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SAA Colt
Denghis
Member Posts: 13 ✭✭
Good day to you, gentlemen...just registered.
I have an SAA Colt revolver that has been passed down from my grandfather (who died in 1956 at the age of 89) to my father, to me and soon to my son.
It is SN6232. This number is stamped on the frame, the trigger guard and back strap. It also has the Ainsworth 'A' stamped into the back strap behind the hammer, and patents from 1871 and 1872 with a small 'US' on the left side frame under the cylinder.
I have done some research and found some info that I find interesting but have not been able to verify. Supposedly this gun came from the "sixth lot (#5505-#6516), (as part of the U.S. Army's First Purchase Contract for 8000 Colts, [sn177-sn8652]),which is seen as one of the "prime" lots from which the 7th Cavalry received their initial issue prior to departure into the Black Hills." (http://www.antiqueguns.biz/guns/custer.htm, http://www.geraldleeames.com/SAA.html)
Unfortunately, when my father took possession in the '40's, it was seen as nothing but an old junk Colt, worn out and pretty much un-shootable, so he had it rebuilt to a .38 Special, thinking that round would be easier on the black powder frame.
I would give anything to have the pieces that were replaced but I do not.
My question is, where can I have this gun put back to it's original condition, using all Colt parts, with the idea that at least it would be usable? I'm even considering shooting nothing but black powder through it.
I will not even consider selling this old gun (and if my son does I will come back and haunt him 'til he bleeds from his ears), so there is no wish on my part to build a fake.
Any info or advice you might have would be very much appreciated.
Thank you,
Dan
I have an SAA Colt revolver that has been passed down from my grandfather (who died in 1956 at the age of 89) to my father, to me and soon to my son.
It is SN6232. This number is stamped on the frame, the trigger guard and back strap. It also has the Ainsworth 'A' stamped into the back strap behind the hammer, and patents from 1871 and 1872 with a small 'US' on the left side frame under the cylinder.
I have done some research and found some info that I find interesting but have not been able to verify. Supposedly this gun came from the "sixth lot (#5505-#6516), (as part of the U.S. Army's First Purchase Contract for 8000 Colts, [sn177-sn8652]),which is seen as one of the "prime" lots from which the 7th Cavalry received their initial issue prior to departure into the Black Hills." (http://www.antiqueguns.biz/guns/custer.htm, http://www.geraldleeames.com/SAA.html)
Unfortunately, when my father took possession in the '40's, it was seen as nothing but an old junk Colt, worn out and pretty much un-shootable, so he had it rebuilt to a .38 Special, thinking that round would be easier on the black powder frame.
I would give anything to have the pieces that were replaced but I do not.
My question is, where can I have this gun put back to it's original condition, using all Colt parts, with the idea that at least it would be usable? I'm even considering shooting nothing but black powder through it.
I will not even consider selling this old gun (and if my son does I will come back and haunt him 'til he bleeds from his ears), so there is no wish on my part to build a fake.
Any info or advice you might have would be very much appreciated.
Thank you,
Dan
Comments
Regarding rebuilding with original parts, you might want to try Fred Rose at the following link:
http://www.colt-parts.com
However, the chance of finding original parts of that era is highly unlikely.
For close to original restoration, you might contact Doug Turnbull at the following link:
http://www.turnbullrestoration.com
He probably does the best total gun restorations regarding finish and markings, but it is doubtful that he would have at his disposal parts from that era.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
I don't expect to be so lucky as to have real 1st Generation parts to fix the gun, but I would hope to be able to use real Colt parts, eh? Or is there problems with fitment after all these years and different generations?
I do want to buy an Archive letter from Colt. I have searched for the contact but have not found it as yet. I must be looking in the wrong places.
Thanks a bunch for your helpful reply,
Dan
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/historical.asp
Your serial number is certainly in the range for possible issue to the Seventh Cavalry. I think Lot 5 is generally considered the lot from which the bulk of the Seventh Cavalry Colt Single Actions came from, but Lot 6 had an unknown number also with the bulk of that lot believed to have gone to the Second Cavalry.
Doug Turnbull (PRICEY) would more than likely be able to rebuild your gun with real Colt parts, just not original era parts.
I think I would probably leave it just like your father left it and use my vivid imagination to fill in the blanks. You have a very desirable Colt, even though it is no longer a complete and original US issue Single Action.
Addendum:
Dan, when your father had the Colt rebuilt, was it done by the Colt factory, by a local gunsmith, or did he obtain a barrel and cylinder and replace just those parts himself? If the rebuild wasn't performed by Colt, was the rebuild accomplished with original Colt parts or after market parts from the 40's?
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
Dan, when your father had the Colt rebuilt, was it done by the Colt factory, by a local gunsmith, or did he obtain a barrel and cylinder and replace just those parts himself? If the rebuild wasn't performed by Colt, was the rebuild accomplished with original Colt parts or after market parts from the 40's?
Old Colts, the barrel is marked with 'Colt Single Action Army .38 Special' on the left side and 'Colts MFG CO Hartford, CT USA' on the right side. The cylinder has no markings on it that I can find, though I have not dissassembled the gun. Also the ejector has the wrong rod end and seems to be of a later manufacture. Also the grips are two piece instead of one.
I'm pretty sure the work was done locally.
My dad was unaware throughout his life that the gun was as old as it is, and he died without ever knowing. Only with the advent and maturation of Al Gore's World Wide Web did info become readily available, though I believe he did once send a letter to Colt but not much came of it.
Here is a link that I found that attributes pistols of Lot Six directly to the Bighorn Battle.
http://julia.hanovercomputer.com/firearms/custerpage/custer.htm
#579 - A damaged Colt that is for sale (damage done at some time after the gun was returned for repair). The text includes three Colts, serial numbers 5743, 5773, and 6559, two of which came from Lot Six (#5505-#6516), I believe. I realize that just about any gun built and issued from the 1873 manufacturing run of 200, and the 15,000 built in 1874 could have concievably been in the area at the time of the battle.
I also want to say that all of the informaton I have I found on the Internet and certainly subject to verification, hence the need for the letter from Colt..
Thank you all for your kind consideration, it is very much apreciated.
I will post some photographs.
Dan
Just so you know, as perry shooter indicated, unless your Colt was returned and reworked at the Colt Factory, the factory records will usually not indicate where a US Colt was shipped, just its acceptance information.
Also, this thread will automatically lock at about 10 posts, so if your questions aren't answered completely, just start a new thread titled "SAA COLT Part 2" or a similar title.
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=297621
quote:To answer my own question, that's the Ainsworth mark on the trigger guard below the SN, isn't it? Looks like an upside-down 'V' but is similar to the 'A' behind the hammer.
No? Yes, that is the Ainsworth "A".
Great story regarding the Colt's heritage, thanks for sharing. [8D]
And, I didn't mind the reference to Old Colt at all, afterall, I really like old Colts and I am an old colt (retired though). [:D]
This is the tenth post and this thread will be locked soon. Sounds like you have decided to keep it as your dad left it, but keep it serviceable. If so, that is a great decision!!!![^]
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!