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Colt Cowboy Serial number list

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100K views 386 replies 89 participants last post by  inspcalahan  
R
#1 · (Edited)
First an apology to lasthobo for hijacking his thread. Since I hijacked the original "Cowboy" post with this proposal, lets start it over correctly.
Below is the original text, copied from the original posting:

[start quote] "So I propose we start a serial number list. Keep it on a spread sheet. Serial numbers and date reported to this forum. No other data unless someone has a better idea. I'll be happy to keep it and pm copies to those who ask, if it gets more than 2 or three numbers on it. Of course this may be a big flop. I guess auction site reportings, published lists, magazines, etc count as well, if you can tell anything from the pictures posted.

Starting: Mine is TF07093. Date reported 6 July 2008.

All you 123XXXXX guys please go ahead and give whatever part of the SN you are comfortable with. " [end quote]

We've since added barrel length to the list, so the entries will be: Serial Number, date reported to the list, and barrel length.

ADDED EDIT: Since there is some evidence for 38-40 and 44-40 versions, we'll add calibre to the list as well. EDIT added 24 July 2008

Your participation and interest are appreciated.

Thank you. And most of all thanks to lasthobo for his patience, suggestions, and interest in this particular Colt.

rayb
 
T
#2 ·
Great Idea

Ray:
First of all, i have no problem with you starting the database within my my thread. I think it is a great idea! To start your own thread will marquee the fact that we are looking for Cowboy information. That was not too apparent with my thread. In any event, I will repost my information now:

Model: Colt Cowboy
Finish: Standard faux color case hardening
Caliber: .45LC
Stocks: 2-piece factory plastic
Barrel: 4-3/4" barrel

Serial: TF11866

Question??? Has anyone ever seen any caliber other than .45LC????



"Government is not the solution to the problem. Government IS the problem."
-Ronald Reagan
 
R
#4 · (Edited)
ltdave said:
...... at what serial number did they start cch?
Click to expand...
Based on what little I've got so far, somewhere between your 02348 and my 07093.

Thanks for participating. Your suggestion about added information adopted, when I had the information.

"added edit" found a serial number "020XX" listed on a gunbroker auction. From the pictures it appears to have the faux case colored frame. ? any possibility yours has been refinished?

rayb
 
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#10 ·
I have a partial answer to my request from Colt. Understand that any additional specific information beyond basic would require a letter and $. I hope this helps :

Michael:

The serial numbers for the Colt Cowboy were TF00001 to TF99999. They were made in .45 caliber, 44/40 caliber, and 38/40 caliber.

They had 4 3/4" barrels, 5 1/2" barrels, and 7 1/2" barrels.

Best regards,

(Source Name left out on purpose)
 
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#11 ·
Observations

Just now got back from the Ohio Gun Collectors Show north of Cincy. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this show, it is a huge show, closed to the public. I checked every table and only found three Colt Cowboy's....all 5-1/2"ers, and the least expensive was $800! Nobody I questioned had a 4-3/4" model in inventory.
Just scanning the auction/sale sites, it still appears to be a 4:1 ratio with the 5-1/2"(4) to 4-3/4"(1)
I found 14, 5-1/2" models and 4, 4-3/4" models on the net. I'm not sure just how accurate this is, but over the last few months, this ratio has held firm.
Thanks to Kid Sopris for his input. This is important information. I hope this thread will continue to reach other Cowboy owners.
 
L
#18 · (Edited)
new colt cowboys found on gun broker with serial numbers listed:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF016xx

next:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF020XX

next:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF10484

next:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF1307

next:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF10414

next:

color case hardened
plastic stocks
.45 Colt caliber
5-1/2" barrel
serial number TF11180



just trying to do my part to populate the data base...
 
R
#21 · (Edited)
Gunbroker ads

Thanks DFrame.

They've added quite a few since I last checked, and evidently sold one which used to be posted, but wasn't on your list.

we now have:

16 serial numbers
all either 4.75 or 5.5 bbls
all 45 colts
range of sn from 1307 to 14948, all sn have TF prefix

thanks to all for your participation

rayb
 
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T
#24 ·
Market Update

Last weekend I attended the Ohio Gun Collectors Assoc. show in Wilmington, Ohio. My sole purpose was to locate as many Colt Cowboy's as possible and to see what the average selling price was. I also took along my 4-3/4" to see if there was any "Buy" interest in the piece(although I was not interested in selling). To my surprise, I located just one Cowboy, and it was the more common 5-1/2" model selling for $850. There was alot of dealer interest in my 4-3/4", but not at $850, more in the $650-750 range.
At the auction sites, it looks like a 50-50 split between the 4-3/4" and the 5-1/2' this time, with a total of eight Cowboy's found ranging between $750-$1000.
More in a month or so.
 
R
#26 ·
we now have (as of 18 November 2008):

23 serial numbers
all either 4.75 (6 examples) or 5.5 (16 examples) bbls
all 45 colts
range of sn from 1307 to 14948, all sn have TF prefix

Several others were found in the various auction/sales sites, but no serial numbers could be determined

thanks to all for your participation

rayb
 
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R
#31 ·
Thank you for your input.

WE have 27 serial numbers reported / collected to date. The highest serial number reported so far is just under TF15000. All are .45. Don't know the total number produced nor the annual production figures.

Thanks for participating

rayb
 
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