Calling all Colt Experts!

[Fr0sty]

All,

I have a set of Colt revolvers and I know very little about them. I am hoping you guys/gals could help me learn the history of these pistols.

Here is the story;

Back in the Korean war my Great Uncle was in stationed in England. While there he purchased 2 Colt revolvers. He got the revolvers home and purchased a crude little display case which he put the pistols in and displayed them on his mantle for years until they were given to me about 4 yrs ago. He has never fired the pistols, never owned ammo for the pistols, and they sat in the case since the day he unpacked them when he got home.

Now that is all I know about them. Below I will post all of the information I have that came from the pistols, along with pictures. (Some of the pictures have a .308 round for size reference. I didn't have a ruler handy)


Pistol 1:

Pistol one only has the serial number, with no other writing. The only exceptions are a couple of unique symbols I have never seen before, and the Colt name on the girps.

Serial#: 78xxx









Pistol 2:

Pistol two has the following engraved.

On the top of the barrel: Colt PT FA.MFG CO HARTFORD USA
PATD AUGUST 5 1884 JUNE 5 1900 JULY 5 1905

Side of barrel: W SERVICE 455 ELEY

And it has the serial number on the frame and arm. The number is only visible when you extend the cylinder. This pistol also has the unique symbols on it as the 1st one did

Serial#: 108xxx









I would love to find out more and I know there are some true experts on this forum. Thank you in advance for your posts and I am eagerly awaiting the responses. If any information is needed please ask and I will do my best to get it.

PS> Thank you to Brian for shedding some light on this in the "Show them Colt's" thread.

[brian]

most of teh first set of pics do not work.

i'm far from an expert, but close enough to you that if you would be willing, i could look at them in person.

the 1909 was originally offered in a few calibers, .455 being one of them.
the other, that i'm still calling a 1917 was made only in .45acp as far as i recall.
if sounds like it received quite the "fluff&buff", as it would have had several sets of marks on it.

[Fr0sty]

Originally Posted by brian

most of teh first set of pics do not work.

i'm far from an expert, but close enough to you that if you would be willing, i could look at them in person.

the 1909 was originally offered in a few calibers, .455 being one of them.
the other, that i'm still calling a 1917 was made only in .45acp as far as i recall.
if sounds like it received quite the "fluff&buff", as it would have had several sets of marks on it.

The marks on the pistols have been there since before I got them. I was going to try to get them out but a friend said don't do anything to them until we figure out exactly what they are. The pictures seem to really amplify it.

I will work on the first set of pics. (PICS FIXED)

Thanks for the feedback Brian

I did some checking on the information you gave me and it seems that a few Nickel Colt's were produced?

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/ind...?topic=17901.0

This is going by what the first post in the linked thread said. After more digging I have found that 95% of these were produced blued, and 5% were produced Nickel. Something that does support what you are saying on the refinishing is that the lettering is so hard to read and/or missing. The one pistol has none but the serial, and as an example the other show w service and not New Service. Do you know of Jonestown Fish and Game? I go there a lot (about every other weekend), if you would want to meet up for some shooting and take a look at the pistols I would be interested.


PS> I was originally taken back by how you immediately claimed they were fired/refinished with just the two pictures. That and some sentimental attachment to this pistols put me on a somewhat defense stance. The more I listened to you and actual opened my mind the more I am seeing what you said about the refinishing. With that said, what does that mean for the revolvers? Are they still worth anything? Don't get me wrong, they are worth a ton to me, but I was always under the impression they were worth a good amount. If the actual value is not high then hell, I want to shoot them versus just having them as shelf queens.

[brian]

there are several pics in each of your sets that almost clearly show signs of flame cutting on the frame just above, and in front of the cylinder.
it takes many rounds fired for thar to show up.

[Fr0sty]

Originally Posted by brian

there are several pics in each of your sets that almost clearly show signs of flame cutting on the frame just above, and in front of the cylinder.
it takes many rounds fired for thar to show up.

The only thing I can come up with is that he must have bought them used. That's not the story that was told to me hence me pushing so hard down the other path. Thanks for helping gain more of an understanding of these pistols.


Also,

Another user helped me track the dates and here they are:

Pistol #1 1915
Pistol #2 1916

[brian]

both of these fine pistols have a healthy following....as almost all former military weapons do.
though a lot of value is placed on original finish.
refinishing a piece puts a serious hurting on actual dollar value.
an original colt 1917 can fetch up to and some times well north of $1200.00.
in your case shooting either will not hurt a thing.

[Fr0sty]

Originally Posted by brian

both of these fine pistols have a healthy following....as almost all former military weapons do.
though a lot of value is placed on original finish.
refinishing a piece puts a serious hurting on actual dollar value.
an original colt 1917 can fetch up to and some times well north of $1200.00.
in your case shooting either will not hurt a thing.

Thanks again for your help!

So here is next question, would it hurt the value anymore if I had them converted to 45acp at this point? .455 seems to be hard to get. I know of some places, but I shoot 1911's and have a nice supply of 45's

[brian]

Originally Posted by Fr0sty

Also,

Another user helped me track the dates and here they are:

Pistol #1 1915
Pistol #2 1916

pistol one depends on if it was a property marked gun or not.
if it was marked, my numbers say 1918.

[Fr0sty]

Originally Posted by brian

pistol one depends on if it was a property marked gun or not.
if it was marked, my numbers say 1918.

Both pistols have an odd Symbol on the frame near the hammer (When in closed position) Does this help?

[brian]

Originally Posted by Fr0sty

Thanks again for your help!

So here is next question, would it hurt the value anymore if I had them converted to 45acp at this point? .455 seems to be hard to get. I know of some places, but I shoot 1911's and have a nice supply of 45's

here's were my info gets alittle sketchy.
the 1917 was more then likely made origianlly in .45acp.
the britts really liked their .455.
so they modified the 1917's by boring out the cylinder to fit the .455 case. yet the bore of the barrel was close enough that nothing was done to it.
so IIRC all that would be needed would be a new cylinder.
the 1909 i'm not sure of. that one you just might want to let on display.



and yes i'am a member jonestown.