3rd generation serial numbers

[forward_observer]

I've bought from Simpson before, but just be aware that since they are in Illinois, they will now only ship to your local FFL and thus you have to pay your local FFL's fee to do the transfer paperwork after a background check. This is not a federal requirement of course--it's just Illinois along with a few other anti 2nd amendment states that have exceptionally high crime rates in spite of their Draconian laws.

The first Colt 2nd gen that I bought from them about two years ago was shipped directly to my door with no FFL nonsense. However, that changed. When I got my last 2nd gen Colt from them a month or so ago, I had to get my local FFL to send them a copy of his license and then have it shipped to their store. This of course cost me an extra $30 fee for my FFL to do the paperwork. I asked the people at Simpsons if the law had changed and the guy told me that it had not changed, It's just that they (Simpsons) had previously misinterpreted the Illinois rules, but after being informed, they had to start to comply.

Rock Island auction company is also in Illinois and they do it too. I think it may only apply to modern copies of antique firearms and not the actual antiques, but I am not 100% certain of that. Regardless, it makes little sense other than to inconvenience honest citizens.

Cheers

[Fogman]

Luckily my FFL understands the problem. I showed them that it was in fact a cap and ball revolver and they chose to waive their transfer fee. They just receive the package and as long as I show them that it is not a cartridge conversion or a cartridge revolver and is within the law on my end, they waive the fee and are willing to be the addressee. I realize not all FFLs will do that.
As soon as the 8" of April snow melts I'll go shoot mine.

[forward_observer]

Luckily my FFL understands the problem. I showed them that it was in fact a cap and ball revolver and they chose to waive their transfer fee. They just receive the package and as long as I show them that it is not a cartridge conversion or a cartridge revolver and is within the law on my end, they waive the fee and are willing to be the addressee. I realize not all FFLs will do that.
As soon as the 8" of April snow melts I'll go shoot mine.

While I don't claim to be an expert on the process, I did just go through this about a month ago. My FFL explained that it did not matter that the gun was a cap and ball which did not require and FFL transfer under federal law. Once they had received it from another FFL who had logged it under the transfer process they are required by the Federal law to comply and continue the process just as if it were a cartridge firearm.

It's up to them whether they charge you a fee or not. However, if they do not have you fill out a form 4474 and submit your information for the background check approval they are violating the law and can lose their license.

This is what my FFL stated directly to me when I complained about having to go through the process for a muzzle loader. Of course it's possible my FFL is mistaken about this, but that is still what they told me at the time.

You might want to question your FFL about this.

Cheers

[Fogman]

I will. Thank you.

[dandak]

Update on my thread here after another year of checking numbers:

Colt Walker: 9813-4213=5600
1849 Pocket: 343244-340469=2775
1851 Navy: 34304-29749=4555
1860 Army: 225103-214700=10403
1861 Navy: 45919-43408=2511
Dragoon models: 36878-33347=3531
Whitneyville-Hartfrord: 1118C-1307B=189 (only 3 revolvers in my list)

Still amazes me how so many dealers have no idea what they are selling (44 cal 1851 Navy 3rd gen Colt turns out to be a 36 cal 1861 ASM Navy). And so many pictures are so fuzzy I cannot read the serial. Oh well. If anybody out there has a 3rd gen and wants to share the serial I'll add it to my list.

Even of your serial falls inside the range I have listed, I would appreciate receiving the number as there are gaps in the serials for some models, which would help me determine if large serial blocks were skipped. If you are leery of doing this you can XX out the last 2 digits for peace of mind.
In addition I still do not have enough numbers to list the 1862 pocket series and the baby dragoons, as well as the 1861 musket.

[Rio]

I was just looking at a Signature Series Dragoon today. It was a fancy 'Cochise' marked model with a gold washed cylinder and imitation black pearl grips with an Indian head carved on the left side. Far too much bling for me!

Rio

[dandak]

I was just looking at a Signature Series Dragoon today. It was a fancy 'Cochise' marked model with a gold washed cylinder and imitation black pearl grips with an Indian head carved on the left side. Far too much bling for me!

Rio

I had one, sold it about a year ago. Had to thin out the herd. I agree it was a bit much. The grips are real buffalo horn though.

[dallascowboy]

My Signature series Walker has S/N 7191

[dallascowboy]

last night while browsing through several auction sites I found some Signature series revolver:

1842 Paterson engraved #F1000 S/N 016 and 145
1847 Walker #F1600 S/N 7085
Walker 150th Anniversary #F1650 S/N 819
Whitneyville Hartford #F1848 S/N 1113D, 1223D and 1240C
1849 Gold Rush #F1850 S/N 342268
1st Mod. Dragoon #F1700 S/N 31926
3rd Mod Dragoon #F1740 S/N 34836, 35437, 21182
3rd Mod Dragoon #F1741 S/N 36285
3rd mod. Dragoon fluted #F1743 S/N 36426
1851 Navy #F1100 S/N 29749
1860 Army #F1200 S/N 222747, 220515, 220516, 215837, 217315, 217158, 214415
1860 Army Officers Model #F1205 S/N 221555, 221399
1860 Army Nickel #F1220 S/N 224514
1861 Navy Custer #F1308 S/N 44796
1862 Pocket Navy #F1405 S/N 60361, 60135

There are much more guns offered but either the pictures are of real bad quality or no S/N is pictured or mentioned in the descrbtion.

[gunner5]

3rd generation Signature series. None of these revolver have the Colt signature on the backstrap.

1842 Paterson engraved - SN 15
1851 Navy 150th Anniversary - SN 23
1860 Army Heirloom - SN 12
1860 Army Heirloom - SN 28

01-Paterson (3rd Gen)-18.JPG IMG_0006.JPG 04-1860 Heirloom (F1260)-3rd Gen-SN 12-33.JPG 13-1860 Army Heirloom (F1260)-Signature series-SN 28-26.JPG