GSCSA

A co-worker down the hall from me purchased this black powder Colt for a 100 bucks. He said it was made in 1878. He is in the process of getting a letter from Colt. I should be this luckey!

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

He had to replace the ejector rod, but everything else was there. He said it locks up tight and the bore and cylinder are in good shape.

KKBMTGG/go army

What a deal, even the old one piece grips and screw heads look to be in decent shape.

tyusclan

Very nice!

I never run up on deals like that.

Flahotrod

$100?? That was one Hell of a find.

Teddybear

Some people have all the luck.
Thanks for sharing.

M'BOGO

Ouch.

Ale-8(1)

S'pose he could find me a matching-numbers '66 'Vette for $150?

Keith Smith

Black Powder? Am I missing something?

GSCSA

I don't know that much about SA revolvers especially Colts. Heck I just got my Vaquero several months ago. He told me that it was made in 1887 and was a black powder cartridge revolver.

Ale-8(1)

Keith, he's likely referring to the fact that this gun appears to have the early so-called "black powder" base pin retaining screw in the front of the frame member, as opposed to the later cross-pin latch arrangement used on Rugers. It's an early gun.

I don't believe the change from the early type screw to the later cross-pin latch was exactly coincident with the development of smokeless loads, but it was close and this description hangs on with respect to the early SAA's.

Iowegan

Keith Smith, Colt produced two basic frames for the SAA ... a black powder and a modern. You can still buy new Colts or USFA replicas (better than the original) with the "pinch frame" called a black powder frame. The modern guns with the black powder frames will shoot smokeless powder cartridges just fine. Ale-8(1) explained the primary difference. USFA has some "purdy pitures" of both types. http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/single...n-revolver.asp

10pointers

That is one heck of a find

M'BOGO

As I recall, the "pinched frame" had a narrower top strap, and/or narrower frame sight groove. It had to do with very early SAA S/N's, maybe even army contract.

Now I'll be digging for the info.

The pinched frame was the topstrap configuration of the rear sight. The known examples are between S/N 1 and 156. The actual number produced is unknown, because of the way Colt seriel numbered the frames.

buckconner

We see lots of Colt SAA's in Cabelas Gun Library, many are like yours and have a good value. The sad thing is having one come in that someone had cleaned it thinking they would help the value, wrong - they just took $$$ off for their effort. Worst yet are the ones that polish off the color case and refinish the grips, man a $1200 to $1300 gun goes to a $700 shooter.

Oh it is a black powder frame as mentioned. That will save it from the cowboy action shooter thank goodness.

We have Hank Jr. (you know who I'm referring to) trade in Colt SAA's to us from time to time, he can bastardize them pretty good. His gunsmith will swap barrels, cylinders, calibers, etc. per Colt records and so on. His business, but it makes it hard on dealers when finding they just traded for one that isn't correct when receiving the Colt Letter.

JAS

How about a Dremel Tool-induced Operation ID# scrawled across the frame? (or SSN or DL#)

A personal favorite.

rjheff

Or a few minutes on the wire wheel should bring the shine back...ughhhh

ronirish

Very Nice..Wow!!