Value of 45ACP Colt target revolver

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bofe954

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I saw an unusual Colt revolver today, I didn't get a chance to handle it so my description will be a little vague. I may check it out again tomorrow.

It was labeled 45ACP target revolver. In a bag next to it were some moon clips. It had a long pencil barrel, probably 8 inches or so. The ejector was not shrouded. The frame and the cylinder latch looked similar to every other colt I have seen. It had large thumb rest grips which may not have been factory- no colt medallion on the cylinder release side. I couldn't see the other side.

Blueing was very nice, but it had some noticeable wear, front sight didn't have much left, and the front of the frame was pretty bare too.

It was $599.00, any thoughts? Someone on this board will probably produce a picture of theirs. I am off to google.
 
I've seen one. Maybe....It was about 40 years ago and belonged to an ex-bullseye shooter. The one I saw was supposedly built by Bob Day who was then working with the USAF MTU at Lackland AFB in San Antonio. What makes this stick out in my memory was the double action mechanism was modified to fully index the cylinder with the trigger pull, but would NOT bring the hammer back to full cock.
The shooter would then bring the hammer back to full cock with the thumb for single action fire in the Timed and Rapid fire portions of Outdoor Pistol.

It was in 45 ACP and certainly didn't have a thin barrel.

Plese bear in mind though that this was about 40 years or so ago, and my memory, as well as other stuff, ain't what it used to be.

salty.
 
Couldn't find anything on google, yet. Looked through my Colt book, nada.

Maybe it was custom, blueing looked consistent though. I'll check it out again tomorrow. Kind of looked like the "new service" models in the Colt book.
 
A .45 ACP Colt DA revolver would surely have to be a New Service or the closely related and very scarce Shooting Master.

Sights, not aftermarket grips, would tell whether it was a New Service Target or Shooting Master.

$599 would seem a decent price for any New Service in decent shape.
Be sure it is not a 1917 USGI. Prices are up but I don't think that would be a bargain for a surplus gun even yet.
 
I found some pics of new service targets and that is it. I am wondering if it has been reblued. The blueing looks like good python blueing. It is deep, very blue and you can tell the metal underneath had to be real smooth before blueing. No way it could be a service revolver, especially with the long barrel.

How would I know if it was a Shooting Master? I saw pics of the new service target sights (front elevation adjustable, rear windage adjustable). How are the Shooting Master's different?
 
Shooting Master was standard with 6" barrel. It had a slightly rounded butt and a smooth cylinder latch. Sights were the same as New Service Target.

New Service Target was standard with 7 1/2" barrel but 6" was available on order. Most have square butts but rounded was available on order. Sights were the same as Shooting Master, a windage adjustable rear, elevation adjustable front... usually.

If it does not have adjustable sights it is a New Service.

The easy way to identify it is to read the roll mark on the barrel.
 
I picked it up. Probably paid too much. May have extensive refinishing as it really has no roll marks.

Maybe a police positive target or something?

I think regardless of value it will be an interesting revolver to have for awhile and I bet I could get rid of it for what I paid, if not now then later, but who knows. The good side of it not having huge collector value is that I can see how it shoots.

It was actually cheaper than my 625 and although less practical (I won't be slapping it in a holster for an IPSC match anytime soon) it is a better conversation piece and a lot more interesting to look at (and shoot).

When I measure the barrel from the cylinder gap (very little gap) it is a little less than 8 inches. So it must be the 7.5 inch?

Seems to pass the March test. Cylinder doesn't move after the hammer is dropped. Barrel looks real clean.

Trigger and hammer are knurled. Trigger almost looks like it was done by hand.

It does have an adjustable rear sight but the front is fixed. I am not sure it could be adjusted for elevation. Rear sight could have been added?

Double action pull is short and a little heavy and it is a LONG reach to the trigger. Single action pull doesn't need much more than a thought.

Serial # (on crane and frame) is 492XX if that means anything to anybody.

The only other stamp I can see is an A.C. on the right side just visible above the grip.

Grips off it is possible the gun had a lanyard. Maybe a 1917 GI rebarreled, reblued?

So...How bad did I get took Watson? If it's real bad maybe PM me...:(

Some not very good pics-
 

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To start out with, it's not original. The front sight (and probably the barrel) are not factory. Even enhancing the photos, I can't tell if that's a factory rear sight or if it was added later.

I suspect this is a gunsmith special -- an M1917 that has been rebarreled, a rear sight added, and reblued. You paid a bit more than I would have, but what the heck, you still have a fine old revolver and it ought to shoot like nobody's business.
 
That's kind of what I was thinking. I think the rear sight may be an add on. It is screwed on to the top strap. It is done nicely. I wonder if the A.C. is the smith?
 
Rear sight looks like a King's adjustable, front sight might well be a King's plain ramp.
The shoulder on the barrel is not Colt's contour. So the length is what was put on, not a 7 1/2" done wrong. Check the sight radius and the barrel + cylinder length. The NRA maximum for both was 10".

Conclusion: A nice old gunsmith job of building a target revolver. I don't know who A.C. was but he likely did the work.

When you take off the grips, look at the butt of the gun and see if it has military markings for a Model 1917. If not it is a commercial New Service. A Police Positive is a MUCH smaller frame, not made in any caliber above .38.

I saw one similar in a store last year for nearly double the price, you did OK.
 
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