Vintage Colt handgun thread

[awp_101]

I looked and didn’t see one so here we are! Open to single actions, double actions, 1911s. Preferably vintage production but hey, if you just scored a new production Colt Government Model or Turnbull restored SAA to post up I’m not going to judge. Well, maybe just a little…

Here’s my .455 New Service that needs new beauty pics

90815

[Joe in PNG]

90838

[awp_101]

Oh, I forgot about the 1903 and 1908! I had some 1903s about 15 years ago but let them go for some stupid reason. DOH!

[Borderland]

It's amazing to me that old Colt revolvers, except SAA's, don't get nearly the attention that S&W revolvers do. I'm generally talking about pre WW2 production. Look at the prices people want for Smith Hand Ejectors compared to something like a pre war Colt Officers model. I just bid on a S&W HE and it went for over 1K. It wasn't in that great of condition either. I collected Colt 1911's for awhile, still have a few.

[Greg]

90840

[awp_101]

It's amazing to me that old Colt revolvers, except SAA's, don't get nearly the attention that S&W revolvers do. I'm generally talking about pre WW2 production. Look at the prices people want for Smith Hand Ejectors compared to something like a pre war Colt Officers model.
I think some of it is the reputation of Colt's having a delicate DA (true or not), in the past they've been higher priced than comparable S&W (at least they were in my formative years) and maybe more than a little Colt snobbery that drove the prices up sooner than happened with S&W.

Not long after I tuned 21 (early-90s) I worked for a pawn shop chain and the Smiths were always lower priced and more available than comparable Colt's. Not that I could afford either at the time, but that's what I saw on a regular basis in the stores I worked. Same when I played a little in the S&W world in the mid-oughts. Part of it might have been the numbers of turn-ins and reimports as PDs and foreign customers upgraded. I suspect S&W had a greater share of those markets, especially the foreign markets, than Colt.

[Half Moon]

90870

Add in some non-Colt items from the safe and we are ready to fight the Kaiser over there...

[CSW]

1930 Colt Official Police, 22lr.

Early Colt 'vest pocket', that was my grandfather's when he was NYPD in the 30's and 40's.
Colt Trooper mk3, around 1975'ish.

[CSW]

A Colt 'Black Army' 1911 [not a1]. I bought this from a friend, whose father shot bullseye with it. Somewhere in it's history it was hardchromed, and all controls done in nitride bluing. [Very 70's]
It shot wadcutter like a lazer, but not so much with hardball.

The grips are Hakan Pek.

[Malamute]

Black box Colt 3rd Dragoon

90899

90900

[JRV]

101951

1969 Colt Agent.

[JRV]

103725

1917 production 1908 Vest Pocket.

103726

1926 production Officers Model Target (this one needed and received a refinish, it had a few deep pits that would not stop rusting).

103727

Late 60s factory short action Officers Model Match.

103728

Late 60s Trooper, pre-MK III.

[Outpost75]

A couple of my Colts:

103809103810
103811
103812

[Outpost75]

Here are a few more....

103830
103832
103833
103834

[Trooper224]

Colt Army Special, 1919
103837
Single Action Army, 1977
103838
Police Positive, 60s
103839
Officers Model Match, 60s
103840
1911, 1917
103841

[Outpost75]

And a few more...
103866103868
103870103871

[JRV]

I was bothered by my only Officers Model Target being a refinished example. Picked up another.

103952

It’s a year younger than the refinished one, meaning it is a Third Issue rather than a Second. It definitely spent some time in a holster during the past century, but there is no pitting.

[Malamute]

I was bothered by my only Officers Model Target being a refinished example. Picked up another.

103952

It’s a year younger than the refinished one, meaning it is a Third Issue rather than a Second. It definitely spent some time in a holster during the past century, but there is no pitting.


Very nice!

How much do you want for the old nasty rusty refinished one? :D

[JRV]

Very nice!

