Amazing original Colt 1860 Army

S

santacaferacer

New member
From another forum.....http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=18855

I can't believe how new it looks - I first thought it was a repro. Huge price difference from the reproductions though! Went for almost 100K where you can get a strikingly similar colt series that looks almost identical for $500 range.
Its nice to see this because it sort of authenticates the reproductions in terms of appearance of blueing, grips, and finish.
 
Cap Groove

My Belgian Centaure, (SN 952) and my Colt second gen, 1861 have cap grooves. My others including ASP, ASM, Pietta, Navy Arms, Euroarms, and Traditions don't.
 
The top, 1860 model, just looks too good to be true.
And, I note, the serial number is right in the middle of the series of the Colt-Colt reissues of the mid-1970s. I sold some out of my shop and had a personal 1851. The reissues (at least the '51) had squared trigger guards.
Not saying with any authority it isn't original. But, if I had the one hundred bigs to plop down, it would get examined by, at least, three experts first.
Color me skeptical.
 
Just curious. If the gun is in the condition stated, why is there only a trace of the silver plating on the trigger guard?

At best a re-finished gun.
 
Oh, come on!:rolleyes:

Did Colt's really change the patent number on each individual gun?

Look at the patent number on the cylinder of the revolver (supposedly) having serial number 152329 (the pristine one)- it shows "Patent No. 2329" on its cylinder.

Then check out the second 1860 with serial number 92346. It just happens to have "Patent No. 2346" stamped on its cylinder.

Yeah, right.

Or, am I all wet about the serial/patent numbers matching?
 
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The numbers on cylinders match serial numbers. If you see an original with a different number on the cylinder that cylinder doesn't belong to that gun.
 
The numbers on cylinders match serial numbers. If you see an original with a different number on the cylinder that cylinder doesn't belong to that gun.
Click to expand...

Educate me. Why does the cylinder say "Patent No." instead of "Serial No."???

Edit:
Well, I'll be! I don't understand the "why" of it, but you are sure right. I just did a quick check on GunBroker and sure enough the so-called patent numbers on the cylinders match the serial numbers. Why would they call it the patent number? Strange! I just learned something new. Thanks!
 
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Originals

Great looking original. I'd love to have one. But a second mortgage I don't need. That's a real Safe Queen.
 
Cap groove

My Pietta has a cap groove, FWIW.

As for the "Patent No." on the cylinder, it just dawned on me that "COLT'S PANTENT No. ****" should not be understood as one phrase. Instead, it should be read as "COLT'S PATENT",,, "No.****".
 
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