Antique Colt SAA on the way - questions

[vanfunk]

No specific metallurgy changes are known, but as late as 1904 they were making civilian revolvers that were fitted with left-over black powder era, Army inspected cylinders. It should be noted that revolvers that were made during prior years and returned to the factory for refinishing or other work were often proof fired and marked before they were returned.

Thanks Old Fuff: It would appear that there is no known difference between late-black powder pistols and early smokeless examples. Interesting!

Thanks,

vanfunk

 

[Old Fuff]

I'm still looking into the question, but I believe that smokeless proof testing started in 1900 when Colt introduced their first pistols that were designed by John Browning. These pistols used new cartridges that were exclusively loaded with smokeless powder. All of Colt's revolvers of that day were chambered to use cartridges that had a black powder beginning. By 1900 these cartridges were available loaded with black powder, smokeless powder, or a combination of both.

At least one Colt revolver, the model 1877 double-action, was specifically limited to black powder loads, although it was manufactured up until 1908, but Colt never made the same restriction apply to the Single Action Army.

Without question, they did on many occasions proof test and mark older SAA revolvers with smokeless powder, although both the frames and cylinders dated from the black powder era - so in a back-handed way they were saying these revolvers were safe to use with smokeless cartridges as loaded at the time.

 

[vanfunk]

Clarifying, or perhaps addind to the controversy, here's a cut-and-paste of an old Q&A with Skeeter Skelton on the matter:

Q. I have a Colt Frontier Model revolver, serial number 37753, which I would like to shoot. The caliber is 45, and I notice that this ammunition is still being made. A friend tells me that my gun was designed for black powder shells and that it will blow up if I use the new cartridges in it. My gun is in excellent shape and I want to use it. B.L.B.

A. The serial number of your gun shows that it was manufactured in 1877, and it was, indeed, made for use with black powder ammunition as were all Colt single actions numbered below about 165,000. Steels and heat treating methods were changed in this serial range. While I have fired a great many of the old black powder guns with smokeless factory loads and handloads loaded to approximately the same pressure levels, it is probably not a good idea. If the old cylinder lets go it will more than likely warp the frame of your antique gun. It's a lot simpler and wiser to get a new cylinder of modern steel from the Colt factory to use with those modern loads.

vanfunk