A Real Antique Colt or Fake?

M

mynorac

Inactive
I found a colt percussion pistol in a shop today. I think it is a 1851 model but I'm not sure. It matches the photos in "the book of colt firearms" pretty close but there is something I don't understand. The revolver appears to have all the correct markings, patent dates and addresses but it is a 44 cal and the etching on the cylinder is a scence with a ship. I did not look very close so I don't know if it is the naval battle scene with the Mexican Navy but I definetly can make out a ship. According to my references this scene was only found on the .36 caliber 1851 Navy model. The store is asking $800 for this gun and it has several problems. At first glance the gun looks to be in pretty good shape but the grips were broken many years ago and were repaired. The repair job is a good one but it is very noticable. The major defect it that there is a bulge in the barrel about 4 inches from the muzzle. I took an eye loop and I can see a visable crack. The inside of the barrel is pretty rusty but I can make out rifleing. I know the guy who is selling it and I don't think he is lying but I'm sure he wants to sell it and he is no more knowledgeable than I am when it come to this sort of thing. He did say was that it was brought in by and elderly woman who claimed that the pistol was handed down through several generations. I think I believe this story. So what do you think? Is this an early Belgian copy, a fake, or the real thing. In either case, with the damage to the barrel and the grips, is it worth $800.00? - Thanks
 
The .44 Army had a round barrel and a Naval scene.

I'm thinking 800 with a split barrel and cracked grips is a lil much even if it is original.
 
:) maybe that's why there is a budge and crack in the barrel, someone fitted a 44 cylinder and tried to shoot a 44 lead ball down a 36 caliber barrel :) however the 51 Navy did have a ship engraving.
 
You cant fit a .44 cylinder to a .36 and the .44 Army had a naval scene also. It was almost a Colt trademark.
 
I would "pass" on that puppy, thank you.

Genuine 1851 Colts had only .36 cal octagon barrels.

AFAIK, Genuine Colt .44's had only round barrels and a rebated frame to fit a cylinder that is wider over it's front half than a .36 cal cylinder.

.
 
As stated by one fella - there were/are forgeries. I don't know what the pistol is that you are looking at. It may be old but the .44 in a '51 Colt Navy doesn't add up - i.e. 2 + 2 = 5. You're doing your research though and that is ALWAYS good to do BEFORE shelling out $. In regards to the forgeries - I'm not talking about the 2nd and 3rd Generation Colts now which are legit - I'm talking about true forgeries that are made to deceive unwary buyers and collectors. I know of a fella who has his own set of Colt stamps and has had them for years. I hope that he is old enough now that he is no longer doing it, but, in the 60s and 70s, he could take a reproduction, alter it, add the Colt stampings and age it to look like an original. Someone who really knows their stuff would probably catch it, but, to the casual collector, they would buy it and think that they were getting an original. The guy was an excellent pistolsmith and could tune one to make it purr. But, he was dishonest as the day is long and I know that he did this not once, but many times. Had he put his energy into just doing good work, he could have made all the $ he wanted honestly. Unfortunately, he never got caught at it and I think that he is in advanced years enough that he has gone on to other things. Enough folks found out about what he was doing though that it ruined his reputation. And if a fella doesn't have a good reputation - he has nothing. The guy you're dealing with may be 100% honest. Just remember that a "good story" is easy to tell. If he is serious about selling it, ask if you can take some photos of it for research first. Maybe you could post them on here so others could see it and possibly help you out with what it is. It sounds interesting. Thanks and good luck! Sincerely, bedbug :)
 
An octagonal barrel and .44 cylinder smacks of a Pietta reproduction. Their designers have vivid imaginations. It is extremely easy to make a new pistol look old.

Frontier
 
You said

It matches the photos in "the book of colt firearms" pretty close
Click to expand...

What didn't match? Maybe it isn't a 51 fake, but something else original. Still, $800 is a lot to shell out for a wall hanger. There's an interesting story there in that gun (regarding the bulge), but the story teller is probably long gone.
 
OP never mentioned whether the barrel was octagonal or round (or I'm missing something after several re-readings). If, however, the barrel is octagonal and it's a .44, it's not a Colt.
All the Colt .44's, the Walker, Dragoons and the 1860 Army, had round barrels.
 
mynorac,

why not ask them if they would mind if you have it evaluated by a professional....?

if it works for the "pawn stars" on tv, it would work for you too...

personally, i'd skip it just because of the poor condition..

what's the serial number ?

~d~
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top