Colt Officers Model Target 22LR ??'s
Local gun shop has above mentioned gun in pretty nice shape in 22 lr for $750 with a little blueing wear at the end of the muzzle. I'm looking to trade a real nice Stainless Browning Hi Power in 40 S&W for it. For what I'm into the Browning I was thinking about trading gun for gun. My quandry is that the BB value says that it is of equal value but the GB completed auctions tell a different story. I know the owner who has it for sale and said it was made in 1934. I'd really like to have a nice piece of history in my safe but I'm kinda confused. Any thoughts? Thanks.
Todd
Todd
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That Vintage Colt is a great quality pistol That said it could also have some wear problems in the lock works. Take the pistol and SLOWLY cock the hammer 6 times in a row , Does the cylinder Lock in place each time [?] or do you have to help the cylinder with your fingers on some cylinder positions [?][?] in other words does it work on all cylinders in both single action & double action mode? if not be aware very few gunsmiths know how to work on theses old Colts. Is this pistol OFFICERS MODEL TARGET or OFFICERS model MATCHis the front sight adjustable[?] 0 -
Take perry shooters advice. If it is in good working condition, do not expect to trade gun for gun. The Blue Book, should be used strictly for entertainment purposes only. The completed auctions that have actually sold are the best indicator of what the market will bear, on both of those handguns.
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quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
That Vintage Colt is a great quality pistol That said it could also have some wear problems in the lock works. Take the pistol and SLOWLY cock the hammer 6 times in a row , Does the cylinder Lock in place each time [?] or do you have to help the cylinder with your fingers on some cylinder positions [?][?] in other words does it work on all cylinders in both single action & double action mode? if not be aware very few gunsmiths know how to work on theses old Colts. Is this pistol OFFICERS MODEL TARGET or OFFICERS model MATCHis the front sight adjustable[?]
It is the match model. As for the cylinder play I will look at it tomorrow. Looking at the auction side it looks like they are bringing about $5-600 at most. Just don't want to pay to much for it.0 -
Don't let a slightly short hand keep you from purchasing the OMM. A worn hand is a common condition with old V-spring Colts. A "short hand" is an easy fix (buy a Kuhnhausen manual and read how to fix it yourself) and only needs to be "fixed" if it bothers you.
It is often said that these old Colts "go out of time" and Smith & Wessons do not. My answer to these Colt versus Smith & Wesson timing discussions is that, yes, V-spring double action Colt revolvers do go out of time with extended use, but double action Smith & Wesson revolvers are always out of time!
The common V-spring Colt double action design (as introduced in the 1898 New Service and the 1908 Army Special, and finally ending with the Python in 2006) is such that, as the trigger is pulled, the cylinder is rotated tightly against the cylinder stop, eliminating ALL play in the cylinder at the moment of firing. The hand is what applies the pressure to the cylinder to hold it against the cylinder stop(the bolt), so the shock of firing causes wear on the hand. The wear on the hand will slowly progress to the point that the hand will not rotate the cylinder into final lockup if the hammer is cocked slowly. However, pulling the trigger will always force the cylinder into tight lockup at the moment of firing, so the worn hand really has no effect on function of the gun at the moment of firing. Inertia from more rapid cocking will also carry the cylinder into preliminary lockup with the bolt in the cylinder stop notch even before the trigger is pulled and the hand applies pressure to the cylinder.
On the Smith & Wesson double action design as introduced on the Military & Police in 1899, the hand does not lock up the cylinder at any time, and does not take the shock of firing. The cylinder is free to "float" at the moment of firing, held only by the bolt in the cylinder stop notch. The amount of play in the cylinder varies from gun to gun. (Older Smiths tend to have less play.) The only Smith I have that does not have play at the moment of firing is an early Triple Lock, which is about the finest fitted firearm I have ever seen of any brand. The cylinder on every other Smith revolver I have has some play at the moment of firing. The Colt Mark III/V action is like the Smith action in that the hand does not apply pressure to cylinder at any time after rotating it into firing position. (The Colt Mark III/V action is actually more like a Ruger action since it uses a transfer bar ignition system.)
This lack of play in a Colt at the moment of firing is said to be the reason for the generally superior accuracy of a Colt revolver. Replacement or repair of the hand on a Colt from time to time is the price paid for the Colt "bank vault lockup" system. A Colt hand can be "stretched" by peening (as explained in the Kuhnhausen manual) and, if done properly, can double or triple the life of a Colt hand.
BUY the OMM Colt and then head over to the Colt Forum and join a bunch of fellow Colt owners who have found joy in these great guns!0 -
Great info, thanks! 0 -
Years ago I had a Colt .357 get out of time. I was told by a Colt representative that the hand could be stretched by peening. I tried that and was able to bring it back into time but it is not as simple as it sounds. Several parts of the cyl rotating system have to fit perfectly for it to function. As I recall, at one point the hand was stretched a little too much and the hammer would not come fully back when cocked single action. I think this repair is best done by a qualified pistol smith if one can be found. 0
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