5 inches of fun... unusual Colt find.

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GUNKWAZY

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Here's something that I just got in. :D
It's unusual due to the fact that the Colt Anaconda was known to come with either a 4 inch & 6 inch tube.
This one is right between that.
Here's the tale of the tape...

anaconda5.jpg


anaconda52.jpg


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

If anyone has any books, price guides, catalogs, manuals or magazine ads that mention the 5 inch Anaconda, please let me know.
Thanks.
 
Unless it's trick photography it looks like a 5" barrel. I don't think the factory made any like this but I would call to find out for sure. Most likely a gunsmith shortened it. My favorite shop will do this for $150 and they look pretty good when done. Hard to tell from original. I've been thinking of having them make some odd 5" guns, like an early Model 14 or 25-2.
 
It's no trick and it IS FACTORY done.

It's NOT a $150 gunsmith job.

There's no way to make a 4, 6, or 8 inch look like this unless you restamped the barrel markings.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
That's definitely a rare find. It's a beauty!!! I've always had a soft spot for the bright polished Colt's. That 5" barrel looks very well balanced.
 
Why is it everytime I say something people get pissed at me?

Gunkwazy, I am not trying to insult you or your gun. Chill out, OK?

I thought you were posting this as a question. I didn't realize you already had all the answers.

Can you document that it's factory original? Anything you can point me towards where someone discusses the manufacture of these 5" guns? I'd be interested in hearing about it since the existence of 5" Anacondas comes as a surprise to me.

BTW- Can't always judge by the barrel markings. If all Anacondas have the rollmarks centered no matter what length then it looks like a factory stamping on a 5" barrel. But sometimes revolvers have the markings located more to the rear and look the same after the barrel is shortened. The S&W "Registered Magnums" came this way. They all started as 8 & 3/4" barrels and were shortened upon customer request. The barrel markings are not centered on these guns but are more to the rear so they are the same distance from the cylinder no matter what the barrel length.

I like 5" wheel guns and yours is very cool whether it's from Colt or a gunsmith (and I don't see that as an insult, BTW, as you apparently do).
 
I'm fine Thatguy. I didn't take it as an insult.
I'm not pissed at all. You're just reading it wrong I guess.
There was NO question posted here on my part.
Just the facts maam, just the facts as they say.
That's why I show the gun with the tape measure.
What can I say. My undies aint bunched, hope yours aint. :D
I'm just pointing out that it's a FACTORY done 5 inch Colt Anaconda and it's not a gunsmith project gun.
Don't need to send Colt $100-$150 to say YEP.

That's all. No harm, no foul.
Peace, Love, hugs & kisses.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
FYI: For what it's worth, all the Anacondas I've owned, fondled, Ooogled, & touched have always had the stampings centered on the barrel from the factory. That goes for Ported, non-ported barrels, 4, 6, and 8 inch barrels. First Edition Anacondas as well as 45 LC versions of the Anaconda.
So, all I can say is anything can happen, but I'd be willing to make a fairly good size wager that it's a COLT factory product.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

I guess you could say, I'd go all in on this one.
 
Again, how do you know for sure it's original? Was the 5" in the catalog at any time? Any special editions? I've never heard of one.
 
I'd be willing to make a fairly good size wager that it's a COLT factory product.
Click to expand...

I think you need to document that it came from Colt with a 5" barrel before you will be able to get a premium for it. If you call Colt and give them the serial number, they will tell you over the phone what its barrel length was when it left the factory.
 
If it were a 6" or 8" that were cut down, the spacing on the vents on the rib wouldn't line up nicely like that . I've seen another factory 5", with porting. It said 5" on the sticker on the side of the box, so I'm pretty sure it was a factory 5" job.
 
I am willing to bet that is a factory five-inch Anaconda!! Why? Because I have seen another one just like it!!

In the fall of 1996, a friend and I attended a gun show at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, Georgia. My friend wanted a .44 Magnum Colt Anaconda. The one he bought that day came with a five-inch barrel, and the label on the blue plastic Colt box mentioned the barrel length. The difference in barrel length from my six-inch sample was quite obvious when the revolvers were sitting next to each other. It also balanced a lot better than my six-inch Anaconda.

It was the first and last one I had laid eyes on until I saw the pictures in this thread.
 
OK, now I'm willing to bet the house on the fact that it IS the real deal.
It was a factory product of COLT manufacturing and it was sent out with a 5 inch barrel and was produced in 1996. ;)
As per a little birdie at Colt.

And now you know, the rest of the story. :D


Thanks, Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

Again, I'm pushing all in on this bet.
 
I call Colt every couple weeks and bug them.
Pretty nice people on the phone. I've always been treated kindly by their customer service people.

By the way, they are not open on the weekend.
It was too late to call on friday when I picked up the gun.
Thanks for the advise though.


Jeff (GUNKWAZY)


Thatguy, I'm still not aware of the 5 inch barrel ever being in ANY catalog.
Then again, I don't believe that the 4 inch 45LC Anaconda was either.
Yet they are still out there.
 
I'm sorry, but it's not currently for sale.

Also, I've got a verbal YES from Colt regarding it's authenticity.
I know it's the real deal and Colt knows it's real.
I don't need nor want to toss another $100 at it for a letter.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
I called Colt because I was curious and got nowhere. They wouldn't tell me anything. Nobody would say what or wasn't offered and they provided exactly ZERO information. I would still like to see some sort of documentation on this because if Colt made 5" Anacondas in numbers that would keep them below the insane collector price level I would be interested in looking for one.
 
I tell ya what I'll do.
THATGUY can pay for the letter from Colt. If it's legit and was shipped & MFG at Colt with a 5 inch barrel, THATGUY can eat the cost for the letter.
If it's NOT legit and was NOT produced by Colt with a 5 inch barrel, I'll double your money. I'll pay you twice, I take that back, I'll pay you 4 times your money.
So, if the letter costs $100. I'll pay you $400 if the letter comes back from Colt saying that it DID NOT have a 5 inch barrel when shipped from Colt.
How's that sound ?
You want referances ?
What part of the country do you want them from ?
Do you want written or verbal ?
My word is good.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)
 
I've always like the Anacondas. Before they were made cutom shop items, I turned down several good deals. I regret that practically every gunshow. Now this one is making it worse. The 4 inch guns didn't look quite right to me and the 6 inchers were too long for my taste. A 5 inch looks about right. I wonder how many were made like this. This thing's got to be collectible.
 
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