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Colt SAA info needed***UPDATE*** SLIDESHOW

CHGOTHNDER
Picked one up tonight, serial number 643** in what looks like nickel? all matching numbers, 45 Colt on the barrel and thinking of having it restored as it don't lock up right in my opinion. markings on the frame say 1871, 72, 75 with black hard grips. Any ideas of the year and value?
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6 comments

Date Votes
  • Old-Colts
    A 1st Generation Single Action with a five digit serial number of 643xx should date to 1881. It should have the three line style patent dates on the frame. If the grips are hard rubber; hard rubber grips didn't come along until about January of 1882, so depending on when your Colt actually shipped the grips might be replacements (may or may not be original Colt grips). Are they Eagle Grips? If so they might be the rarer 1st type of Eagle Grips that were only used for about a month in production. What barrel length?

    Truthfully, without high quality in focus pictures of its features and all markings it is impossible to judge the authenticity of your Colt and subsequently an accurate value.
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  • CHGOTHNDER
    Thank you for the start and I'll have pictures up later on today. I also will need to find out who could do a restoration and make it a real shooter unless I shouldn't do that. Thanks again
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  • Old-Colts
    Depending on the current condition of this Colt the value could be decimated by a restoration. Also, based on its age, in my opinion unless you changed out the barrel and cylinder and adjusted the headspace it should only be shot with black powder loads the equivalent of the originals. I believe most conversions of black powder frame guns were to 38 Special to minimize pressures on the frame. However, even with changing out the barrel and cylinder, the frame is still the old metallurgy and not as strong as the frames after serial number 180,000.

    If the only problem is lock up; then the Colt can be tuned and tightened without having it restored. Personally, with a Colt of this age; I wouldn't shoot it, I'd retire it!
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  • CHGOTHNDER
    http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v111/CHGOTHNDER/?action=view&current=a1071758.pbw

    Hope these help, I'm not Ansel Adams
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  • iceracerx
    quote:Originally posted by CHGOTHNDER
    http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v111/CHGOTHNDER/?action=view&current=a1071758.pbw

    Hope these help, I'm not Ansel Adams



    More of an Edward Weston perhaps?
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  • Old-Colts
    Okay, from what I can see in the pictures the barrel, cylinder, hammer, and grips have been replaced with post 1900 parts and from the hammer spur profile I'm not sure the hammer is a Colt part, but it might be. The base pin appears to be a non-Colt part as well. The gun was probably refinished at that time also. The grips appear to be late first generation Colt grips, but I can't be sure unless I can see the inside panels of the grips.

    Edit: After looking at the pictures again; the cylinder might be original, but the beveling was buffed to a point it wasn't readily discernable.
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