I'm looking for some help regarding a marking found on the cylinder of my colt 1860 army. The gun is a recent aquisition for me. It's an original 1860 which shows all signs of being refurbished ("cleaned and repaired") by an arsenel post civil war. The gun is not marked with the "US" found on some of the post civil war refurbished guns but has every other characteristic of these guns as described in Pates book. The mark in question is a "5" on the face of the cylinder (see photo). I haven't seen this mark on any other colt and see no reference to markings like this in Pate's book. The gun has 3 different serial numbers (all dating to 1862 or 1863). The serial number on the cylinder is too faint to read (common on the refurbished guns). The cylinder is definitely of the correct vintage and has a patina consistant with the rest of the gun. Any help identifying this marking would be appreciated.
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Critter
Need help identifying an unusual marking on an original colt 1860 army.
I'm looking for some help regarding a marking found on the cylinder of my colt 1860 army. The gun is a recent aquisition for me. It's an original 1860 which shows all signs of being refurbished ("cleaned and repaired") by an arsenel post civil war. The gun is not marked with the "US" found on some of the post civil war refurbished guns but has every other characteristic of these guns as described in Pates book. The mark in question is a "5" on the face of the cylinder (see photo). I haven't seen this mark on any other colt and see no reference to markings like this in Pate's book. The gun has 3 different serial numbers (all dating to 1862 or 1863). The serial number on the cylinder is too faint to read (common on the refurbished guns). The cylinder is definitely of the correct vintage and has a patina consistant with the rest of the gun. Any help identifying this marking would be appreciated.
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I believe I can read what looks like the number 1 and a 3 ,as well as the 5 . Is there a SN# an the side of the cylinder ?
I would go right to the source. Email Charlie Pate and see what he suggests. His contact info is at the top of the seventh page of this link.
That cylinder face has been filed on some (you can especially see that the edges are now beveled) and so whatever was stamped on there may be mostly gone.
I have seen a letter or a numeral stamped in that location that I believed to be an inspectors mark, especially if a gun was repaired or rebuilt.
I'd be interested in seeing your photos of the rest of this gun.
Is the end of the barrel a bit shortened with a flat surface (rather than the original crowned surface?
I have seen a letter or a numeral stamped in that location that I believed to be an inspectors mark, especially if a gun was repaired or rebuilt.
I'd be interested in seeing your photos of the rest of this gun.
Is the end of the barrel a bit shortened with a flat surface (rather than the original crowned surface?
Thanks for your replies. I think you guys are correct that the 5 was likely put there upon repair. I was able to contact Charles Pate and he was kind enough to provide some information to me. The "5" is not a "colt" mark. He had not seen any other guns with this mark. The face of the cylinder does indeed show file marks. The barrel has been shortened by about 3/16 inch and has a flat surface.
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