Colt 1860 Army 4 screw frame revolver Help Needed

[Russ Jackson]

I am thinking about buying this old Colt 1860 Army Revolver with holster, belt, and belt buckle. All numbers match and it has four screws instead of three. Barrel is 8 inches. It was the guys great Uncle and is really in great shape. Pictures do not do it justice and it operates very well. All numbers match including cylinder.
Would $1500 for the lot be a good price or should I offer less? Serial # is 34XXX
There is engraving on the cylinder that does not show up in the picture.
Any information would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Foto Joe]

I can't really help on the value but what does the inside of the barrel and chambers look like? Rust, pitting etc.

There are folks on here who should have a working knowledge of how much would be too much for the gun. It doesn't sound too bad to me but on the other hand I once bought a Chevy thinking it would be a car.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

If you are looking for a shooter, that might not be a bad deal. It might be worth a lot more than what is being asked when you look at what comes with it. Consider what the cost of a new Uberti, 2nd Generation or Signature Colt would be. The holster and belt with the buckle would be an extra consideration. It looks fine in the photos. Have you had the chance to handle it yet?

 

[Russ Jackson]

I bought the whole lot for 800.00. It works and operates perfect. Barrel looks like it was not shot too much. Belt buckle is in amazing shape. I will also get the original soldiers name etc. As it has always been in the family.

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

It seems to me you made an excellent purchase. You might have a small piece of history there.

 

[unknwn]

It seems as if your purchase will help keep what looks like a fine old firearm in the company of a circle of enthusiasts.
I hope that the nipples are removable and that the wedge/barrel/arbor fit allow for dismantleing & inspection prior to any subsequant use? at the range.

 

[BADUNAME30]

Oh my. Please forgive me Russ but i'm more excited 'bout the buckle than the pistol.Well, maybe not completely true but DANG , does that buckle git me goin.
Please tell me. Do the armorors numbers match on both the buckle and the keeper ?
Would you please post a nice closeup pic of the buckle ?
It looks like the wreath is complete.

 

[Russ Jackson]

Jim I will look for the marks and post some close-ups. Can you give me some more information on the buckle? What do they call it and is it rare to have both match? I assume it would be bad to polish it however I would love to know what the wreath looks like when shiny. What metal is the wreath made of?

 

[goldie]

800 for all that is a steal ! the cheapest 4 screw 1860 i saw was 1350 with a dark patina otherwise similar conditon.& add the holster buckle belt,that is an insane deal !

 

[Russ Jackson]

Here is a picture of the buckle.

 

[AlexanderA]

The "wreath" buckles were of 2 distinct types -- those with a separate, applied wreath (made of German silver) and those in which the wreath was cast integrally (as this one was) and then plated (or otherwise colored) silver. I think the applied wreaths were more common on officers' belts, and the cast-on ones on mounted EM belts. On this belt, you can see where the saber attachments had been sewn on and later removed. This looks to me like issued mounted EM equipment. As found, the belt was also adjusted to its maximum length (using the brass hook on the buckle end).

 

[Jim K]

Halp! Grand theft!

Seriously, $800 for the whole thing is a steal. In fact, $1500 would have been a very good price.

Jim

 

[Russ Jackson]

The "wreath" buckles were of 2 distinct types -- those with a separate, applied wreath (made of German silver) and those in which the wreath was cast integrally (as this one was) and then plated (or otherwise colored) silver. I think the applied wreaths were more common on officers' belts, and the cast-on ones on mounted EM belts. On this belt, you can see where the saber attachments had been sewn on and later removed. This looks to me like issued mounted EM equipment. As found, the belt was also adjusted to its maximum length (using the brass hook on the buckle end).

AlexanderA,
In the picture it appears like the wreath is part of the buckle and not applied. Its looks like German silver and is applied to the buckle.

 

[towboat_er]

Oh my!!! What a deal!!!! Ya wanna turn a quick profit.

 

[Russ Jackson]

Oh my!!! What a deal!!!! Ya wanna turn a quick profit.

No I was really looking for information on how to grade it. What is expected on a Soldiers handgun. I was hoping to find a true Colt guy. I have found that different years have very light engraving. The four screw was made for an attachable stock. Each 1860 has serial#s in seven places on the gun. Colt can search it's history and who it was shipped to. I would like to know if anyone has had this done before and what they received from Colt. Are they going up in value or down? It was made in 1862. I am slowly becoming pretty knowledgeable on these fine historic pistols. I am going to shoot it.

 

[AlexanderA]

In the picture it appears like the wreath is part of the buckle and not applied. Its looks like German silver and is applied to the buckle.

So you're saying that the wreath is a separate piece? Could have fooled me. From the picture, it doesn't look as though it's standing high enough from the brass surface of the buckle.

 

[Russ Jackson]

So you're saying that the wreath is a separate piece? Could have fooled me. From the picture, it doesn't look as though it's standing high enough from the brass surface of the buckle.

Here is a shot with another phone. This picture might be better. If it was a coin I would rate it Almost Unc or 9.5 out of 10. The only wear is on the wings where it looks shiny. Most of what looks like wear is more reflection. What looks like solder around the edges is actually another leaf behind with patina, dirt and shadow. It is definitely a separate piece and is some form of silver.

 

[Skinny 1950]

Here is a link to some information which may be useful:

http://springfieldarsenal.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/rampant-colt-spring-2010-page-28-35.pdf

 

[Jim K]

I am not sure Colt has any shipping records from the Civil War era, and their early ones were lost in the fire in February, 1864. In any case, almost all the 1860's during that time were shipped to one customer, the U.S. Army.

But I am curious as to those seven places where the serial number is on the Colt 1860. I count only six - barrel, frame, trigger guard/front strap, rear strap, cylinder* and wedge*. Where is the seventh?

*May be partial number.

Jim

 

[Russ Jackson]

There is one on the cylinder arbor as well. There might be one on the grip also
. But I haven't taken it off.

 

[Old Shooter]

I was thinking $1,500 was about at the top of what I would consider paying for it even though the belt and buckle are nice additions...

But for $800 I'd have thrown the money at him, grabbed the gun and run!

I'm a sucker for old guns with a history.

Very nice purchase, nice looking gun. Congrats!

 

[Russ Jackson]

I was thinking $1,500 was about at the top of what I would consider paying for it even though the belt and buckle are nice additions...

But for $800 I'd have thrown the money at him, grabbed the gun and run!

I'm a sucker for old guns with a history.

Very nice purchase, nice looking gun. Congrats!

I bet I never would have bought an old black powder if someone had not presented one to me. There really a lot of history in this Civil War stuff. In my opinion they are quite undervalued considering the history. I wonder how many matching, good working examples exist? Research tells me only 4000 four screw revolvers were made. I am not going to sell it or break up the group. It stuck together this long so it wouldn't be right to break it up. I still might shoot it.

 

[WALKERs210]

Looked at one of my books on Colts, at 20%-30% the gun has a value of between $2500 - $3500. I sold one last year that was not a clean as yours looks like, but still not a piece of junk, for around $5000.