Birthday Colt New Frontier .45

[silicosys4]

Well, I'm turning 45 next month, so I guess I need a .45 made in 1980.
And that's all the excuse I needed to buy this Colt New Frontier in .45 Colt, made in 1980. That and the price was right for a shooter.
The math added up.
The grips have got to go though.
I'm kind of cursed in that a Colt made in 1980 is right smack in the middle of their "bad" years, but at least that makes them cheap(ish)

 

[1KPerDay]

That they do. Nice hogleg! The math pretty much required you to get it.

 

[gpb]

Nice revolver. You're right about the grips. Let us know what you replace them with.

 

[King Medallion]

Stags!!

 

[bannockburn]

silicosys4

Please, by all means, replace those grips with a pair more befitting a prized gun like your New Frontier!

 

[Armybrat]

Nice Frontier, but yes, please replace those grips.
Actually, Colt’s “bad” years were more towards the middle of the 1980s. And that doesn’t mean all their SAAs & Frontiers were bad, just a few too many were sloppy. They still made plenty of good pieces.
My SAA .357 is a 1979 production - nuthin‘ wrong with it at all, IMO.

 

[Gary W. Strange]

If you are going to replace the grips, I would recommend, taking a look at Rockwood grips. He makes nice grips and has nice wood. He is has very reasonable prices. I had him make and fit a set of myrtle wood grips, with Colt medallions, for my New Frontier and am very pleased with them. They are very well made and fitted perfectly.

 

[doubleh]

The grips have got to go though.

I would shoot it some before changing just to have a comparison when changing. As ugly as they are they might be much more comfortable when shooting.

I forgot. Very nice revolver.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I would shoot it some before changing just to have a comparison when changing.

Just go to a range where no one knows you....
What is the current status of the New Frontier? I'm old enough to remember when they came out, to general applause.
Not sure how well that aged.
Moon

 

[doubleh]

Just go to a range where no one knows you.

Not necessary in my case as I really don't care what anyone thinks about what I like. I am a "if you don't like it you don't have to look at it person." Calling one of my firearms butt ugly doesn't bother me at all. And, yes, I have a SAA clone equipped with that grip. I will say that it fits much better than the one shown in the OP does. The good thing about it is it stopped the middle finger biting the gun was prone to do with every shot and I can deal with ugly for that reason alone.

 

[Gordon]

AS mentioned 1980 Colt production was not "bad" yet, the strike did not really impact the skilled workers quite yet. My New Frontier from the period and Python Hunter were absolutely perfect.

 

[Jim Watson]

Business seems good here; an acquaintance was showing off his new Kimber with threaded barrel, optic plate, and searchlight rail the other day.

More interesting, a friend got a Deal on a 1940 Colt New Service .45, cheap even considering the Jay Scott "stag" grips and reblue. It is a NYST marked gun with a Troop number.

 

[halfmoonclip]

And, yes, I have a SAA clone equipped with that grip.

Hey, I posted that in jest, no offense.
Can't dispute the sometimes utility of rubber grips, but they are somewhat analogous to a homely girl who is a great cook (or superb in the sack )
I have Hogues on a couple 629s, but avoid them otherwise.
Be well,
Moon
ETA- did, belatedly, see your laugh at the end of my earlier post.
M

 

[doubleh]

No offense taken. I was just stating my thoughts about "ugly". I always avoided what I considered homely girls so can't comment on them.

 

[halfmoonclip]

No offense taken. I was just stating my thoughts about "ugly". I always avoided what I considered homely girls so can't comment on them.

Me too on the girls.
Still want to hear the status of the market on New Frontiers. Might consider one.
As regards .45 Colt loads, mine are pretty mild, with Trailboss. (remember Trailboss? That great stuff that is now Unobtanium) Those 629s are for the wrath of God loads.
Moon

 

[CraigC]

Business seems good here; an acquaintance was showing off his new Kimber with threaded barrel, optic plate, and searchlight rail the other day.

More interesting, a friend got a Deal on a 1940 Colt New Service .45, cheap even considering the Jay Scott "stag" grips and reblue. It is a NYST marked gun with a Troop number.

View attachment 1254750

Nice!

 

[doubleh]

Me too on the girls.
Still want to hear the status of the market on New Frontiers. Might consider one.
As regards .45 Colt loads, mine are pretty mild, with Trailboss. (remember Trailboss? That great stuff that is now Unobtanium) Those 629s are for the wrath of God loads.
Moon

No help on the market thing but I have an entire bottle and a little piece of one of Trailboss left. I shot the 45 Colt very little because of the finger issue as it brought no pleasure.

 

[halfmoonclip]

No help on the market thing but I have an entire bottle and a little piece of one of Trailboss left. I shot the 45 Colt very little because of the finger issue as it brought no pleasure.

My Trailboss loads were in the 750'sec range in the revo, maybe another 100 out of the Trapper '92. So my knuckle never took a beating. I do still have some Trailboss, but will shift to Unique when it's gone.
Moon

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

So what was the price?

This one shipped in 1965 and I paid $900 for it a few years ago. Yes, the grips are very worn, I'm not even sure if they are the originals.

 

[silicosys4]

So what was the price?

This one shipped in 1965 and I paid $900 for it a few years ago. Yes, the grips are very worn, I'm not even sure if they are the originals.

Very nice,
I paid $1350 for this one, which is imo about fair in today's market given the finish issues.

I do believe yours is wearing 1st gen grips, which are smaller than 2nd gen grip frames if I remember correctly. They look to be in nice shape for first gens.

I bought a 51/2" USFA in .45 Colt a few months back, my first gun in that caliber. It shot pretty high/left with standard 255gr loads so I had to dial it way back to almost book minimum charges of Unique with 200gr swc's to get it at least close to POA.
I feel like I can wring a lot more out of the .45 Colt with a bit more barrel and adjustable sights

 

[Mark_Mark]

So what was the price?

This one shipped in 1965 and I paid $900 for it a few years ago. Yes, the grips are very worn, I'm not even sure if they are the originals.

You did good! I paid $1800 for this Gen 2 .357, it had a twin in 44-40 but a Gen 3