Help me ID

J

Jimboh247

New member
It's single action chambered in .44-40. I am having trouble getting pictures to post. It looks very much like a Colt SA Army, but there are NO identifying marks other than a stag on the grips.
 
Last edited:
Take the cylinder out and look on the rear face for proof marks.

If it was made in Europe, there are going to be proof marks on it somewhere.
 




I finally got around to getting the proof marks
Pistol has not seen the light of day in 50+ years, as far as I know.
 
Belgian, without a doubt. If it works, it might be a serviceable pistol; if it doesn't, there are no parts available and it is a paperweight, not worth wasting time and money on.

Edited to add - The ejector rod is missing and I doubt any other make will fit. Plus the picture makes it look like the barrel is pointing toward the sky; if it is, good luck getting the gun to hit anything.

Jim
 
It was my Uncle's who passed away in 1960. It was given to my mom, who passed in 2011. It has more sentimental value than anything. I'd never sell it.

Can a barrel that is "bent" be straightened?

I'm not interested in a factory restore, but if I could shoot it, that would be worth some money to me.
 
On the barrel, first make sure it is really bent. The picture has several angles that might be fooling my old eyeballs. If it is truly bent, the frame could be bent, and if so, there is nothing that could be done realistically.

If you do find it OK to shoot, stick to light loads (cowboy loads) in .44-40, or to black powder loads. Those guns were not strong.

Jim
 
Thanks for the help. I've google searched for Belgian single action revolvers and mostly came up with Top Break or DA's

The barrel looks bent to me, too.

The action is smooth, the cylinder doesn't move much with the hammer back, and overall, the pistol feels solid. With the hammer down, the hammer does not move side to side.

After I put on my old man glasses and got some good light, I see a BA with a star over it on the frame and the barrel.

The barrel also has a R with a star over it.

I'll find a gunsmith to give their opinion. Maybe something can be done to it.

If it went bang and poked holes in paper, I'd be very happy!

I'll keep you posted.
 
According to Balderson's "Gunmarks", that running stag logo was used by Liege United Arms, of Belgium, and the crowned "ELG" proof shows it was made after 1893.
 
if the barrel turns out to be bent ( most likely at the frame, or threads ) it may be possible to unscrew the barrel, cut & rethread it & reinstall... this probably could be done fairly reasonably... the ejector could be fabricated, or an existing one modified to fit quite likely as well... though I'd suspect you may have between $250 - $400 doing both, if you could find someone to do it... if the action & bore are good, it may be worth your while, noting the sentimental value...
 
I have one that is very similar that belonged to my G-Uncle. He was a traveling rep. for International Harvester in rthe 1890s and early 1900s - traveled all over the country. Min is in 32 WCF (32-20) and the only markings on it are the proofs on the cylinder. Lot's of these Colt "knock offs" were made and sold cheaply. I even have the original holster and cartridge belt he had for it. Mine is not in as good a shape as yours is - I mounted mine with the leather in a glass covered display box.

Yours may not be a Colt - but it has a lot of sentimental value and is certainly a nice family heirloom to have! Enjoy it and keep it in the family and when the time is right, "pass it on". I think of my G-Uncle every time I look at mine and just wish it could talk and tell me about all of his travels and experiences. Enjoy! :)
 
The barrel and ejector rod problems might be solved, but IMHO, spending $250-400 on that gun would be $200-350 more than it is worth. I don't disregard sentimental value, but the gun can have sentimental value without spending a lot of money to make it shootable.

Jim
 
Since I know it is not my eyes, I have to say that the frame, not the barrel itself, is what looks to be bent. I would be afraid that trying to straighten things up would result in a cracked frame. IMHO, best left alone.

Jim
 
Anyone in the Triad area of NC have a gunsmith they'd recommend?

I feel I have 2 options: Fix it, or mount it behind glass and put it on the mantle.
 
Not every gun has to be a shooter.
Think of all the ones in museums.
It would look great hanging on the wall over a mantle piece.
Besides, there's no way to judge if the barrel to frame is correct from an ordinary photo.
 
If you frame it for display, you need the story about how your great great grandfather used it to defend the Old Homestead against Native American marauders, and your great great grandmother bent the barrel slapping one of the tomahawk-wielding warriors upside the head.

OK, OK, but it's a good story.

Jim
 
James K,
I love the story!

I took it to a gunsmith that was recommended by my LGS. Great people there! "My"guy at the LGS noted a few problems with the pistol that I didn't notice. The indents for the cylinder were pretty weak, only catching on 1 or 2 of the cylinders.

When I got to the gunsmith, there was a little old man ( probably gunsmith's daddy) that told me all about how he could fix just about anything. He could take a box of nothing and make it into something. I like confidence!
It is amazing what an experienced eye can see! The gunsmith noticed a slight crack at the base of the barrel, right next to the frame. I wouldn't have seen that with a magnifying glass. He said he can make it a shooter without too much work.
I can not wait!
 
I love old guys who can spin a story. (Hell, I AM an old guy who can spin a story.) Let's hope he can come through and actually repair the gun without costing ten times what it is worth. Please keep us posted.

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