to premature wear and cause
loss of value.

3. Firing this revolver will cause immediate extreme loss of

collector's value.

ACAUTION: IF YOU HAVE READ THE WARNING ABOVE, AND

ACCEPT THE LOSS OF COLLECTOR'S VALUE AND THE RISK
OF DANGER FROM LOADING THIS REVOLVER USE THE

INFORMATION IN THE REST OF THIS MANUAL TO MINIMIZE

THE RISK OF INJURY, DEATH OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

SAFETY DEPENDS

ON YOU

CD

SECTION 1 PRECAUTIONS

READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE FOLLOWING PRECAU-

TIONS BEFORE REMOVING THIS FIREARM FROM ITS

PACKAGE.

This Colt product is classified by the Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms Division of the Internal Revenue Service, U.S.
Treasury Department, as a firearm or dangerous weapon; it
is, therefore, potentially lethal!

&'WARNING: IF,AfS-FIREARM rs CARELESSLY OR IMP'R'trP-

RLV

HANDLED, UNINTENTIONAL DISCHARGE COULD RE-
SULT AND COULD CAUSE INJURY, DEATH, OR DAMAGE
TO-fBj)J~EBJ-Y.

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&CAUTION: CAREFULLY READ THIS INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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WHICH GIVES BASIC ADVICE ON THE PROPER HANDLING
AND FUNCTIONING OF THIS COLT FIREARM PRIOR TO
LOADING AND FIRING. However, your safety and the safety
of others (including your family) depends on your mature
compliance with that advice, and your adoption, development

and constant employment of safe practices.

If unfamiliar with firearms, seek further advice through safe
handling courses run by your local gun clubs, NRA ap-

proved instructor, or similar qualified organizations.

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SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

NOTICE

Colt shall not be responsible for injury, death, or damage to property re-
sulting from either intentional or accidental discharge of this firearm, or

from its function when used for purposes or subjected to treatment for

which it was not designed. Colt will not honor claims involving this fire-
arm which result from careless or improper handling, unauthorized ad-

justment or parts replacement, corrosion, neglect, or the use of wrong

caliber ammunition, or the use of ammunition other than original high
quality commercially manufactured ammunition in good condition, or any

combination thereof. Colt will not honor claims involving this firearm for
any reason or cause when such claims are made by the second or sub-

sequent owner.

IMPORTANT

Before it left the factory this firearm was tested, carefully inspected, and
packaged. Colt cannot control product handling after it leaves the fac-

tory; therefore, please examine this firearm carefully at the time of pur-

chase to insure that it is unloaded and undamaged. The dealer will be
pleased to assist you in making this examination and endeavor to
answer your further questions.

This instruction manual should always accompany this firearm and be
transferred with it upon change of ownership.

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

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IMPORTANT: Before going further be sure you have read and

fully understand the message on page 1.

ACAUTION:

IF YOU DECIDE TO FIRE THIS COLLECTOR'S
REVOLVER, USE ONLY ORIGINAL HIGH QUALITY COMMER-
CIALLY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION IN GOOD CONDITION
WHICH IS APPROPRIATE TO THE CALIBER OF YOUR RE-
VOLVER - SEE TABLE BELOW.

Revolver
Chamber

Size

44 Spec.

44 Special Yes

44.40 No Yes
45 Colt No
45 ACP
357 Mag.

9mm No
38-40

No No
No

No No No

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44.40
No No

No Yes

No No
No No

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

Suitable Ammunition

45 ACP 357 Mag.

45 Colt

No No

No No

No No

No Yes

No Yes

No No
No No

38 Spec. 38 Spec.+P

No

No No

No

No

No No

Yes Yes

No
No

No
No
No

No Yes
No

9mm

No No
No No
No No
No
No

No Yes

38.40

No
No

No

. LIST OF SECTIONS
SECTION

1 PRECAUTIONS

2
3

4 Function:

5

6
7

TITLE

Main Features 6
Safety Instructions: 7

Cautions 8
Safety Features: 15

Hammer Safety Position
Half-Cock Position (for loading)