How much do you want for the old nasty rusty refinished one? :D

I wish she was "nasty," because then I might be tempted! That's my small game season woods-walking revolver. .38 wadcutters, a nice front bead sight, and a great SA trigger... beats toting a rifle or shotgun, especially early in the season when you can't see far anyways.

[.22ConversionUnut]

I take this out about once a year and put 25 rounds of .38 Auto popcorn fart loads through it. The tiny sights make it a challenge and the slide cycles so slow its quite mesmerizing. There is a reflection on the pistol from the tree above.

104856104857104858

[.22ConversionUnut]

I have the serial# matching box for the 1903 Pocket Hammerless. Both pistols are pretty much pristine. I shoot these about once a year as well and reload for both.

104859104860104861

[.22ConversionUnut]

This one went to England for the war effort. It apparently sat in inventory at Colt's for 3 years as it has a production date in January 1937. It doesn't have the Swartz Safety and is devoid of any British Import markings and the red paint on the slide to signify a non standard calibre for the British troops. It's one of 831 with a fixed rear sight. I shoot this occasionally as well.

104862104863104865

[.22ConversionUnut]

This one has some slight blue wear to the slide at the muzzle. I need to take better pic's, thats the refection from a window on the pistol.

104868104869

[.22ConversionUnut]

This one has some slight blue wear at the muzzle. It's in its original serial#d box with brochure.

104870104871104872104873104874

[.22ConversionUnut]

This one is in its original box with cleaning brush, sight adjustment tool and brochure. I do shoot it occasionally.

104875104876104877104878

[.22ConversionUnut]

This is my latest acquisition. Issued to the Toronto Police Dept (Toronto Ontario Canada). Holster wear on the muzzle but still quite a bit of blue with the rest a nice patina. I've shot this quite a bit with popcorn fart loads. The tiny sights make it quite the challenge.

104880104879104881104882

[awp_101]

This one is in its original box with cleaning brush, sight adjustment tool and brochure. I do shoot it occasionally.

104875104876104877104878

What a wonderful Woodsman! Are those factory stocks? I'm sure I've seen that style before but I can't remember if they were a factory option.

[.22ConversionUnut]

Those are OEM Colt called “Elephant Ear” stocks. These were standard on the Match Target. Later, these pistols were equipped with plastic extended stocks that were initially installed on Military contract pistols and then were carried over into parts clean up pistols.

[awp_101]

Those are OEM Colt called “Elephant Ear” stocks. These were standard on the Match Target. Later, these pistols were equipped with plastic extended stocks that were initially installed on Military contract pistols and then were carried over into parts clean up pistols.
Thanks! I kept thinking "elephant" but my brain kept going to HK elephant foot mags and I knew that wasn't right!

[R89074]

Colt New Serice 45 Colt caliber shipped to R.C.M.P in October 1940.Purchased by The then Superintendent of R.M.C.P when declared surplus.
https://i.imgur.com/JkBnrxa.jpg of
https://i.imgur.com/LSL5q4o.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wjrBY85.jpg

[Sig_Fiend]

I recently received an 80's Colt Commando from my late father-in-law's estate. Turns out it's a birth year gun for me, so I guess it was meant to be!

To be honest, I was never much of a fan of wheel guns in the past, having only owned boring ones (J-frames, etc).
This little Colt has ignited a bit of a passion for me, at least for older wheel guns. "The list" is already growing for future acquisitions. :cool:

I added a BK grip adapter and NC Ordnance Agent-length grips for something simple, compact, and so I don't wear out the original wood stocks.
It locks up solid and that grip combo seems to work remarkably well with the pinkie curled under. I'm a fan!

108882

[Bruce Cartwright]

I recently received an 80's Colt Commando from my late father-in-law's estate. Turns out it's a birth year gun for me, so I guess it was meant to be!

To be honest, I was never much of a fan of wheel guns in the past, having only owned boring ones (J-frames, etc).
This little Colt has ignited a bit of a passion for me, at least for older wheel guns. "The list" is already growing for future acquisitions. :cool:

I added a BK grip adapter and NC Ordnance Agent-length grips for something simple, compact, and so I don't wear out the original wood stocks.
It locks up solid and that grip combo seems to work remarkably well with the pinkie curled under. I'm a fan!

