One more Pic of the display case. The stag grips have Will Jennings on the inside of the grips and stag-grips.com. They are a perfect fit. No original grips.

 

I'm no expert of 2nd Gen Colt SAA's, but think that the BB2022 matching number under the barrel confirms this one as an original "Buntline". A number of these barrels were later changed out by owners as impractical - and we see these loose 12" barrels for sale

 

A very nice package!!

 

Deleted.

 

The price was very nice at $1525.00. The other two bidders dropped out at $1500.00.

 

Wow... that’s a great win. You don’t see them going for that too often and with no additional bidding.

 

Darn, that’s a great price and a fine Colt. I paid much more for a 1950s one last year. Lettered mine and it went to NYC of all places.

 

Post a pic Mike.

 

Nice find at that price! My dad bought me my first Colt, a .45 cal. Buntline Special, in 1957 and I still have it. It is a great shooter, but not abused, still. S/N is 154xxSA with barrel # BB129 and for memories sake I got a Colt letter for it too.

Randy

 

That is a nice-looking buntline with those ivory grips. And an orig box too. So the barrel #BB doesn't normally match the frame? I've never owned one, so am just asking.

 

I was watching the auction but my work meeting went long so I couldn't bid on it. Very reasonable price.

 

I really didn't think I would win. My max bid was $1595. This one worked out.

 

Congrats on a Great Score !!

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Congrats thats a great looking Buntline and you got i at a great price..

 

That is the correct, original barrel.

 

That’s a great gun at a greater price. I‘m a big fan of fixed firing pins and the more cone shaped and less tapered the better. Based on discussions here in the past I think somewhere in 1959 the firing pin was tapered a little. I could be wrong about that but if not, if your gun is an early one for 1959 it might have a more cone shaped firing pin than guns beyond that year before they weren’t fixed anymore.

 

My Colt Buntline has the flat top high hammer with the cone shape firing pin. About mid 1959 the hammer was changed to the round top hammer with the cone shape.

 

I like it. The stocks appear to be fairly recent elk antler. The custom case is probably worth $150, I'd say you got a pretty darn good deal at $1525 especially considering the original box and papers stayed with the gun for the last 60+ years.

 

I forgot to post the serial # 23xxxsa. The barrel BB number does not match the frames serial number they never do. Why Colt came up with the BB number is a mystery to me. BB buntline barrel? It's not like colt can confuse the 12" barrel for something else. It's not like colt was putting 10" barrels on other revolvers.

 

Why Colt came up with the BB number is a mystery to me. BB buntline barrel? It's not like colt can confuse the 12" barrel for something else. It's not like colt was putting 10" barrels on other revolvers.

Since Colt offered the Buntline barrels for sale separately, the BB# was to make it more difficult for unscrupulous people to purchase one of the long barrels to install on a First Gen and create an "original" Buntline.

 

Back in the mid 60's and maybe earlier you could buy a Colt BB# barrel for your Colt SAA. I have one that was converted that way but I had it re-barreled with a 5 1/2" barrel. Also Colt made buntline barrel's without the BB# for 2nd gen Colt SAA's.

 

"the BB# was to make it more difficult for unscrupulous people to purchase one of the long barrels to install on a First Gen and create an "original" Buntline "

Which is what my Buntline is, a 1901 SAA with second gen barrel, cylinder and hammer. Still cool tho. 😁 and it was cheap.

 

Don Wilkerson discussed the BB barrel markings in detail on page 68 of his book "The Post-War Colt Single-Action Revolvers" (Taylor Publishing, second edition 1980). This should be required reading for owner's of second generation SAA Buntline Specials.
The same information with a possible better explanation is presented in Wilkerson's "Colt Single-Action Revolver Handbook 1955-1975" (Walsworth Publishing 1999) on pages 75-78.
- -Bruce in Ohio

 

Here’s my Buntline. It’s got the barrel number. I think 201 but it could be 301. I’m too lazy to go look. It was shipped to NYC of all places late in 1957. I have the letter but I’m too lazy too go look at it too. It’s action is stiff but it shoots to its sights with 250 grain bullets. I’m sure it was unfired when I got.

 

The box for mine is in rough shape. Does yours have the colt's serial number underneath? Mine does have it 23xxx no suffix. Written in some kind of marker or grease pencil?

 

Mike, I just received my December 2020 issue of Handloader magazine and am looking forward to reading your article comparing barrel lengths & velocities. I assume that your gun above is the same one you used for the tests ?

I remember a test about 30 odd years ago where one of the gun magazines took a new Ruger Super Blackhawk with a 12" barrel and started chronographing it while cutting one inch at a time off of the barrel, I think finally ending with the barrel completely unscrewed from the frame and just firing from the cylinder. It was interesting since it removed the variables other than the barrel length.

 

Yes, I mentioned cutting Barrels in that column. The photo above is indeed the same Buntline.

 

Beautiful package! I love the grips and case! You did really well!

 

Confirmed by Bill's Cases in a PM the case is one of his. Thanks Bill

 

I’ll check my Buntline’s box and let you know.

 

My original Colt box has the serial # (no SA included) and barrel # on the bottom. When I got my Colt Letter the information included the barrel number.

Randy

 

I finally remembered to look on the bottom of my Buntline's box. Sure enough the serial number is there minus the SA and to show how my memory is shot - the BB number wasn't 201 or 301. It was 318. Thanks for the tip about the box bottom having those numbers.

 

How about this: I purchased by first gun when I turned 18 in November 1960. It was this same Colt Buntline with stag grips. Sr# shows made in 1957. A second generation Colt. I have fired it a little through the years including some black powder loads. Here's the best...I paid $100 plus $6 tax in the San Fernando Valley North of Los Angeles at the Pony Express Gun Store. Probably not there anymore. $100 bucks was a lot then for me. Had to borrow part of it from my Mother. Did pay her back though!!!

 

First - welcome aboard and please share some pictures with us of your Buntline!

It appears the Pony Express, as do many other businesses and families, was chased away from California and relocated to Idaho where it carried on until 2002. That was quite the business starting in 1953 and passing along to the founders son, who continued it along until he retired as well.

Northwest Pony Express had its start in California

In his more than 50 years in the gun trade, Joe Ellithorpe has seen a lot. Living in Idaho has proven to be more peaceful and an overall better fit for his family as he recently opened Northwest Pony Express, a shooting sports enthusiast store, in Coeur d'Alene. However, the past 14 years had...

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