Loading 20
Carrying Modes
Unloading 24

To Unload Revolvers with ejector rods
To Unload Revolvers without ejector rods

Firing and Sight Adjustments

Maintenance:

Stripping for Cleaning
Assembling after Cleaning
When to Clean

How to Clean

Storage 36

Servicing and Repair

Parts Illustration and List

The Customized Gun

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

PAGE

2

15
17
20

23
24

26
27
32
32
33
33
34

36
39
42

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SECTION 2 MAIN FEATURES

The Colt Single Action Army (SAA) revolver, like the 1873 original, is

built the Colt way. The New Frontier Single Action Army (NFSAA) and
some Sheriff's Model revolvers are functionally identical to the Single
Action Army except that the NFSAA has a ramp style front sight and

adjustable rear sight, while the Sheriff's Model has no ejector rod and

special issues have dual cylinders. Some other Sheriff's Models and the

Storekeeper's Model have Blackpowder frames with no ejector rod and

a screw instead of a spring loaded catch to retain the basepin. This

instruction manual applies to these revolvers, commemorative issues of

these revolvers and to the variations of them shown in the table below.

Revolver Type
Single Action Army Revolver,

45 Colt, 357 Magnum,
44 Special, 44-40,
45 ACP, 9mm or 38-40

New Frontier Single Action

Army Revolver, 45 Colt, 357

Magnum, 44 Special, or 44-40

Storekeeper's and Sheriff's

Models, 44 Special or 44-40

Barrel

Lengths

4%-, 5Y2-

7112-

or 1

'Z'

43/4-, 5112-

or 7112-

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or 4-

Finishes

Colt Blue (color

case hardened
frame) or
Nickel.

Royal Blue

(colorcase

hardened

frame) or

Nickel.
Colt or Royal

Blue (color case
hardened frame)
or Nickel with
some Royal
Blue parts

Sights
Fixedrear

square notch.

Fixed front
blade.

Fully
adjustable
rear.
Ramp-style
front

Fixed rear
square
notch. Fixed
front blade.

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SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

SECTION 3 SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

If you have read the warning on page 1 and accept the loss of value

and the risk of danger from loading this revolver then follow these

safety instructions to reduce the risk of accidental discharge resulting in

injury, death or damage to property. You may be an experienced safe

shooter already familiar with the procedures in this instruction manual, or

you may never have handled a gun before but if you decide to load live

ammunition into this revolver we urge you to read this entire instruc-

tion manual carefully. You must follow the safety Instructions for

your safety and the safety of others.

AiWAR~nn~:[rorrcrT-eAR'RYIAIS-FI"RCAR'fWITA-ALOAD"EDI

!CHAMBER IN FRONT OF THE HAMMER. THIS WILL MINIMIZE

HE RISK OF AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE. I

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ill ARNING: IF REVOLVER IS DROPPED ON HAMMER, IF

REVOLVER IS FANNED, OR IF EXCESSIVE FORCE IS APPLIED

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o THE TRIGGER-"SAFETY" AND "HALF-COCK"

NOTCHES COULD BREAK, CAUSING ACCIDENTAL DIS-

CHARGE WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY, DEATH, OR

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jDAMAGE TO PROPERTY. (Note: Normal trigger pull is 5
,maximum-excessive force is 35 Ibs. or more.)

Ibs'l

AWAR'"H1N(;:"Wtien you squeeze tJii"'tiigger, you must expecf

the gun to fire, and you must take full responsibility for firing
it. Your care can avoid accidental discharge, and you Will

thereb avoid accidental injury and death.

SAFETYDEPENDSONYOU tV

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CAUTIONS:

GENERAL HANDLING CAUTIONS

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1. ALWAYS HANDLE YOUR REVOLVER AS IF IT WERE
LOADED so that you never fire it accidentally when you think
it is unloaded.

