This is my first post here; I hope I did it right.
I also hope an expert on this board can help me. My expertise is making 1911s shoot into little groups, not SAAs.
One of my customers is clearing out his safe, and this is the one that intrigues me most.
It is a Colt SAA, first gen., has LOTS of holster wear, and has been reblued some time in its life.
I have a Colt Archives letter on the gun, and it is still in its original form: 4-3/4", .32-20, shipped in 1905 to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company (a hardware store in Chicago that was the forerunner of Ace/True Value), grips not noted.
What confuses me most is the serial number and added markings.
The first digit in the serial number is a "2" but has been obviously stamped over a "1". The “2” looks identical to the other “2” in the serial number, even under high magnification, although struck harder. A fellow from The Colt Archives called me when I asked for info on the both numbers. We both agreed that there is little reason for a manufacturer to re-stamp a gun with a new serial number other than at birth. I have a S&W target revolver that was sent back to the factory and rebuilt into a different model (from stock model 10 to a model 14 single-action-only match gun with target hammer and trigger) and in that case, the model number under the crane was overstamped to the proper model designation. But even in that case, the serial number wasn’t touched.
So the fellow at The Colt Archives said he believed that the “1” was a mistake at the factory that the factory corrected by overstamping with a “2” before shipping it, because The Colt Archives has it listed in their records as “2______” in the configuration I have it in.
Any of you seen a real SAA with overstamped serial numbers? If it can be confirmed that it is stamped with the factory dies, does that hurt the value at all? Add to it?
What markings would be on the cylinder to indicate original or otherwise?
I’ve been told the VP stamp on the trigger guard indicates smokeless proof (is that correct?), but what does the “5” at the back of the TG mean?
Second, and separate from the serial number, are the markings on it after it was purchased: “1G1”
Anyone have any references or knowledge of what that marking came from or was for? I’m guessing it would be an armory or other inventory number, but not a police number because there’s no “_PD” anywhere on the gun.
It spent a LOT of time in a holster (the ejector rod housing is virtually rounded on the outside front edge, the barrel end is worn and there’s a tiny bit of pitting under some of the blue) and it’s been handled a LOT (the grips are almost completely smooth on both sides), but if the cylinder and barrel are original, it was almost never shot – the bore and chambers are gorgeous.
Bank guard? Shipping guard? Warehouse or stock-yard guards? Prison?
Lastly, can anyone recommend sources for info on inventory stampings like these?
PS: If you look at the serial # photo you’ll notice three nicely worn notches in the grip!
Best,
96wa6
I also hope an expert on this board can help me. My expertise is making 1911s shoot into little groups, not SAAs.
One of my customers is clearing out his safe, and this is the one that intrigues me most.
It is a Colt SAA, first gen., has LOTS of holster wear, and has been reblued some time in its life.
I have a Colt Archives letter on the gun, and it is still in its original form: 4-3/4", .32-20, shipped in 1905 to Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company (a hardware store in Chicago that was the forerunner of Ace/True Value), grips not noted.
What confuses me most is the serial number and added markings.
The first digit in the serial number is a "2" but has been obviously stamped over a "1". The “2” looks identical to the other “2” in the serial number, even under high magnification, although struck harder. A fellow from The Colt Archives called me when I asked for info on the both numbers. We both agreed that there is little reason for a manufacturer to re-stamp a gun with a new serial number other than at birth. I have a S&W target revolver that was sent back to the factory and rebuilt into a different model (from stock model 10 to a model 14 single-action-only match gun with target hammer and trigger) and in that case, the model number under the crane was overstamped to the proper model designation. But even in that case, the serial number wasn’t touched.
So the fellow at The Colt Archives said he believed that the “1” was a mistake at the factory that the factory corrected by overstamping with a “2” before shipping it, because The Colt Archives has it listed in their records as “2______” in the configuration I have it in.
Any of you seen a real SAA with overstamped serial numbers? If it can be confirmed that it is stamped with the factory dies, does that hurt the value at all? Add to it?
What markings would be on the cylinder to indicate original or otherwise?
I’ve been told the VP stamp on the trigger guard indicates smokeless proof (is that correct?), but what does the “5” at the back of the TG mean?
Second, and separate from the serial number, are the markings on it after it was purchased: “1G1”
Anyone have any references or knowledge of what that marking came from or was for? I’m guessing it would be an armory or other inventory number, but not a police number because there’s no “_PD” anywhere on the gun.
It spent a LOT of time in a holster (the ejector rod housing is virtually rounded on the outside front edge, the barrel end is worn and there’s a tiny bit of pitting under some of the blue) and it’s been handled a LOT (the grips are almost completely smooth on both sides), but if the cylinder and barrel are original, it was almost never shot – the bore and chambers are gorgeous.
Bank guard? Shipping guard? Warehouse or stock-yard guards? Prison?
Lastly, can anyone recommend sources for info on inventory stampings like these?
PS: If you look at the serial # photo you’ll notice three nicely worn notches in the grip!
Best,
96wa6
