Colt Walker Found.

13579 Views 152 Replies 42 Participants Last post by desron6, 9 d ago

Paul Wronsley

Discussion Starter · Jun 5, 2022

Hello All,
I found what appears to be a Walker Colt in a presentation case with all of the extras in it. At face value it seems to be the real thing and it is rather well used and worn. The presentation case has a brass plate with a name engraved on it but it is well polished and almost unreadable. I have a few concerns: for such a "worn" revolver there is absolutely no play on the mechanisms and all it tight, smooth and firm...possible but unlikely. My biggest concern is the serial number (that matches on all of the parts): 317. This is not the number for a Walker series but an Army revolver. This one is definitely a Walker. How can I make sure it is a genuine Walker and not a copy or reproduction that has been made to look old?

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61 - 80 of 153 Posts

po18guy

· #61 · 12 mo ago

GRI said:
Armi San Marcos made in 1987. They were known for their forged frames. EMF holster…you do not many Walker holsters, “Big Iron” on the hip.

Between us, we could arm Josey Wales. Mine was about 10 years earlier, 13K serial range IIRC.

Reactions: 2

seabobro46

· #62 · 12 mo ago

GRI said:
Armi San Marcos made in 1987. They were known for their forged frames. EMF holster…you do not many Walker holsters, “Big Iron” on the hip.

View attachment 790652

i do miss marty.

Reactions: 2

Paul Wronsley

Discussion Starter · #63 · 12 mo ago

8

Homerfan said:
Can you post some pictures?

Hi, here are some pics the current owner sent me. Not very clear or detailed but I am meeting him on Saturday and I will take my camera with and get some decent detailed pics. In the meantime: the serial number seems to have been worked on...? Any other comments?

Wood Rectangle Gas Natural material Font

Automotive tire Tread Tire Wood Bumper

Wood Fixture Gas Auto part Cylinder

Wood Gas Metal Auto part Cylinder

Door Household hardware Wood Fixture Handle

Door Household hardware Wood Fixture Handle

Fixture Motor vehicle Gas Artifact Wood

Wood Natural material Gun accessory Metal Leather

Brown Wood Rectangle Flooring Wood stain

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Reactions: 5

seabobro46

· #64 · 12 mo ago (Edited)

Paul Wronsley said:
Hello All,
I found what appears to be a Walker Colt in a presentation case with all of the extras in it. At face value it seems to be the real thing and it is rather well used and worn. The presentation case has a brass plate with a name engraved on it but it is well polished and almost unreadable. I have a few concerns: for such a "worn" revolver there is absolutely no play on the mechanisms and all it tight, smooth and firm...possible but unlikely. My biggest concern is the serial number (that matches on all of the parts): 317. This is not the number for a Walker series but an Army revolver. This one is definitely a Walker. How can I make sure it is a genuine Walker and not a copy or reproduction that has been made to look old?

hello, use a non destructive mass spectrometer to analyze the metals. have him remove the walnut handle and look for pencil serial number under the backstrap. i am tossing in my cards, that one is too hard to call by long distance, needs hands on. good luck, you never know till you have all the facts. if you read his own story saml colt's record of producing the 1847, yhere was a discussion about the numbers. there was a change, the dies were returned to the die maker but we are not told what was being used before the dies returned. i do not believe for a new york minute that colt sat on his hands, waiting.
regards, bro

Reactions: 2

seabobro46

· #65 · 12 mo ago

Paul Wronsley said:
Hello All,hello
I found what appears to be a Walker Colt in a presentation case with all of the extras in it. At face value it seems to be the real thing and it is rather well used and worn. The presentation case has a brass plate with a name engraved on it but it is well polished and almost unreadable. I have a few concerns: for such a "worn" revolver there is absolutely no play on the mechanisms and all it tight, smooth and firm...possible but unlikely. My biggest concern is the serial number (that matches on all of the parts): 317. This is not the number for a Walker series but an Army revolver. This one is definitely a Walker. How can I make sure it is a genuine Walker and not a copy or reproduction that has been made to look old?

hello, also, speak to tom del mar, the premier authority in europe.
regards, bro

Reactions: 4

GRI

· #66 · 12 mo ago (Edited)

3

If compared to a known original, there seems to be a difference in the back of the cylinder.

Gas Cylinder Wood Auto part Gun accessory

Bumper Automotive exterior Gas Metal Auto part

Gas Wood Auto part Metal Bumper

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Reactions: 3

Jonl51

· #67 · 12 mo ago

GRI said:
If compared to a known original, there seems to be a difference in the back of the cylinder.

View attachment 790792 View attachment 790793

Can you elaborate please? Thank you.

Reactions: 1

Jonl51

· #68 · 12 mo ago

Paul Wronsley said:
Hi, here are some pics the current owner sent me. Not very clear or detailed but I am meeting him on Saturday and I will take my camera with and get some decent detailed pics. In the meantime: the serial number seems to have been worked on...? Any other comments? View attachment 790744 View attachment 790745 View attachment 790746 View attachment 790747 View attachment 790748 View attachment 790748 View attachment 790749 View attachment 790750 View attachment 790751

I’m not knowledgeable about Walkers, but like what I see from the pictures. Fingers crossed 🤞. Jonl51

Reactions: 1

GRI

· #69 · 12 mo ago

GRI said:
If compared to a known original, there seems to be a difference in the back of the cylinder.

View attachment 790792 View attachment 790793 View attachment 790800

I have added a third image…the cut out for the nipple is different.

