Found in Basement: Old Colt

[rabid_rob]

Found this today...old Colt Black Powder Revolver. Owner (very old woman) says it belonged to her (now dead) husband's grandfather. Been in family forever, but she wants to know it's age a curious about it's value.

It's stamped "COLTS PATENT" on the frame near the left front of the cylinder. Across the top of the barrel (octagonal inside) are the words "ADDRESS COL. SAM COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA"

The numbers 47655 are stamped close together, but on three parts where the brass trigger guard meets the dark steel frame.

The cylinder is stamped "US PATENT No 7655

 

[Jim Watson]

The illustrated revolver is a Colt 1860 Army .44, made in 1862 according to Proofhouse.com

Condition looks pretty good, the trigger guard is bent but the gun is not much rusty and most of the screw heads look good. The wedge is battered from being knocked out and in. Does it have a visible serial number? Matching serial numbers (No 7655 on the cylinder is the last four digits of the serial number, not the patent number) add to value.

There are several advertised on Gunsamerica.com for $1350 and up. Value depends on condition, originality and a lot of minor details that matter only to a collector. Any army inspector's marks on the frame or grip would add interest.

A real expert is needed to set a price if she wants to sell it.

 

[rabid_rob]

Yes, there are four serial number stampings:

(1) 47655 on the brass area just forward of the trigger guard, but before a screw.
(2) 47655 on the dark steel flat plate just after the edge of the brass trigger guard
(3) 47655 just above the #(2) location
(4) 47655 on the metal frame between the wood grip halves, bottom side.

The cylinder, hammer and trigger appear to operate normally. The "ram rod" handle flops down a bit, I think due to the tip being broken and not catching the groove/keeper mounted on the underside of the barrel.

 

[SWMAN]

Nice find. First generation Colt BP. Probably still put a few 44s out the bore.

 

[Dirtypacman]

+1 On a nice find... She should clean up very nicely.

 

[Jim K]

The rammer is broken. Those can be replaced but of course the replacement would not be original. The value is as indicated above. I would suggest cleaning and using a penetrant to stop any active rust. My own preference for that kind of thing is G96 Gun Treatment, available at most gun stores. If you know how, carefully disassemble it into the major parts and kill any active rust, but don't go further unless you know what you are doing and have the owner's permission.

It is almost certain that the gun is of Civil War vintage and was likely used in that war. Any information on the original owner/user would add to the value of the gun, perhaps a lot if that person were prominent (general, future president, war hero).

Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

Get the grandfather's name & get a letter from her attesting to it (provenance). Then you may want to see if he's a Civil War soldier and if he is, get his service record and pension application (if any - both will be at the National Archives). If there's no photo of him in the family, you might want to check with the Library of Congress or the Military History Institute in Carlisle. You might also check with the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA. Getting all that info will add some $$$ to the gun. I did research on a Henry Rifle once and tracked down the Great-g-g-g-g-grandnephew of the soldier. He was very excited to learn that a relative's gun was still around. Unfortunately, the living descendant did not have a photo of the man.

 

[Roswell 1847]

Looks like great granpa ran out of bullets and had to bash a few heads with the old Colt. It takes a lot of force to bend a trigger guard that badly. The loading lever probably broke at the same time, if he swung it by the barrel.

 

[bigbadgun]

Some People Have All The Luck.

 

[Yankee John]

Do NOT clean that pistol!!!!

You could potentially remove valuable patina and seriously harm the Colt's value. It looks just fine the way it is!

John

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, document everything you can about the original owner and his connection to the revolver. It will add a lot to the value for a real collector. A picture of the original owner with the revolver in hand would be the best proof and would add the most value IMO.

What a great old piece of History you are holding in your hand. Thank you very much for the picture and story. Additional pictures would be great...

 

[.44walkersabot]

I like that colt...Okay...

 

[19-3Ben]

I'll add one more thing. Once you get a letter from her with every bit of info she knows about the gun, and all the research...get it notarized. That's right.
Sure, it doesn't actually mean much, other than that she is the one who wrote it, but in the future it just adds that much more legitimacy to any background on the gun.

 

[Cap n Ball]

DON'T CLEAN IT!!! Thats a guaranteed way of reducing value. Take it to a good gunsmith, have the cylinder checked for cracks and pitting. Have the barrel looked at for same reasons. Don't try to 'fix' the triggerguard or rammer. He can also remove most surface rust properly and treat the metal to retard any futher oxidation. You may want to remove the grips and check for initials. Theres a story there. Leave as is and put away with some silica gel packets... in a safe. Wall hangers are usually broken and just for looks that old gun looks like it could still bark and bite. What ever you do don't try to 'restore' it. Theres really no point to that.