2. NEVER POINT YOUR REVOLVER AT ANYTHING YOU DO

NOT INTEND TO SHOOT so that if it fires accidentally, injury,
death, or damage to property will be prevented.

3. NEVER TAKE ANYONE'S WORD THAT A GUN IS UN-
LOADED; check for yourself with fingers off the trigger and
gun pointed in a safe direction, so that you never fire the gun
accidentally when you think it is unloaded.

4. ALWAYS KEEP AND CARRY YOUR REVOLVER EMPTY,
WITH THE HAMMER IN THE SAFETY POSITION, except when

you intend to shoot, so that your revolver cannot be fired

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when you do not mean to fire it.

5. ALWAYS MAKE SUREYOUR REVOLVERIS NOT LOADED,
THE HAMMER IS AT HALF COCK AND LOADING GATE IS
OPEN BEFORE LAYING IT DOWN, OR HANDING IT TO
ANOTHER PERSON, so that it cannot be fired when it is

unsafe to do so.

6. NEVER LEAVE REVOLVER COCKED READY TO FIRE. This

condition is extremely dangerous, and revolver could easily
be accidentally discharged, causing injury, death, or damage

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SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

to property.

7. NEVER LEAVE A LOADED REVOLVER UNATTENDED.
Someone, especially a child, may fire it and cause injury,
death, or damage to property.

8. ALWAYS INSTRUCT CHILDREN TO RESPECT FIREARMS.

Ifyou teach your children to shoot, teach them to treat and
use the revolver properly, and always supervise them closely.
Always stress safety so that your children will not fire the
revolver when it is unsafe to do so.

RANGE CAUTIONS

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9. ALWAYS BE SURE YOUR BACKSTOP IS ADEQUATE to

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stop and contain bullets before beginning target practice so
that you do not hit anything outside the range shooting area.

THINK! What will you HIT if you MISS the target?

10. ALWAYS PUT A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND RESPONSIBLE

PERSON IN CHARGE TO MAINTAIN SAFETY CONTROL WHEN

A GROUP IS FIRING ON A RANGE. Obey his commands so
that discipline is maintained to reduce the likelihood of
accidents.

11. ALWAYS CARRY YOUR REVOLVER EMPTY WITH THE
LOADING GATE OPEN WHILE ON A RANGE until preparing
to fire. Keep It pointing towards the backstop when loading,

firing and unloading, to eliminate the risk of injury, death, or

damage to property.

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

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LOADING/UNLOADING CAUTIONS

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12. ALWAYS BE SURE BARREL BORE AND CYLINDER
CHAMBERS ARE CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS. Clean a fouled
revolver immediately so that it will function correctly and
safely.

13. ALWAYS USE ONLY CLEAN, DRY, ORIGINAL HIGH

QUALITY COMMERCIALLY MANUFACTURED AMMUNITION

IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH IS APPROPRIATE TO THE
CALIBER OF YOUR REVOLVER. (See page 4.) Gun and
ammunition manufacturers design their products within ex-
acting engineering safety limits. Handloads are sometimes
outside those limits and can be so unsafe as to blow up the
cylinder and frame and cause injury, death, or damage to

property.

14. ALWAYS EXERCISE EXTREME CARE TO KEEP MUZZLE
POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION, WELL CLEAR OF YOUR
BODY, PARTICULARLY WHEN UNLOADING REVOLVERS

THAT DO NOT HAVE EJECTOR RODS.

SHOOTING CAUTIONS

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15. NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE
DRUGS BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING, as your vision and

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judgment could be seriously Impaired making your gun
handling unsafe.

16. ALWAYS SEEK A DOCTOR'S ADVICE IF YOU ARE TAK-

@ SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

ING MEDICATION, to be sure you are fit to shoot and handle

your revolver safely.

17. ALWAYS WEAR AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WEAR

EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING, especially on a range.

