Picked up a NIB fluted cylinder 1860 Colt.

[jphendren]

It is a 2nd Gen. in the mint black box with the little gold filled pin. The gun is flawless and unturned with a zip tie around the hammer. Should I fire it?

I picked up 5 pounds of Swiss FFF powder, this should work correct? What is the charge range?

How about caps, what size? #11

Projectiles?

Jared

 

[Pancho]

Jp, that's a dilemma. Shoot it and enjoy it or keep it and look at it until you sell it hopefully for more than you paid for it. If this is your first c&b revolver I'd save it and buy a good repo and find out if you like shooting c&b. I really don't know what the near future collector prospects are for the Colt c&b revolvers. I hope the forum can shed more light on the subject.

 

[Bad Flynch]

Well, one might ask, why did you buy the powder if you weren't going to shoot it? Shoot it! Although the value of these is more than the imports, the price has not skyrocketed.

Standard charges for 36 caliber guns run around 22 grains and 44 caliber guns run around 28 grains. However, it is possible to shoot more, or less, as you prefer.

My Colts use a #10 cap, but nipples are available to convert them to #11 and, as is usually stated here, #11s can be squeezed a little to make them fit tightly on #10 nipples.

 

[mykeal]

A Second Generation Colt will slowly increase in value even if shot if you keep it clean and carefully maintain it. Condition is everything, and although NIB is a nice marketing gimmick it doesn't really translate into bucks. Condition does. You will not get rich keeping it in a drawer; a good blue chip stock will appreciate faster. Get some good gunsmith screwdrivers and be very careful not to damage the screws (although they can be replaced).

I'd shoot it. And take good care of it.

 

[jphendren]

Well, one might ask, why did you buy the powder if you weren't going to shoot it?

I actually picked up the powder to do some black powder .45 Colt reloading for my 3rd Gen. SAA, but figured that it would work well in the 1860 as well. I just sort of stumbled into the 1860 while at a gun show this morning. I went looking for a Performance Center S&W Schofield or an original 1873 Winchester SRC in .44 WCF. I was walking along and all of a sudden there was this table covered in 2nd Gen. Colt's; he had everything but Walkers. I had wanted a fluted cylinder 1860 for a while and there it was, so naturally I had to grab it while the grabbin' was good. The seller was trying to tell me that shooting it would ruin its value, but I shoot everything I have including two 1937 S&W .357 Registered Magnums.

Jared

 

[mykeal]

A dealer, at a gun show, with a table full of NIB 2nd Gen Colts, is only going to tell you something that makes his stuff seem like it's worth more. "My stuff is worth more 'cause it's NIB, and other stuff that's been shot is worth less." He isn't exactly going to say it doesn't matter.

I suppose many people would pay a slight premium for a new gun in the box with the paperwork over one that's in 100% condition given that there were sufficient examples of both. However, a 100% condition gun that's been shot is by no means "ruined" as to value. The NIB premium is pretty small.

 

[Phantom Captain]

Hey jphendren,

Hopefully I can ease your dilema a bit as well! I too have the 2nd Generation fluted cylinder 1860 army and I do indeed shoot it! That's the whole point for me as it is with you, I want to shoot my stuff not look at it.

What I did though was buy a spare Uberti scrolled cylinder to shoot with, that way I keep my fluted cylinder pristine. Uberti parts fit and work fine with the Colt 2nd Generations. I also replace all my nipples with Thunder Ridge nipples. They take #10 Remington caps perfectly and I have them on all my revolvers.

Here is their chart with all the conversions and sizes..
http://www.thunder-ridge-muzzleloading.com/nip_x_ref.htm

And here is my pistol. Enjoy yours and shoot it, that's what they are for in my opinion. You are gonna love that sweet shooting Colt too!

 

[jphendren]

Hello Phantom Captain,

You mentioned using a Uberti cylinder, do you also use a Uberti wedge? I've heard that the wedge will be crushed with time and since the originals are numbered to the gun that it is a good idea to use an alternate for shooting.

Lastly, how has the finish held up to shooting? I don't holster my revolvers and take very great care with them when handling them, all of my other cartridge guns still look like new.

 

[Pancho]

phantom, where did you get your pouches?

 

[Phantom Captain]

jphendren,

I've only had the pistol for a year so no, I haven't changed out the wedge yet but I do want to order one for the reasons you described. I do keep it in a holster but have noticed no unusual wear at all on the blue. I shoot mine alot too weather permitting so I don't think you need to worry too much about the finish, it should hold up just fine. My dad's 1861 Navy that he bought in 1970 or so has all the blue on it and has also been stored in a holster for a long time. It would be nice to keep the serial marked cylinder and wedge in good condition. The Uberti wedge will work in the Colt too.

Pancho,

Period correct belt, cap box, pistol cartridge box, spare cylinder box and holster all from Fall Creek Sutlers:

http://www.fcsutler.com/

I buy and use tons of stuff from them. Great quality products! I also have a cartridge box for my rifle that works great too. You can probably tell I'm a bit into the Civil War stuff,

 

[jphendren]

I need a wedge screw and wedge for shooting. Do Uberti's blue match with the 2nd Gen. Colt's blue? Also, aren't the 2nd Gen. Colt's standard thread and Uberti metric?

Jared

 

[Phantom Captain]

jp,

Blue is the same and will match exactly. The Second Gen Colts were rough cast by Uberti in Italy and then shipped here for finishing, fitting and assembly by Colt. This is why Uberti parts fit exactly with 2nd Gen Colts.

 

[bigbadgun]

Hopefully I can ease your dilema a bit as well! I too have the 2nd Generation fluted cylinder 1860 army and I do indeed shoot it! That's the whole point for me as it is with you, I want to shoot my stuff not look at it.

Well said. Why buy em if ya aint gonna shoot em?

 

[Bad Flynch]

>I actually picked up the powder to do some black powder .45 Colt reloading for my 3rd Gen. SAA, but figured that it would work well in the 1860 as well. <

Well, that is a really good deal. It shoots well enough, but I have found that 3Fg powder fouls a tad more than 2Fg. I, therefore, decided to do what the arsenals and loading companies did for the original .45 Colt cartridge: they loaded what was equivalent to 2&1/2Fg. I mix equal parts of 2F & 3F and it works splendidly well with a soft, gooey lube meant for BP. Incidentally, I shoot only soft bullets with BP, on the order of 1:20 or so. I really like the bullets from Desperado Cowboy Bullets, www.cowboybullets.com .

 

[K.A.T.]

Shoot it! Shoot it! I have 2nd gen. Colts that I shoot. Bring that gun to life man, let it breath fire and smoke like it was made to do!