COLT


.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Sun Mar 01, 2015 9:12 pm
Thank you, they are simply stunning!
Wayne
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:00 pm
Here another picture Wayne...

Image

The Peacemaker was presented to me by my wife upon my retirement from the DoD.

It is a 3rd generation Model P1840 with a 4 3/4" barrel chambered in .45 Colt with a case hardened frame that I've dated to 2007...

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:30 pm
Sweet! Have you ever shot it? Doesn't look like it.
I've got a Colt 1st gen (1932) that looks a lot like it. Ill post it when I get a minute.
I've also got and old SAA 1st gen (1882) that has an interesting story that I think you will enjoy. I'm posting it now.
I saw your Vaquero Bisly...very nice. Ive got a SS Vaquero (older version in 45LC) with white grips that I'll post soon.
Thanks
Wayne

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:38 pm
Hello,

Several years ago (I'm now retired) I acquired an old Colt 45 SAA 1st generation (early) made in 1882. (Black powder cartridge). There is a great story behind this.

I went to an old friends house to repair a leak in a ceiling. To repair the leaking pipe, we had to remove an 8ft section of sheet rock from the ceiling. During the repair, I noticed something sitting on top of a heating duct. You guessed it...it was an old Colt 45 SAA in a period holster...just sitting there!
I couldn't believe my eyes! The homeowner was standing next to me. I looked at it and handed it down to him. I told him what it was but I didn't know how old it was. He didn't like guns and didn't want it in the house. Better yet, he gave it to me. As best we could tell, the house was built in the 30's. The rec room looked like a 1950's job at the latest. That's when the ceiling was closed up. So we figured that the gun has sat there since at least the 1950's and perhaps longer ( about 65 yrs). This just doesn't happen to me...it happens to other people. Anyway....The gun had a light coating of rust all over it but not so bad that it didn't function properly. The holster had gotten a bit hard sitting on the heating duct. He said air conditioning was added in the 70's so now the duct is warm and cool. I applied the correct leather restoration paste to the holster and it softened up nicely. I had to "go over" the gun with a soft brillo pad soaked in oil. I wasn't concerned about removing any old bluing because there wasn't any. I wanted to get the rust out! The gun is in pretty good shape. It functions properly and you can still hear the 4 distinctive "Colt clicks" when going to full cock. I did replace the Bolt (cylinder stop) with an original one. The grips are the original one piece wood although they have shrunk just a bit which is normal and expected on a gun 135 years old. All of the numbers match except the loading gate which again is normal as almost all the colts left the factory with non-matching number loading gates. I also find the holster to be very interesting. It is a period holster (1880 - 1900) in the floral pattern but has no makers mark. If you notice on the back of the holster, someone (probably a boot maker or cobbler) installed a leather "patch". Apparently the muzzel wore a hole through the bottom of the holster. They glued the patch in place then used tacks and tacked it then buffed the seam smooth. How cool is that? Back in the day, people couldn't afford to throw things out...they repaired them! Now...could the patch be covering the makers name...? Maybe, but I'm not going to remove it and find out. In my opinion, this rig has probably spent a lot of time on horseback. I sent for and received the "Colt Letter". It states the gun left the Colt factory just the way you see it, in March of 1882. It was part of a shipment of 50 that went to Hartley & Gramm. H&G were Colt distributors who shipped most of their guns west. I can find no records on who H&G shipped it to. If only this gun could talk. I've attached a few pictures and a few more on the next thread. Thanks for hanging in there this long.

Wayne
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:43 pm
More Pictures (I hope)
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:17 pm
Hello,
I'm proudly showing you what is undoubtedly the nicest, most collectible and most valuable gun in my collection. In my humble opinion, it is one of the nicest 1st generation Colt SAA packages in existence and I am very proud to own it.

I was fortunate enough to inherit this gun from my great Aunt. The caliber is 38 Colt. My great Aunt and Uncle owned a hardware store for 40 years in Pa. According to my Aunt, my Uncle bought this gun new in 1930. It sat in its original box on a shelf in the hardware store for many years. One day he brought it home where it sat on a shelf in his closet for many more years. He passed away about 30 years ago and I inherited the gun. She said that as far as she knew, he had never fired it. When I got it, it also came with a full box of vintage 38 colt cartridges that she said he bought when he bought the gun. (Years ago, I traded the cartridges which I now regret doing) As long as I've had it, I've never fired it. As far as I can tell, it is an unfired 1st gen SAA. If you look at the cylinder, you can barely see a ring. This weapon has hardly been cocked. As I said the gun is caliber 38 Colt (not 38 special) which I'm told is somewhat of a rare caliber. The gun comes with its original Colt box, wax paper, Colt waxed paper instructions and original hang tag. Also included with the gun is the original Colt sales booklet dated 1930 as well as the Colt price list on pink paper dated 1930 and a period wooden ramrod. It doesn't get much better than that. I have the Colt Letter on this gun.
I am a strong advocate of shooting firearms but every now and then, one comes along that is so nice and so collectible that you shouldn't shoot it. I think this is one of them. I hope the forum doesn't mind but I'm going to attempt upload about 12 pictures. I'd love to hear your comments. Thank you.
Wayne
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:19 pm
More Pics
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:20 pm
A few more
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:22 pm
They keep coming!
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:24 pm
Almost done
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:26 pm
And this is all!
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:34 pm
Sorry...a few more
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User avatar
20g
Posts: 916
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 5:06 pm
Location: Central Louisiana
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 9:48 pm
I'm stunned with amazement. A Colt worthy of a letter. My first thought shortly after viewing the last photo is.....value.....One-of-a-kind?
Last edited by redryder on Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
GOA Life Member
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.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:37 pm
Thanks Red,
I doubt it's one of a kind but there aren't many. I hate to talk price but everyone is obviously curious because it's the first thing I hear. I don't honestly know exactly what it would go for at auction..you know how that goes. If two people want it ...who knows. I did take it to an antique gun show in Baltimore 10 years ago. It's a yearly show and one of the largest on the east coast. I was offered $7,500 by a few very reputable dealers. I still have their cards. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bit higher than that today. Colts are just crazy expensive. I certainly couldn't afford to buy it.
Thanks much.
Wayne
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:44 pm
Awesome collection Wayne !!

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 4:15 pm
Thank you Sir..

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:47 pm
Hi guys,

I wasn't sure whether to post this Colt here or whether it should go in the black powder section. I chose to post it here because it is a Colt revolver and not a muzzle loader. If you feel it should be moved, please let me know and I'll move it.
Here is a very nice original Civil War Colt Army model 1860 44 caliber cap & ball revolver. The gun was made in 1862 and has military markings including the army inspectors cartouche on the lower grip. Also included is the holster, belt & original lead filled buckle. All numbers match through out. I picked this up at a Civil War gun show about 25 years ago. Thanks for looking.
Wayne
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20g
Posts: 916
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Location: Central Louisiana
PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 8:12 am
Nice rig Wayne. I kinda favor the brass trigger guards on SAA Colts.
GOA Life Member
NRA Sustaining Member
USMC Korea vet
Retired CWO3 USCGR

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 8:28 am
I agree....they do look good.
Thanks
Wayne
PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 3:37 pm
That original Colt 1860 is awesome Wayne !!


BTW: This sub forum is fine for posting pictures of all Colt rimfire, centerfire, and black powder firearms Wayne...

.410
Posts: 49
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2015 9:18 pm
PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 9:33 pm
Thank you Sir...
PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 3:33 pm
Not a problem...
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