Reactions: 2

seabobro46

· #70 · 12 mo ago

both the barrel and the cylinder display the "snowflakes" associated with the naylor steel which appear to be found on arms not recently cleaned.also, the cylinder shows oval stops (but there are examples out there with round and oval, so take your pick). the barrel address is at least halfway decent
,

regards, brol

Reactions: 2

Private Smith

· #71 · 12 mo ago

2

Here’s my Second Generation Colt’s Walker.

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Paul Wronsley

Discussion Starter · #72 · 12 mo ago

7

Hello Again,
Here are some pics the owner sent me. Not very clear but I am seeing him on Saturday and will take my camera and get better pics. Any comments so far will be welcome. The serial number seems suspect?

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Reactions: 3

Paul Wronsley

Discussion Starter · #73 · 12 mo ago

Jonl51 said:
Does he seem to have any clue what he MIGHT have? His asking price would indicate he does not. However he somehow established his asking price, based on what?
Hope it’s the real deal in spite of the odds. Good luck. Jonl51

He says it was a part exchange for an old rifle. That's all he knows. I'll try to find out where he got it and follow up with that person.

Reactions: 2

Jonl51

· #74 · 12 mo ago

Paul Wronsley said:
Hello Again,
Here are some pics the owner sent me. Not very clear but I am seeing him on Saturday and will take my camera and get better pics. Any comments so far will be welcome. The serial number seems suspect?

You can look at authentic Walkers that have sold by going to Collectors Firearms.com and searching their archives. Looked quickly at a couple and did not see serial numbers like on yours but didn’t do a “deep dive”. Best Jonl51

Reactions: 2

mrcvs

· #75 · 12 mo ago

Jonl51 said:
You can look at authentic Walkers that have sold by going to Collectors Firearms.com and searching their archives. Looked quickly at a couple and did not see serial numbers like on yours but didn’t do a “deep dive”.

If you look at the “3” in the serial number of this known example, it has a flat top, whereas the OPs Walker has a rounded “3”.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/154/texas-confederate-cavalrymans-colt-walker-revolver

Also, the “1” in the serial number of the Danish Sea Captain Colt Walker differs from the “1” in the serial number of the OPs Colt Walker, but this is less obvious than the previous example.

Cased Colt Model Colt Civilian Walker Revolver | Rock Island Auction

Extremely Well-Documented, Historic and Iconic Only Known Original Cased Colt Civilian Walker Percussion Revolver, Known as "The Danish Sea Captain Walker"Offered here is without question the rarest, most historic and finest Colt Walker revolver Rock Island Auction Company has had the privilege...

www.rockislandauction.com

With more better quality photographs, I think the differences between the OPs Colt Walker and known genuine examples will become more obvious.

Reactions: 1

mrcvs

· #76 · 12 mo ago

Also, compare the barrel addresses of the OPs revolver and the Danish Sea Captain Colt. The font of the Danish Sea Captain Colt Walker, looking at “NEW - YORK CITY”, is blockier, and NEW and YORK are closer together with a much shorter dash than present on the OPs Colt Walker.

I think, unfortunately, the evidence is suggesting the OPs Colt Walker is not genuine.

Reactions: 1

mrcvs

· #77 · 12 mo ago

Paul Wronsley said:
He wants about $7500 for it which also seems odd..

And that’s your first clue that this example is very likely a fake.

When an individual other than a close friend or relative—and, usually, unfortunately, a close friend or relative—presents a Colt Walker for $7500, odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the Colt Walker not being genuine and well overpriced as a reproduction at $7500.

Reactions: 4

Jonl51

· #78 · 12 mo ago

mrcvs said:
Also, compare the barrel addresses of the OPs revolver and the Danish Sea Captain Colt. The font of the Danish Sea Captain Colt Walker, looking at “NEW - YORK CITY”, is blockier, and NEW and YORK are closer together with a much shorter dash than present on the OPs Colt Walker.

I think, unfortunately, the evidence is suggesting the OPs Colt Walker is not genuine.

Gents,
What is your impression of the case and accompanying items ? Do these look legit? Regards Jonl51

Reactions: 1

seabobro46

· #79 · 12 mo ago (Edited)

Paul Wronsley said:
He says it was a part exchange for an old rifle. That's all he knows. I'll try to find out where he got it and follow up with that

mrcvs said:
And that’s your first clue that this example is very likely a fake.

When an individual other than a close friend or relative—and, usually, unfortunately, a close friend or relative—presents a Colt Walker for $7500, odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the Colt Walker not being genuine and well overpriced as a reproduction at $7500.

it does not appear to be a production whitneyville 1847 colt. that has been my perception. however, there are other models to consider. colt had the pattern room at famco turning out, regularly, experimentals. we are not told what experimental if any, were produced at whitneyville. tradition has it that blunt and syms produced at least one prototype of the 1847 nmodel but they were colt's agents and more likely the prototypes all came from paterson.
i do believe this is a colt, or one of the early copies.colt screamed of forgers and patent infringements, but it is my opinion that was showmanship with little substance.

regards, bro

no.1 son says it's not a real corvette if it does not have chrome bumpers.

Reactions: 4

Rick

· #80 · 12 mo ago

Almost everyone has access to the internet. Unless the seller's been living on a deserted island he has to have some idea about the value of a Walker. The 7500.00 tag is a dead giveaway and he's claiming ignorance therefore deniability when you send it out for authentication and find it's an aged back reproduction. There are some pretty convincing repros from the 50's still around, maybe this is one but I think more recent. And, let's face it, virtually ALL the genuine survivors are well documented.
BTW, the 50's repros go for 4K+.
Good Luck, hope it's real!

Reactions: 4

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