Anyone know anything about Blaclpowder Colts?

[Balkandom]

Hey all, I just came into possession of these, looking for a little bit of background, I figured here would be the place to ask!

Here is the first:

http://i49.tinypic.com/ne4hs.jpg

That's all I have of it. The cylinder and frame are serial numbered 116xxx, and the top of the barrel reads "Address Col Sam Colt New York U.S. America. It appears to be .44 Caliber. Is it worth restoring? The mechanism, though a bit out of time, still works good, and the rifling in the batrrel is still very decent.

Here is the second:


http://i50.tinypic.com/ml4cnp.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/5u1si1.jpg

It also has the Col Sam Colt marking, the serial number is 72xx L. The interior of the barrel is polygonal and it looks about like a .36 caliber.

I would appreciate any guidance you folk could provide. IF you want, post here, or my email is Balkandom@yahoo.com.

Thank you in advance,

Mike

[375RUGER]

Dang that's a big revolver. Or do you have little feet?:kidding:

[Ragnarok]

Colt Navy model..or 1851 Navy..or 'belt model' revolver is what the first revolver is.

The second Colt is a 1855 'Root model'..my guess is it is a .31 caliber..the Navy Colt is a .36

[waksupi]

Don't try to "fix" them. Leave the patina as-is. "Restoring" them will take away much of their value.

[TNFrank]

First one would be a '51 Navy in Army caliber if it's truly a 44., the second one is a Root Revolver, they were made in London, England and are normally .31 caliber but you really need to check the cylinder I.D. with some calipers to be sure.
Looks like you're missing some parts on both guns, probably wouldn't do much to em', might hurt the value. If anything just some oil on some 0000 steel wool(4 ought, non-scratching) so it'll just take off the surface rust but not anything else. Just go easy on it. Not trying to get down to bare metal or anything.
IIRC I thought I remember reading about Colt never making a '51 with a brass backstrap but I'd have to look the info up to be sure. Maybe it was just the London Address models that had the steel backstraps. Also check to see if the cylinder on the Navy has little pins between the nipples, they were there on the originals so you could put the hammer down on em' and it not slip to a chamber with a cap on it. That way you could safely load all six. Reproductions generally don't have those although IIRC there was some Uberti's that did.
Anyway, nice find there pard.
http://www.coltcollectors.com/models/04-5b-050.shtml
http://www.coltcollectors.com/models/05-5b-064.shtml

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m167/tharmsen/Forums/guns/Board%20Pics/colt_cylinder.jpg

[MtGun44]

Cleaning with 0000 or at MOST 000 steel wool and oil, nothing harsher, and fitting new
parts will not diminish the value, or at least not significantly. Replica parts should be
easily obtained, but may require a very skilled gunsmith to fit properly. MANY replicas
have been made and if they closely follow the original dimensions, replica parts will be easy.
Any aggressive cleaning or refinishing substantially or even massively decreases the
value of these kind of guns.

First one looks like a 1851 Navy, which should take a .375 ball as a tight jam fit in the
front of the cylinder, not .44 cal if an original Colt Navy. Shooting is possible with
black powder if inspected and found to be structurally sound. Rust in critical places can
compromise these guns significantly. NEVER use any kind of modern smokeless powders
as the guns cannot stand the pressures. Black powder or BP substitutes only, and soft
lead round balls were the norm. Shooting with BP requires thorough cleaning and lubing
since BP is very corrosive and will rapidly ( a day or two in some climates) completely
destroy the rifling or other fine details if not cleaned correctly.

Second is a Colt Root 1855, by photos I have seen. I know very little about these, but they
are much rarer guns than the 51 Navy. Speculate that parts will be impossible on the second
one.

Bill

[TNFrank]

Dixie Gun Works use to have many old, original parts for many different guns in stock. You might give them a try for any parts you need. Better to get the old, original part if you can then an Italian repro part.