Research help on 1847 Walker Colt - Company D
I've been asked to research the history of a Walker Colt and help provide a provenance for the eventual sale of the gun. The owners have had it for about 40 years. It was purchased from a man that had discovered it in northern Tennessee. I assume Company D No. XX is the serial number as it is stamped in the places serial numbers are located on other old Colts I have seen and no other serial numbers could be located.
It is in good shape, considering its age, with about 20% of the original finish. All markings including the address line are legible. I have not disassembled it to examine the bore. The timing is good as it indexes and locks up properly. Functionally, I would not have any qualms about firing it. It appears to be all original and complete with the exception of the grips. They were replaced many years ago with a very nice pair of ivory grips that have a silver Texas star inlaid on one side and the outline of Texas one the other.
The owner informed me about 20 years ago he had found some info on it and had even found a list of the known "D" company guns. Unfortunately, medical problems have caused him to forget that info and the location of where ever he may have filed the hard copies. Colt archival service's website indicates they would not have records of this gun. And web searches have not produced the results I have desired. A history of the gun could mean many thousands of dollars to the family. Can anyone here point me in the right direction.
It is in good shape, considering its age, with about 20% of the original finish. All markings including the address line are legible. I have not disassembled it to examine the bore. The timing is good as it indexes and locks up properly. Functionally, I would not have any qualms about firing it. It appears to be all original and complete with the exception of the grips. They were replaced many years ago with a very nice pair of ivory grips that have a silver Texas star inlaid on one side and the outline of Texas one the other.
The owner informed me about 20 years ago he had found some info on it and had even found a list of the known "D" company guns. Unfortunately, medical problems have caused him to forget that info and the location of where ever he may have filed the hard copies. Colt archival service's website indicates they would not have records of this gun. And web searches have not produced the results I have desired. A history of the gun could mean many thousands of dollars to the family. Can anyone here point me in the right direction.
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Contact Greg Matin at http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/
Send him some clear, detailed pics and Greg will likely call you personally.0 -
I am going to make just one comment...
There are far more fake Colt Walkers out there than there are real ones, and unless you have the gun examined by a true expert in the field, it will always be viewed as such.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
I am going to just one comment...
There are far more fake Colt Walkers out there than there are real ones, and unless you have the gun examined by a true expert in the field, it will always be viewed as such.
Thanks, Bert. I was coming back to add that. Yes, there are numerous fakes, many of them expertly done. A lot of them were made in the 1950's in Spain, Belgium and even here in the US. I had one in the 1970's that was so well done it took a Walker expert to identify it as a counterfeit.0 -
While I am no expert on old Colts and I am aware of the possibility of fakes, I doubt that this one is. The owner was a local gunsmith for many years and very knowledgeable about firearms. He advised, in our long ago conversation, several Colt experts/collectors had sought him out after he started researching the gun. Several were allowed to examine it and pronounced it to be authentic. Incidentally, the markings D Company No. XX are exactly as and located the same as the markings on the A Company No. 210 that sold at the Julia auction last year. It can be seen here (http://jamesdjulia.com/auctions/catalog_detail_shots.asp?Details=33737&sale=252) 0 -
No offense meant, but discussing something like this on the internet is just a waste of time.
It would be best for the family to get the gun into the hands of experts who can authenticate it.
You yourself have mentioned the folks at Julia, another gentlemen brought up Greg Martins name. I believe either of these organizations could help you authenticate the Walker.
Many times in the past folks have posted about supposedly rare/valuable firearms that they intended selling. Unfortunately allot of these people, were just fishing for a hot one, i.e. they felt that members of this forum were gullible enough to pony up big bucks for some supposedly uber rare firearm, without doing their due diligence.0 -
quote:While I am no expert on old Colts
With all due respect to a fellow who is no doubt a very nice guy wishing only to help, the above is what disqualifies you. They do need an expert.0 -
Like having fine diamonds appraised, keep the gun in sight and don't leave it with an expert. 0 -
I remember a phony Walker coming out of Mexico in the 1930s. OTOH maybe it was real and people wouldn't believe it. Not as much known about them then as now. 0 -
I appreciate the replies and helpful info but I am afraid I have asked the wrong questions. I was not requested to authenticate the Colt; and, as stated by myself and others, I am not qualified to do so. My task was to research its possible history. Primarily the history of D Company and who it may have been issued to. Separating the gun from the history may be harder than I expected 0 -
I have a photo(reproduction or copy) of the Rangers of Company D from Realitos, TX dated 1888 on my wall. All the Rangers in that pic are packing Colt SAA's & Winchesters of various sorts. This place MIGHT offer some more insight... http://www.texasranger.org/famHistory/famHistory.htm 0
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