44-40 Old Colt

[NIB Shooter]

I have an old colt 44-40 SAA 7 1/2 in. with non matching serial numbers. The gun is very clean with a clean bore and no rust and dark brown in color.

Frame serial # 562XX

Triigger Guard handle serial #1749XX

Does this Revolver have any value, it must be a 100 years old?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Old Fuff]

Your 1st. series Colt Single Action was made in 1880 (or at least the frame was, and that's the number to go by.) The original grips were one-piece, and made from walnut. However the backstrap/triggerguard was made in 1897 so it may have two-piece black hard-rubber grips - unless tey were replaced.

The gun is a legal antique, and exempt from 1968 CGA restrictions. If it has a good bore and chambers, the rest of the parts are original, and it's fully functional it's probably worth in excess of $1,000.00 and perhaps as much as 1,500.00. I suggest you don't shoot it with modern ammunition.

 

[NIB Shooter]

Too late on the modern ammunition advice!...lo..... I shot the Colt today. I ran 50 rounds of Black Hills Cowboy Action Ammo thru it. It worked real fine. Very high on my fun to shoot list!

 

[Old Fuff]

If it has the original cylinder my advise stands. You could end up distroying a valuable antique and hurting yourself in the process. I suspect any number of collectors would swap you a more modern Colt for the one you have, and it would be safe too shoot. You can also replace the cylinder with a new one when you want too shoot, and switch back when you want to display the piece.

I hope you never see one of these old guns - which were met for black powder - blow up. I have, when a shooter next to me blew his.

 

[NIB Shooter]

Advice well taken. I had a wife that used to blow up. I got rid of her. Think I will do the same with the Colt.

 

[J Miller]

Well, here is my 2 bits worth.
I agree with Old Fuff, avoid smokeless powder ammo. But I hate to see a good gun languish in loneliness in the back of the safe.
If it were mine I buy a set of dies and load me up some black powder ammo.
After all, that's what it was made for. And that won't hurt it.