Colt Single Action Army Forum Section PHOTO THREAD !

Various barrel lengths in nickel/.44 Special...

pecosriver said:

Are you going to include Bisleys?

Click to expand...

OF COURSE:
32-20


44-40


41 Colt


41 Colt


45 Colt

Hopalong said:

Somebody needs to post some long-flute photos!

Click to expand...

My only Long Flute, 45 Colt originally shipped to "The Adjutant General of the State of Texas" in 1915, presently in Dave Lanara's hands for restoration:

Some snubbys

FACTORY ENGRAVED 45 COLT






45 COLT 3 1/2" BBL


45 COLT 2" BBL

44-40'S



45 COLTS

Another of my re-runs but appropriate again ----

My Dad grew up in Alabama & every few years, with no surviving relatives there, would go back there mainly to deal with some old real estate issues. This time, 1940s visiting old Aunt Somebody (then all old people were Aunt or Uncle whether any blood kin or not) discussing old times, things mostly from his early childhood, remembered Cousin So&so coming back from Texas with a brace of big pistols, he remembered well. Aunt S- says, "yes and I still have one of them - would you like to have it?' She handed him the gun down from the mantle with a paper sack of about half box of .38-40 ammo that had probably lain there with it for decades. I recall his return, still on cloud 9, so happy with the gun. I still have it below, hard to believe how it survived in nice condition. S/N 285ks.

A most welcome Section. I'd like to add a few more examples.

A couple of antique 45's.




An antique Bisley 44-40.




A 2nd Gen 45.





A 3rd Gen 45.

Glad to see SAA section, Here's a pair .45 1st Gen 1899, 1902

Here's my 44-40 Bisley.

Great idea.

Seeing the Bisley & others all welcomed, let me show the granddaddy of them all - the Colt 1872 Open Top, Colt's first big frame true cartridge revolver. Often mistaken and sometimes classed as a conversion, it is a new & very different gun. An obvious detail is its rear sight, an integral part of the barrel just ahead of the BC area. Other changes are its totally new frame that incorporates the loading gate, etc., eliminating the 'conversion ring' seen on conversions & its new straight-sided cylinder.

Mine just a sound old survivor, maybe originally nickeled or not is the best illustration I can offer.



For comparison is Colt's latest actual conversion, the Richards-Mason, the last development just before the 1872 Open Top. Note the difference in frame mentioned above as well as the stepped cylinder.



Interesting that when Colt got something right they stuck to it. The innards, grip frame design & frame hole spacings are all alike from the 1851 Navy, 1860 Army, 1861 Navy, conversions thereof, 1872 Open Top & Single Action Army.

And here is a 1st Mod Richards. Note differences between it and the Richard-Mason above.....click to enlarge...........

Here's my Cimarron copy of the 1872 in 44 Colt:

Almost forgot my 3rd gen Long Flute:

It's time for 'show & tell' here about my .38 Colt SAA. About 20 years ago LGS had it for $600, most perfect all blue refinish I ever saw & perfect inside, like new grips. Shop's story it had been someone's hobby gun they had the barrel and cylinder changed and refinished. Not being sensitive about originality I bought it because it seemed to me as perfect as it could be under the circumstances, sharp markings, etc., and I'd rather have it than the $600. Typical safe queen till couple years ago I included it in a couple others & got it lettered. Surprise, surprise, it lettered 1891 & original .38 Colt ex-factory.

Like falling in love 2nd time, I sent the frame and barrel to Turnbulls & got the frame color-cased for $350. Now my re-newed rare scarce original .38 Colt SAA. Still no theory why it was ever refinished full-blue sometime back in the day.