Colt Country | Home of The Almighty Colt
Black Powder Pistols => Army Models => Topic started by: AR. Hillbilly on July 22, 2023, 05:00:40 PM
-
Today I put an offer on a 1862 Army serial number 62008.
I think they’re going to take the offer.
If so I’ll go get it tomorrow.
It looks decent and seems to work as it should.
The grips are in poor condition and missing the screw above the wedge.
All numbers appear to match except I can’t find a number on the cylinder.
Would you leave it as is?
-
Sounds like a good find. Original is the best for a collectible piece. Replacing a missing screw falls under normal maintenance to keep it functioning and wouldn't affect the value unless you modify it to accept a non-standard screw. You can replace the grips for your own enjoyment but keep the old ones to go with it.
-
Marshal Will I thought it would be neat to change the grips but keep the old and the story they tell.
Fingers crossed that this works out.
The 1860 is my favorite and to have an original is a dream of a lifetime.
-
Good luck! Hope you score this one!
-
I am happy for you AR!! Let us know how it all works out :cowboypistol:
-
Does it still say Colt's Patent on the cylinder? The number should be right behind it and match the serial number. Those numbers were usually stamped pretty deep. Colt's Patent deeper still. My guess is it's been buffed out at some point in it's life.
-
Hawg I can’t read anything on the cylinder. It actually appears to be in worse condition than the rest of the gun. None of it is in great condition but the cylinder is definitely worse. All other numbers and writing is very legible.
Leads me to believe the cylinder may have been changed or buffed as you say.
-
AR, did they accept your offer?
-
Zulch they took my offer and I now own it.
I’m very excited.
I’m gonna have lots of questions in the future.
Should the wedge have a serial number?
Took it apart when I got home and find no numbers/ letters on the cylinder.
Doesn’t seem to have a lot of cylinder to cone gap.
Wedge fits snug.
The cylinder isn’t in very good shape.
-
It’s really kind of a big deal. Guys don’t just get an original Colt everyday and a ‘60 to boot - can’t beat an original 1860.
Congratulations, AR
Talk about the cylinder. What’s wrong with the cylinder?
I’ll bet the missing wedge screw can be replaced if you choose to do that.
The battle scene on many original Army/Navies seems to often get just nearly rubbed away.
-
Outstanding, AR. That's the coolest one to have. Especially made in 1862. Congratulations!
-
The battle scene on many original Army/Navies seems to often get just nearly rubbed away.
The battle scene yes but usually not the Colt's patent or serial number. Those markings are stamped pretty deep. IIRC the wedge has the last four digits of the serial number, same as the cylinder.
-
In the first post I wrote the wrong serial number.
The actual number is 68009.
The cylinder is very worn by n this. The teeth on the back barely engage.
It appears to have been squealed in a vise or something. One hole is very tight to get the loading lever plunger in as if it’s been flattened a little.
Absolutely no markings visible.
It doesn’t always rotate when cocked.
-
What, no pics yet? :cowboypistol:
-
Pics when I get home Hawg
-
Great news there AR!! Very happy for you. I cannot wait to see the pictures. Exciting indeed.
-
Trying pics
-
It's not too bad. The trigger guard looks a little flattened. From what I can see of the ratchet teeth they don't look too bad. You probably have a weak or broken hand spring. The hand could be worn down too.
Give her a little TLC and she'll most likely be a good shooter.
-
What a cool find! Great pics. You must be tickled to land one like that. Congratulations. thanks for sharing the pics.
-
I watched the video below about the evolution of the Army.
I removed the cylinder and looked inside. I believe this is an early cylinder with the non concave cylinder bores.
The end of the bores is square to the sidewalls of the bore.
-
I watched the video below about the evolution of the Army.
I removed the cylinder and looked inside. I believe this is an early cylinder with the non concave cylinder bores.
The end of the bores is square to the sidewalls of the bore.
AR. What video are you referring to?
-
Zulch the early cylinders weren’t very strong. I believe the bore went up to the smaller diameter of the cylinder and they would blow up.
The newer ones have a concave end to the bore leaving a little bit more meet at the shoulder between the step in the cylinder.
-
Colt 1860 chambers were not tapered. The bottom of the chamber at the nipple shouldn't be cut square it should be slightly rounded. It was the fluted cylinders that blew up.
-
Thank you Hawg.
I truly appreciate the learning experience I receive here.
-
I think you're both right. I read somewhere that the early un-fluted cylinders would fail at the bottom of the bolt notch because the metal was so thin. They went to a tapered chamber after that to correct the problem.
-
The fluted cylinders were made from wrought iron. The later cylinders were made of Bessemer steel. A process invented in the 1850's to remove impurities by blowing air through the molten steel. Colt called it Silver Spring Steel but that was just a marketing ploy. Colt could have kept the flutes after the switch to steel but I assume the fluted cylinders had a bad reputation by then.
-
These are cut square to the end of the cylinder. Not round whatsoever.
That guy in that video made mention of this.
They are concave on my replicas.
-
I spent time on it tonight.
As Hawg said the hand spring or hand is worn/broken. After studying on it I think the hand spring is broken.
I can point it straight down and it will rotate the cylinder.
Is this something I should tackle or leave to a pro?
-
I spent time on it tonight.
As Hawg said the hand spring or hand is worn/broken. After studying on it I think the hand spring is broken.
I can point it straight down and it will rotate the cylinder.
Is this something I should tackle or leave to a pro?
it should be an easy fix. You can make a new spring out of a bobby pin, you just have to be careful getting the broken piece out.
-
Thank you Hawg.
I may be back with questions this weekend regarding this.
-
AR congrats on the new Revolver :usa-flag-89:
-
Thank you Sooty
-
Pulled it apart this afternoon.
Did a lot of cleaning and polishing.
The hand spring was completely gone and the part that pinches the spring was broke off.
I’m hoping to find a new hand and spring that will fit this.
I read a few posts on the issue. I finally drilled the hand and used spring stock to form a coil type spring.
It took a few tries and adjustments to get it right but now it seems to function as it should.
Some of the nipples are bad.
Any recommendations for nipples to fit this old relic?
I believe it can be a shooter with new nipples.
Thank you Hawg for getting me headed in the right direction.
I learned a lot about these open tops after today.
-
Lodgewood has reproduction nipples for originals but they take #9 caps. S&S sells them but they say they're exact copies of originals so they probably take #9 caps too. The Possible Shop sells Treso nipples that take #11 caps. https://possibleshop.com/s-s-nipples-cb.html