Colt Frontier Six Shooter 44-40
hello a friend of mine bought an auction from some storege room and on the loot he found this gun and give it to me becouse he dosent like guns so here ill leave some pictures id like to know if any of u can value this gun thank you
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322708 is the serial code and all the codes on the gun matches
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if im not mistaken that serial is 480
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so that is the gun
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322708 is the serial code and all the codes on the gun matches
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if im not mistaken that serial is 480
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so that is the gun
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You need to buy your friend a steak dinner. A big steak dinner.
Don't try to clean up the gun. Oil it, and wipe it down.
The grips are home made. The rest of the gun looks to be original.0 -
The number on the loading gate is an assembly number, not a serial number. There should be a matching number on the bottom of the frame underneath the trigger guard. This was done to insure the loading gate and frame stayed together since they were hand-fitted.
Your Colt was manufactured in 1912. Based on its apparent fair condition, I would estimate value to be in the $1,500-$1,800 range.0 -
AS has been stated Do not attempt to clean with any thing but oil and maybe a burlap bag "I use KROIL" as it will dissolve loose rust,Do not try cold blue to try to refinish. Even though the pistol is in fairly poor condition and the screws look to be bogged up. It is still worth MORE if left alone. Trying to enhance the condition may in fact reduce the value. 0 -
Despite the generally poor condition of the Single Action, that's a very nice gift. I don't collect or examine 1st Generation Single Actions that were manufactured this late, so some of my comments are based on reference books while some are based on experience.
By the time this Single Action was manufactured the assembly number on the bottom of the frame had been moved (about 1909) to the lower right rear of the frame, but it still should match the number on the loading gate. The frame assembly number can usually be seen by taking the grips off and looking inside at the right rear of the frame.
The barrel is interesting for a 1912 Single Action in that it has the small front sight and the "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER .44-40" marking. Reference books differ somewhat on when Colt started marking the left side of the barrel with "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER .44-40", but across the board all books tend to indicate that your Single Action is too early for that marking; the books might have gotten this wrong. However, the fit (appearance of a gap) between the ejector rod housing and the frame combined with those pliers/vise looking marks on the barrel combined with the "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER .44-40" barrel marking are a little suspicious. This Colt might be a little too early for the "COLT FRONTIER SIX SHOOTER" rolled marking with the addition of ".44-40". Is there an ampersand "&" or asterisk/star "*" on the right rear trigger guard bow? If so, this would indicate Colt factory rework at some point.
It looks like at least one screw has been replaced with a non-original screw or it is in the wrong location; and some other screws might be in the wrong location. Also, the grips aren't original.
Your Colt's value, given its poor condition, is enhanced by the caliber (44-40). If the barrel was changed at some point it was long ago and the overall condition of the gun matches. If it wasn't for the gap between the ejector rod housing and the frame I would tend to say the barrel might be original to when it was shipped.
Giving your Colt the benefit of the doubt regarding the barrel; my estimate is that your Single Action falls somewhere in the $1000-$1200 range. I doubt that it would bring more; dealers would probably give you less.
I would not attempt to shoot this gun!
If you were curious about this Colt's initial history; an Archive letter detailing its as shipped configuration and where it was shipped can be obtained from Colt's Archive Services for $100.0 -
[img][/img] as i said on this picture if im not mistaken the serial number is 322708 it also matches the one under the grip frame0 -
quote:Originally posted by gutti
as i said on this picture if im not mistaken the serial number is 322708 it also matches the one under the grip framegutti; the serial number (322708) should be stamped in three places; on the bottom front of the frame, on the bottom front of the trigger guard frame just ahead of the bow and below the serial number on the frame, and on the bottom of the backstrap (butt of the gun). The assembly number (480 ?) should be stamped on the loading gate as pictured and on the right rear of the frame (seen with the grips off).
Earlier Single Actions had the frame assembly number stamped on the bottom of the frame, but you'd have to take the trigger guard frame off to see it on those Single Actions.0 -
Looks like the gun was in a fire.
Edges are to good for a finish to be that bad. Traces of scale show.
For that reason I'd have it properly refinished with grips and screws replaced.
Polishing needs to be done by an expert who wont round sharp edges and dish out screw holes.
Don't worry about heat affected steel parts on these old Colts.0
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