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New to SAA DI I make a mistake

2K views 19 replies 10 participants last post by  Rick 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello all, new to SAA, Had an interarms dragoon 44 mag for years, got me interested in the real McCoy, So I bought this first generation SAA at auction, As soon as I pressed the send button, I panicked. Any help is appreciated, Is it real?
 

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#2 ·
Yes, it is real. I see an Ainsworth Trigger guard; an Ainsworth barrel; probably an Ainsworth cylinder. I can't read the frame or backstrap numbers. Grips look original. U.S. looks right. Bullseye ejector head correct. Hammer spur checkering looks a little short so may be a later hammer. Finish has been messed with. Hope this gets you started. You will need more photos to get more answers....like with the ejector housing removed and photo'd.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Thanks for the quick response, the seller states" Some screws have been replaced. The cylinder and straps were refinished at one time and have been cleaned. The ejector shroud was replaced. Grips had been refinished and are shy to metal with no visible cartouche"
I am worried about the "A" It appears the bottom cross bar at the letter's feet are wrong. thoughts? Probably should have added this pic with the first set.

 

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#8 · (Edited)
If you can find it there is an old thread about the Ainsworth "A" on this forum. jplower posted a lot of good information about the correct shape etc. on the "A" stampings. If you can find it, it may answer your question. An observation, since you posted the photo, is the brighter circle or halo the "A" is sitting in. There is no reason for that other than tampering, who knows why. Even with the problems and questions, it still looks, to me, like a "real" U.S. Ainsworth.
 
#15 · (Edited)
That barrel address is not correct. The "A" in Hartford is broken, but the "o" in "Co." is not. Compare with the attached address on earlier gun, #7877. This #7877 came with a Kopec Gold Seal letter.

I tried to reply "With A Quote" so that both barrels were on one page, but apparently we cannot do that anymore?
 

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#6 ·
It may be just me but the O in the barrel address looks too good and not missing enough of it. The angle of the slant does not seem right either. Not enough slant? Below is a link to a gun a bit earlier but showing more of the O missing. At first glance the gun looks good but the pictures are not really good enough to judge it by. This gun falls in to the middle of the nickel plated Virginia Militia revolvers.

https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/51965-1-397/
 
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#9 ·
Did you make a mistake? It depends on your goals.
You have a really cool old gun. It may or may not have been messed with but that shouldn't detract from the fact that it is an 1874 Colt SAA. Get an archive letter, hope for the best and enjoy it.
 
#10 ·
Interesting question Markln Tx my goals was to get a gun built and distributed in that era, wanted to beat 1900, I read kopec's website warning of fakes, Just how much is faked? was just the "A"s added later to increase value or was the whole thing fabricated in 1982 and artfully altered to mimic a gun created 1800s. So was this particular gun actually built in 1800s and slightly doctored? I'll have to research and ponder some more. Off to work for now.
 
#11 ·
was just the "A"s added later to increase value
If the "A"s were added then the "U.S." also had to be added. It was possibly a commercial sale that someone tried to turn into a military issue?? I can see an "A" and the "P" on the bottom of the barrel. Perhaps some larger, close ups of that area would help. Also, the barrel serial number is under the ejector housing if you want to remove the housing and photo that.
 
#13 · (Edited)
IMO, grips replaced not just sanded. Barrel gives me pause but not sure. As Keith said seeing the serial on barrel would help but i just get a uncomfortable feeling about this one.
BTY, all the military inspected guns were cartouched.
Just took a look at the A and P under the barrel. Not correct for a gun in the 13xxx range. IMO, had a cut barrel that was replaced. Probably cut after it's life in Virginia militia and being resold by Colt. A fairly recent replacement. Also the A on the TG is very strong compared to the wear on the serial #.
From the amount of remaining metal between sides of frame and TG screw well I'd say buffed but the US DOES look right. (?)
IMO, it IS an Ainsworth, just enhanced a bit.
 
#17 · (Edited)
A thought. I've seen correct itallic addresses whose die breakage seem to have no direct relationship to serial range. I suggest that Colt did not stamp the serial number at manufacture but stockpiled barrels (with address applied) awaiting a order. At that time a barrel would be pulled from stock ( whether it be the first, manufactured in 1873 or one from 1875) and serialized to match the rest of the gun. Therefore a pristine (early manufacture) address could have ended up on a 12xxx gun and vice versa.
I'd be interested in hearing other opinions.

That said, I still don't believe the subject barrel is original. Maybe Dave Lanara will see this and voice an expert opinion.
 
#18 ·
This is the marking from 6418 an Ainsworth Barrel. The O is clearly broken. Barrels earlier then this most likely were being used rather quickly as Colt was hurrying to fill the US orders for Cavalry units in the field. I doubt a large build up of barrels occurred.

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