108882

Sig Fiend:

Gorgeous acquisition! Every so often I get a hankering for a post 1972 Cobra or Agent. I may have to scratch that itch at some point. Let us know how it shoots.

Bruce

[Malamute]

Sig Fiend:

Gorgeous acquisition! Every so often I get a hankering for a post 1972 Cobra or Agent. I may have to scratch that itch at some point. Let us know how it shoots.

Bruce


The 1983 Agent I came into several years ago instantly became my favorite daily carry. I tried different grips, the Pachmayr compacs won out by a large margin in feel. Its still pocket carry capable.

108896

[Bruce Cartwright]

The 1983 Agent I came into several years ago instantly became my favorite daily carry. I tried different grips, the Pachmayr compacs won out by a large margin in feel. Its still pocket carry capable.

108896

Malamute:

Another gorgeous old Colt. I have shied away from them because of their supposed reputation for going out of time and being tough to repair. That said, after reading some of your posts, I am rethinking that. I suspect that its much like folks saying 1911s require the services of a gunsmith. I never understood that. I grew up and learned how to fix 1911s out of necessity. I suspect Colt D frame revolvers may be the same. I will have to obtain one of the Kuhnhausen manuals and see.

As to stocks, I'd pick Craig Spegels. He still cuts stocks for D frame Colts and I am got back on his "list" after my last delivery. I probably need to start looking for a late model Cobra or Agent.

Bruce

[Malamute]

Malamute:

Another gorgeous old Colt. I have shied away from them because of their supposed reputation for going out of time and being tough to repair. That said, after reading some of your posts, I am rethinking that. I suspect that its much like folks saying 1911s require the services of a gunsmith. I never understood that. I grew up and learned how to fix 1911s out of necessity. I suspect Colt D frame revolvers may be the same. I will have to obtain one of the Kuhnhausen manuals and see.

As to stocks, I'd pick Craig Spegels. He still cuts stocks for D frame Colts and I am got back on his "list" after my last delivery. I probably need to start looking for a late model Cobra or Agent.

Bruce


My feelings about them changed over time. I think the "dont hold up as well as comparable S&Ws" is valid, but one has to decide whats "enough" or acceptable for their use. I like the 6th shot, slightly larger, yet still pocketable and a bit more shootable than J frames, and decided I could live with the trade-offs.

I havent shot mine a bunch, and Im OK with that right now. Thats due in part to life situation, though I sometimes think about getting a steel frame DS that I could shoot more with less worry. Or...I may just continue shooting the K-22 more than anything as general practice and less centerfire.

I tend to try to do whatever work I can, mostly with reasonable success. I stopped being quite as concerned about doing basic stuff on the Colts after reading up some on the Colt forum gunsmithing thread. I got a couple parts guns minus frame as parts sources, so have some parts to work with if need be, and new hands are available from Jack First.

Many like the newest, best, most high speed things in life, and I understand the attraction, it just doesnt really click for some of us though. I wont pretend log cabins, older Smiths and Colts, Winchester levers, single action revolvers, and other things generally considered obsolete or even undesirable are better, just that I like them better for whatever reason. I'll use and enjoy things I like, I tend not to with things I dont really like. Im absolutely positive if given the same quantities of ammo for a g-19 and AR for free that Ive run through the K-22 and other older guns, it would mostly sit unused.

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?11538-The-Passion-of-the-Gun

[serialsolver]

115934

A Lawman made in 1979.

[baddean]

Pair of second generation SSA in .44 special. Both mfg 1959. About 800 numbers apart.
Bottom gun bought at estate sale and found the top gun on GB with the pre-ban ivory grips.

116643

[baddean]

Ok, they're not Colts but pretty good replicas of the 1872 Open Tops (Uberti)
Purchased them together in consecutive serial numbers. Chambered in .45 Schofield.
Shoot CAS with them using the holy black.

116644