[hwjhfs]

Snagged this on GB awhile back. Made in 1879. Factory letter has been ordered. A couple of neat things going for it. It has the Hartford/London barrel address but has no British Proofs. Caliber is .45lc. 1st style (non-serrated nut) fat wood grips on the oversize grip frame. Not in pristine condition, probably 40%-50% or less with tight action and excellent bore. Thanks.

 

[hwjhfs]

Recevied the letter. Went to Schuyler, Hartley and Graham, New York, May 20, 1879. .45/c, 5 1/2", Blue, Not Listed. 6 guns in shipment. With this information and the caliber it appears the Hartford/London addressed barrel was excess and used domestically. Regards.

 

[Oyeboten]

What a nice find!


And some interesting details to boot.

 

[LEO918]

Great piece of history. Thanks for sharing.

 

[coltsixguns]

Interesting point that it has a London barrel address and shipped to NYC. On the 1878's of this period did they number the barrels?

 

[Chaffee]

Interesting point that it has a London barrel address and shipped to NYC. On the 1878's of this period did they number the barrels?

I think only the 1st 500 or so had the serial numbers on the barrel. It would be interesting if the op's does have a # on the barrel. My 1881 does not.

 

[hwjhfs]

The question made me hit the books. I have been reading Wilkerson and as Chafee said (and Wilkeson said): "The first 500 had some attempt to number the barrels. After 500 we seldom see a numbered barrel". The cylinder has the last 3 digits of the 4 digit serial number on the rear face (correct per Wilkerson). An interesting observation is that the 1878's used the oval ejector rod head which was not used on the SAA's until 1881. Regards.

 

[coltsixguns]

I've got a 6400 range nickel 45 but I haven't taken the housing off of it and didnt know if I wasting my time to look for a number or not.

 

[coltsixguns]

An interesting observation is that the 1878's used the oval ejector rod head which was not used on the SAA's until 1881. Regards.

That is true I've never seen a 1878 with a donut head.

 

[hwjhfs]

I've got a 6400 range nickel 45 but I haven't taken the housing off of it and didnt know if I wasting my time to look for a number or not.

In reading Wilkerson I understand the barrels were finished prior to installing on the frame so there was no need to keep a specific barrel with a gun. He also said these prefinished barrels were binned and were used out of the bin on the SAA's as well as the DA's. On the gun I posted with the wood grips (preferred by the British) and the dual address on the barrel it could have been intended for a British order. However, since it is .45 colt with no British proofs it didn't go to London but instead stayed home and went to NY.

 

[JNobleDaggett]

This is certainly a post from long ago, but I thought I would add, as a long time student of the Model 1878s, that Colt made this model with the hopes of large sales to Britain, and so made a good many of the first run in .45B caliber, expecting to ship them to fill orders in Britain, but when those orders didn't materialize, Colt bored them to .45Colt caliber and sold them domestically, but left the .45B caliber mark on the triggerguard.