pick up 2 today

[Plastikosmd]

I picked up my converted ROA, (now 5.5" and 50 caliber.) There, sitting on the counter at the LGS, was a tight and # matching colt pocket. It looks like it will be a good little shooter. What can be better than 2 new bp pistols in a day? (probably 3?). Range report to follow soon

 

[expat_alaska]

Not So Much Interested In The ROA, But...

I perceive that you are proud as punch about the ROA purchase, but...

Very curious about the 1849 Pocket Pistol (Italian replica, yes?): Would like to know the manufacturer, date code, serial number (and areas where they are stamped), any importer marks, etc.

Pictures are always very nice, even if you have to create a separate thread about it. There are more than a few folks interested in these Pocket Pistols

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=788834

and I have a bad habit of collecting pictures, data, and parts for these pistols, no matter whether they are ASM, ASP, Uberti, or even New Gen Colts.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

 

[Plastikosmd]

Serial number 170xxx colt. I don't know much more about it. Says made in ny. Dates to the mid 1800's or so. I will take better pics. I only focused on mechanics so I could shoot it.

 

[expat_alaska]

If I may request, please take close pics of both left and right side of the frame/barrel, as well as the underside of the trigger guard/frame, and the top of the barrel for any markings.

You state:

Serial number 170xxx colt. I don't know much more about it. Says made in ny. Dates to the mid 1800's or so.

I reiterate: We need pics of the top-of-barrel address markings.

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Plastikosmd]

Will do, marking is faint, 2 lines of stuff. I don't expect it to be anything special, I just wanted another bp gun to shoot. 10ffg and a .320 ball should do

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

If it says something on the order of Col. Saml Colt address NY then that is a VERY nice find. Looks to be in great condition.

 

[expat_alaska]

Will do, marking is faint, 2 lines of stuff. I don't expect it to be anything special, I just wanted another bp gun to shoot. 10ffg and a .320 ball should do

Until you find out what the "2 lines of stuff" are (!), it may be something special (as in an original Colt!) and you may want to reconsider shooting it until you find out more. Replica C&B pistols are cheap and if one ruins one, one is not out of a lot of money. IMO, I would check this piece out thoroughly (and historically) before firing it. I would hate to find out I had a real antique Colt and screwed it up by firing it indiscriminately.

Just my $.02 worth.

Jim

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

It looks original in the first picture.

"31 Cal" on the trigger guard.

Very faint marking (picture definition???) on the front of the frame. While Uberti did put some markings there Colt did too.

Over all patina and worn cylinder scene.

Shrunken wood stocks.

 

[Skinny 1950]

It looks like an original made in 1860, the patina and shrunken grips look correct.
How is the bore/rifling on it?

 

[Plastikosmd]

Funny, I thought the ruger would be more interesting!

 

[ROAshooter]

"Funny, I thought the ruger would be more interesting!"

Hey I am interested in your ROA!!

Looks like a very well done conversion. who did the work?

Where did you/they find the shorter loading lever?

I have been wanting a 5.5 adjustable sighted ROA for some time now.

 

[Crawdad1]

More interesting than an original Colt???? I would shoot the Ruger, display the Colt. if you don't want to have a revolver you don't shoot then throw it on Gunbroker you'll probably get more than you paid for it.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Clements did the conversion, he just sent it back. He did the lever too

Colt was just a few hundred, not bad. As I said, felt it would be a good shooter unless it is not wise. I will let the experts weigh in but i think it just old, not so rare??

 

[Crawdad1]

These revolvers get pretty beat up shooting and cleaning them, and that Colt is just too old and too beat up already to regularly shoot. The ROA, who cares about that because they were built to shoot.

Here is a nice original Colt like yours.

http://www.antiquegunlist.com/home/...cket-model-152xxx-1857-4-barrel-iron-strapped

 

[yugorpk]

Ive got a 13,000 SN original 1848 Wells Fargo scene colt I shoot thats been in the family at least since my great grandfather carried it to the Alaskan Gold Rush, got shipwrecked of the coast of Argentina and had to walk overland back to the USA while stopping to work as a foreman on the Panama Canal. . Light black powder loads don't hurt it a bit.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

A few hundred dollars?

Is the seller GIVING AWAY any more original Colts???

PM me his phone number!!!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

How does that Old Army balance and I have to ask how much and how long?

 

[Crawdad1]

Well its certainly looks like a nice original Colt and a good shooter.

 

[expat_alaska]

All matching numbers on frame, barrel lug, trigger guard, cylinder, and backstrap. Nice!

P. L. Shumaker lists this serial number as having a manufacture date of 1859.

Barrel address is the "right hand" 2-line New York with the fancy end brackets (not all had these). Pin type front sight and large rounded trigger guard, maybe even with the early short trigger.

All appears correct with the information I have. It looks well used but, man, what a deal you must have gotten.

Please do me a favor: put this one in the safe (or send it to me!); don't EVEN attempt to "pretty it up" other than oil and a soft cloth; and buy a new Uberti for ~$320-$340 and shoot the new pistol!

Very nice find! Thanks for sharing your info and pics.

Oh, and enjoy your ROA!

Jim

 

[Plastikosmd]

thank you for all of the information, I do not know much about these and I generally buy guns to shoot. (I guess I wont talk about the 40x sporter that was unfired and in box until I got it!) I really appreciate the education and understand the concern.

As far as the ruger, I like the balance of the 5.5. The ruger was never a light gun but the loss of the 2" makes it less muzzle heavy. Cost was around 1200 or so Turn around once he got the gun, was only about 2 months. The issue was, it took him a long while to get the stuff he needed from his supplier. That took a long, long time. He doesn't bill u up front except 100$ or so to start the barrel ordering process. Once he gets the stuff in, he asks for the gun. You don't pay till he is done. I cant say enough about how smooth the process was how nice his work is.

 

[expat_alaska]

I Think The Colt Pistol Part Of This Thread

... Has pretty much run its length (but don't count on it!). You must understand that when we antique fanatics find something we generally run it to ground, so to speak.

Now to your ROA.

I have always admired Ruger guns. IMO, they are very well built for the most part. I have no knowledge of the ROA as a hands-on pistol, but I have previously owned a Ruger SBH .44 Mag 3 -screw (now my son's pistol), a Ruger Mark II Target 7-1/2" .22 (a pain to reassemble until you are well versed: I shot a Ruger MKII bull barrel stainless years ago, and I agree with the shorter barrel insofar as balance), a Ruger SBH New Model that I sold soon after purchasing because it was not nearly the gun as the 3-screw, and a Ruger SP101 3-1/16" in .38 SPl. I have replaced the springs (with Wolff) on the SP101 and it now has such a slick action as to not be believed. But, I digress.

That said, tell us much more about your ROA .50 cal conversion. We may have given you a short history of your Colt Pocket Pistol, but enlighten us as to your new-found delight. I like "fantasy" Colt revolvers and this ROA of yours is probably much more of a fantasy gun than even the original ROA, with all of Bill's improvements upon the original mid-19th century Colts and Remingtons.

Jim

 

[4v50 Gary]

Spare the Colt, shoot the Ruger.

 

[Plastikosmd]

^lol, well said

The ruger, hard to say why. I love BP. The old army is built like a tank and it was my first bp firearm. I prefer the odd, I have even one sporting a scope. I just wanted something different and well built. I highly reccomend his work.
Here is the scoped ruger for fun

 

[yugorpk]

Shooting the Colt isnt going to hurt it. It was made to shoot.

 

[Plastikosmd]

I probably will, please don't tell anyone up here^.