With the "SA" as a prefix, It is 3rd Generation. $1400 is reasonable as long as the box and papers are part of the deal. Down the road, having the box and papers will mean serious $$$ if you ever want to sell it.
Being a "turned" 3rd gen., shooting it (kindly) will not hurt it much.
Guys who compete in SASS and CAS events like 2nd and 3rd gen. guns for shooters...2nd Gen. are preferred because they are configured most like the orignal (pre-war)SAA's.
NEVER SHOOT 1ST GEN. GUNS (NO "SA" PREFIX OR SUFFIX)UNLESS IT IS A BEATER/MIX-MATCH OR YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ITS POTENTIAL VALUE...These are the ones that fetch megga buck$ and condition is a major factor.
Parts for 2nd and 3rd gen. guns are easy to come by, but keeping it original is most desireable.
Suggestion: shoot factory "cowboy" loads (ie. Black Hills ammo) or lighter hand loads most of the time.
I just got an early (1962) 2nd Gen. gun in .357 mag with a 7.5" bbl. on a straight-up trade for a new Springfield S.S. "loaded". It came with a Bianchi gunfighter leather rig. The gun is about 98% blue/80% case colors, no box/papers. I will probably never sell or trade it, so I have no problem shooting it. I generally run .38's and .38+P's through it... ocasionally mild .357's. And, if I ever need parts, I know where to get them and I can work on it myself.
I have had peacemaker "Clones" in the past, but they just don't have the same appeal as the orignal Colts.
Own one and you will know. I will try to look your SN. up and see if I can find a production date.
Here is some useful data:
1st Gen.: 1873-1940 (SN's have no prefix/suffix).
2nd Gen.: 1956-1976 (SN's have an "SA" suffix).
3rd Gen.: 1976- (SN's have "SA" Prefix... some early 3rds have an "S" prefix and an "A" suffix ie. "SXXXXXXA".
The major difference between the 1st Gen.(pre-war)and the 2nd Gen. is that first Gen. guns had longer cyl. flutes and beveled cyl. faces.
The major differences between 2nd and 3rd Gen. (besides workmanship) is that the 3rd Gen. guns don't have a separate cylinder bushing like the 1st and 2nd Gen. guns.
Please remember, as with any single action gun with a firing pin on the hammer, not to put the hammer down on a loaded chamber.
To accomplish this, load one chamber, skip one, then load the remaining four. Using your thumb, lower the hammer and you will have the hammer down on an EMPTY chamber.
This is the only safe way to carry a loaded single action without a transfer bar (like Ruger's and other clones).
Greg