The THR Walker Club

[MBB]

The Colt Walker is heavy, off balanced, hard to hold steady with one hand, and an American icon. I love 'em, and no self respecting Texican or wannabe Ranger should be without one. Just found this thread and am delighted to be amongst kindred souls. I have a Uberti and intend to buy another very soon.
There's a Walker story that I heard some years ago, and if it's not true then it ought to be. There were some modern day buckskinners from NW Montana who used to go into the Sierra Madres in northern Mexico every year to do gratis medical, hygiene, and dental services for the Tarahumara Indians. This was in the mid-1970's In return they traded for "old stuff" suitable for the fur trade genre or cowboy days. Anyway, as the story goes, this group of mountaineers rode into a Tarahumara village tucked away in one of those deep and foreboding canyons. As they rode in, one of them noticed a scraggly old rooster tethered to a rusty and dust covered revolver. Upon closer examination it was see to be a Colt Walker revolver. The cylinder was frozen in rust, the grips were essentially gone, and the loading rammer was in the half dropped position. So, the mountain man set out to trade for the revolver, but the Tarahumara brave wouldn't part with the rooster. He didn't care about the Walker, but he damn sure wanted to be paid for the chicken. So a deal was struck to buy the chicken for a couple of dollars and the Colt Walker was thrown into the trade. The revolver was marked with "Co. D" Like I said, if it's not true, it should be. The story was told around the campfire one night on the banks of the North Fork of the Flathead River by a dentist from Polson, Montana who was there.

 

[SixtyGrains]

Yes, indoor range that one, but I shoot her outdoors too, to 100 yards.

Indoor, I tend to fire every other detail, so as to allow the extractors to work and give the other shooters a chance to breath - their nerves are already jangled up with the booms...

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

Sixty,
It is fun to shoot the revolver in a low light or no light condition. If you could get away with that at the indoor range, that would really rattle some nerves...

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

MBB,
Post a photo of your revolver to get the official 'stamp' of approval. They are too cool not to share.

 

[MBB]

This is my Walker Colt, currently with the conversion cylinder in use. These photos were taken Saturday afternoon on the banks of the Yellowstone River opposite the mouth of the Powder River. Lots of history at this spot; Lewis and Clark; Custer and Terry; Gus and Woodrow

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

Great photo. I like the background too.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

A tale of two repro Walkers

These are two Walkers I acquired in the past few months from local sources.

They are both ASMs from the 70's or theraabouts. The cased one is a Whittington Arms Texas Mounted Volunteers commemorative with cylinder in the white with Colt's Patent marks, as were the originals issued at Vergara in Oct. 1847. The other with the blued cylinder gas the Colt's Patent cylinder markings as well as Colt NY barrel marks.

 

[MBB]

A nice pair of Walker's there Bandera. Don't see many of the Texas Volunteer issue on the market.
I really get a kick out of your quote about cold camping on the Pinta Trail. It's been a long time since I saw reference to that Hill Country road way.

Must be a good history book devoted to the Walker Colt. any ideas?

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Thanks pard
I have been fascinated with the history of the Whitneyville Walker Colts and the Rangers since I read my ggggpaws journal years ago and found his will where he requested that the Walker he carried with him during and after the Mexican War and his subsequent trip to the California gold fields be buried with him.

Here are the same two revolvers in double cross draw shoulder holster rig.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

Mbb
Do a search for Lt. Col. RL Whittington US Army Ordnace Ret. He self published a number
of books, papers, and monographs on the topic. I have several of these in my
library. One of the most interesting references he used was Colts Own Record by Parsons, 1949, as well
as Army Ordnance records of that period.

 

[MBB]

That's a wonderful piece of your family history. Lots of 49'ers headed to California on that Pinta Trail, or so I've read.

I've been in Montana for over 40 years, but you know, you can take the boy out of Texas, but you can never take Texas out of the boy. All my family roots are tied to the Red River and run back to the Civil War. I've never been able to tie any of them to the Rangers, but I know they spent some scouting time on the Llano chasing Quanah's Quahaddi Comanche.

I will research the references that you've listed. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

The best of Whittingtons publications on the Walker Colt is Whiittongtons
"The Colt Whitneyville-Walker Pistol". Some very interesting and controversial
info, like Jack Hays's Rangers being chosen by the powers to be as
as the best candidates for first use of the Walkers, as opposed to Walkers own Co. C
USMR for which he and Colt originally designed the Walker for and the fact that
Walker was arrested for a month before his death by his commanding col
in the USMR. He had been trying to go to Vera Cruz to get his Co
C pistols, but his commander wouldnt allow him. Incidentally this happened while he was
stationed at the Castle Perote where he was imprisoned
during the ill fated Mier expedition.

 

[MBB]

So far Amazon is the only source I've found on the net for Whittington's book on the Walker. Range is anywhere from $300 to $1500+.............so the search will continue. I like to read, but that's getting beyond my choke point.

 

[Honest John]

In January 2011 I got a copy from Gun Show Books (www.gunshowbooks.com) for $45. I remember it seemed like a great bargain at the time. Good luck and happy Walker shooting!

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

I bought the Whittington cased commemorative for a little more than I should have at the best local gunstore in Austin and it included the book numbered to the sn of the Walker. probably paíd than I should have, but I compared the fit and finish directly to a 2nd Gen. Colt Walker and dang if the ASM didn't look better especially with the cylinder in the white like the originals.

I picked up the second ASM of the same period to try my hand at some defarbing and antiquing since it has the proper Colt NY address on the barrel as well as the proper Colts patent lettering on the cylinder. I was considering burnishing the ASM marks from under the barrel, swapping out the cylinders, etc. to create my own replica of Walkers own long lost sn 1019, but with the 1020 cylinder....my own little fantasy piece, especially if I ordered one of Bills vintage custom double pistol cases to display it in.

 

[irish plumber]

It's a social thing

Thought I would snap Mr Walker mingling with some of his friends.
Can you sign me up as a member of the club, please?

 

[forward observer]

sign me up too

I guess as a new member here I need to sign up for the Walker club.

I just bought this little beauty on Gunbroker.com last Thursday.

It's a Colt 3rd gen (Signature series) cased with 3rd Gen accoutrements. I don't think that French fitted case was made by Colt, but it looks more authentic than any of the "signature" line of cases ever looked.





I should have it in by the middle of next week.

Cheers

 

[Berkley]

That casing is a reproduction of the only known original cased Walker, a civilian model.

 

[forward observer]

Hi Berkley,

Thanks for picture and the background info. I got lucky to find a set
that copies one that actually existed. Now I have to decide if I want to
de-blue the cylinder.

Cheers

 

[elhombreconnonombre]

So Berkley we News to meet up at at an outdoor range sometime and shoot some bp iron.

 

[Berkley]

Sounds like fun. Do you know any BP-friendly ranges that are close to Austin?

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

FO,
I really like that cased Walker! Good find on your part.

 

[forward observer]

Thanks, DoubleDeuce,

Not only is it cased, but the seller is also sending all the factory boxes that the gun and accessories were in. I would have preferred a 2nd Gen, but they get real pricey and are way too valuable to shoot.

In fact because this one is unfired with all the factory stuff, it may go in the gun safe.

Consequently, I am now looking for a nice Uberti Walker or the like to actually take out and shoot. I had to do this also for my 2nd gen , Navy, Army, and 3rd Dragoon.

I think I may qualify as cap and ball crack addict now.

Cheers

 

[DoubleDeuce 1]

FO,
You're not alone regarding the addict thing.

 

[Steven Youngblood]

same here, but with all guns.