old revolver (colt clone??)

[twotoescharlie]

got this pistol over 50 years ago,sold it about 25 years ago, re.cieved it back today. would like some imformation on it if possible.

looks like an old colt 45.

patent dates Sept.19 1872
July 2, 1872 U.S. on left side of receiver

serial Number 11429 0n frame

51/2 inch barrel

W.C. CO.on barrel in front of cylinder pin.

one chamber has a slight bulge in it.


what have I got?

TTC

[DougGuy]

Pics would be great but sounds like an old black powder Colt. In that serial range and barrel length it would likely be an artillery Colt which were made from shortening 7 1/2" cavalry barrels. Most artillery Colts had mismatched numbers as they were heaped in pieces to be put together in whatever way the armorer's decided. Not a Colt expert but have owned a few old ones, are there any military markings/cartouches on it anywhere?

[MtGun44]

Another call for pix. I think that the Colt patent dates are Sept 19, 1871 (not 1872 - did you misread?)
and July ??, 1972, so this fits (if you misread) with a Colt Single Action Army.

Does it look like this?

http://juliaauctions.net/auctions/view_lot_info.asp?lot=1106-327

Does it have an angled screw in the front of the frame to retain the cylinder pin, or
a spring loaded crosspin? The first kind are blackpowder era guns and the later ones
are smokeless, but I think there is a bit of crossover in this. the one in the link has
the BP screw design, you can barely see the screw head in one pic.

IF a SAA, that SN puts it in 1885 production, that would be a BP gun, should look like the pic.

Depending on age and condition, if a SAA, it may be worth a lot more than you think.
Fairly rough looking but complete and functional SAAs from the first 30-40 yrs of
production often bring a lot these days. Takes a real expert (I am NOT one) to know
what exactly is valuable, but most are not low priced. Bulged cyl sure sucks,
and unfortunately not easily fixable.

I'll give you $500 for it. :bigsmyl2:

Bill

[twotoescharlie]

yes it does have the angled screw holding the cylinder pin

paten t dates sept.19,1871 and july 2,1872 U.S. in caps. really curios as to the W.C. Co. stamped on bottom of barrel ser.no on trigger guard 137924 with the letter K beneath it. I cannot do pictures as Ihave no camera. had a friend turn down a rod to fit cylinder and removed the bulge, it is barely noticeable now. I am 76 years old, former gunsmith,shooter and collector also cast and reload. shooting is getting less and less as I have inoperable cataracts.

TTC

[Dutchman]

Ah ha... the Dutchman strikes again :).

Western Costume Company. A Hollywood movie prop company that supplied all manner of stuff to movie makers. I've seen holsters so marked and mis-identified with this exact mark.

See #051 Trapdoor Springfield with this same marking:
http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/civilwarantiques/cwimages/2010_Catalog_online/CivilWarCatalogpg13-24.pdf

They still exist:
http://www.westerncostume.com/
Been in the business 100 years..
http://www.westerncostume.com/about-us/history

I have no doubt this is the origin of the markings on your Colt. Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley I've seen a lot of movie guns like 20th Century Fox, MGM, Warner, etc.

Holster:

http://www.icollector.com/Western-Costume-Co-gun-rig_i16054543

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=2477
Manufactured by Western Costume Company, Very good condition, stitching is loose on bottom tip plug, with some surface leather flaking and cracking. The belt wire, similar to the M1910 type, has been removed. This Company provided the film industry with props, was closed in 1960 and the inventory liquidated.,

Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms:
http://books.google.com/books?id=THeWYkwoLSUC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=western+costume+company+colt&source=bl&ots=riTmacgawF&sig=3Koz-m7S1qI6RG4nyU0Xb4jAtsA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4aEOUpjeL-7q2wX8yIHICw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=western%20costume%20company%20colt&f=false

Another Colt SAA:
http://historical.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=6081&lotIdNo=19002


Dutch

[mikeym1a]

Ah ha... the Dutchman strikes again :).

Western Costume Company. A Hollywood movie prop company that supplied all manner of stuff to movie makers. I've seen holsters so marked and mis-identified with this exact mark.

See #051 Trapdoor Springfield with this same marking:
http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/civilwarantiques/cwimages/2010_Catalog_online/CivilWarCatalogpg13-24.pdf

They still exist:
http://www.westerncostume.com/
Been in the business 100 years..
http://www.westerncostume.com/about-us/history

I have no doubt this is the origin of the markings on your Colt. Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley I've seen a lot of movie guns like 20th Century Fox, MGM, Warner, etc.

Holster:

http://www.icollector.com/Western-Costume-Co-gun-rig_i16054543

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_info.php?products_id=2477
Manufactured by Western Costume Company, Very good condition, stitching is loose on bottom tip plug, with some surface leather flaking and cracking. The belt wire, similar to the M1910 type, has been removed. This Company provided the film industry with props, was closed in 1960 and the inventory liquidated.,

Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms:
http://books.google.com/books?id=THeWYkwoLSUC&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=western+costume+company+colt&source=bl&ots=riTmacgawF&sig=3Koz-m7S1qI6RG4nyU0Xb4jAtsA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4aEOUpjeL-7q2wX8yIHICw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=western%20costume%20company%20colt&f=false

Another Colt SAA:
http://historical.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=6081&lotIdNo=19002


Dutch

So, is this a 'real' gun, or just a prop to hang on the wall? Curious minds want to know!! :grin:

[Cosmiceyes]

So, is this a 'real' gun, or just a prop to hang on the wall? Curious minds want to know!! :grin:

They are normally real. I was looking at a MGM marked 30-40 Krag(for sale) that while they have it,it is not a shooter,but when returned to the market most are returned to their shooting platform.All action shots on film are not recoil induced,they are actor flinching produced. All the bang bang is added during editing. :)'s