Without ear protection, the noise from your revolver and
other guns close to you, could leave a "ringing" in the ears
for some time after firing, while the cumulative long term

effect could be permanent hearing loss.

18. ALWAYS WEAR AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WEAR
PROTECTIVE SHOOTING GLASSES. Flying particles could

damage eyes and cause blindness; but protective shooting
glasses should prevent such injury.

19. ALWAYS KEEP AN EMPTY CHAMBER IN FRONT OF
HAMMER WITH HAMMER IN SAFETY POSITION WHEN RE-
VOL VER IS LOADED UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO FIRE. This

will minimize risk of an accidental discharge.

20. ALWAYS HOLD REVOLVER BY THE GRIP AND KEEP

BOTH HANDS WELL CLEAR OF, AND BEHIND THE Cy-
LINDER. Never hold it near the cylinder as very hot gas and

lead particles may be sprayed out around the cylinder. . .
these would Injure your hands.

21. NEVER SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OR PUT YOUR FINGER

IN THE TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL YOU ARE AIMING AT A

TARGET AND READY TO SHOOT. This will prevent you firing

the revolver when it is pointing in an unsafe direction.

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

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22. ALWAVS BE ABSOLUTEL V SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND
THE AREA BEHIND IT BEFORE YOU SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER.
A bullet could travel through or past your target up to 11/2

miles. . . if in doubt, don't shoot. THINKI What will you HIT

if you MISS the target?

23. NEVER SHOOT AT A HARD SURFACE SUCH AS ROCK,

OR A LIQUID SURFACE SUCH AS WATER. A bullet may

ricochet and travel in any direction to strike you, another
person or an object you cannot see, causing Injury, death,
or damage to property.

24. NEVER DISCHARGE A FIREARM NEAR FLAMMA-
BLE MATERIAL. Flame and sparks erupt from the firearm

when discharged. They could start a fire or cause flamma-

ble liquids and gases to explode.

25. NEVER FIRE YOUR REVOLVER NEAR AN ANIMAL unless
It Is trained to accept the noise; an animal's startled reaction
could injure it or cause an accident.

26. NEVER INDULGE IN "HORSEPLA V" WHILE HOLDING
YOUR REVOLVER as It may be accidentally discharged.

27. NEVER WALK, CLIMB OR FOLLOW A COMPANION WITH

YOUR REVOLVER COCKED READV TO FIRE, out of its

holster, or with the hammer in any position other than in
"safety" with an empty chamber in front of the hammer to
minimize risk of an accidental discharge. When hunting, hold
your revolver so that you can always control the direction of
the muzzle.

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SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

UNLOADING CAUTION

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28. ALWAYS EXERCISE EXTREME CARE TO KEEP MUZZLE
POINTING IN A SAFE DIRECTION, WELL CLEAR OF YOUR

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BODY,particularly when unloading revolvers that do not have

ejector rods.

MALFUNCTION CAUTIONS

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29. FAILURE TO FIRE: ALWAYS HOLD REVOLVER, KEEPING

IT POINTED TOWARDS THE TARGET OR A SAFE OPEN AREA

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AND WAIT 30 SECONDS when revolver falls to fire. If a
hangfire (slow ignition) has occurred, round will fire within

30 seconds. If round does not fire, eject round and examine

primer in base of misfired round. Iffiring pin Indent on primer

is light, misaligned or non-existent, have revolver examined
by a competent gunsmith. If firing pin Indent on primer

appears normal (In comparison with similar previously fired

rounds) assume faulty ammunition; segregate misfired round
from other live ammunition and empty cases, reload and carry
on firing.

NOTE:Dispose of misfired rounds in accordance with ammuni-

tion manufacturer's instructions.

30. NEVER USE YOUR REVOLVER IF IT FAILS TO FUNCTION
PROPERLY, AND NEVER FORCE A JAMMED ACTION, as a

round may explode causing serious injury, possible death, or
severe damage to your revolver.

SAFETY DEPENDS ON YOU

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