Old Colt U.S. stamped Cavalry Single Action Army

[Fred]

Let me post the pictures and then I'll tell where it came from and such. It was made in 1875.

OK, the pistol belongs to a man and wife that my wife and I know. It was inherited from the man's great grandfather who had run off to work on a horse ranch up in Montana or Wyoming at the age of 14. I'm not sure where he got it, but It's intact except for needing a new trigger, trigger/bolt spring, hammer spring, and maybe a new trigger. All small parts.
My wife and I asked them if we could take it to the Antique Road Show Saturday here in Omaha. We'll see what the old Colt is worth. Anyway, it's an early one that could be repaired with not too much expense. Notice the three notches cut with a file next to the bottom back strap screw. Wish it were mine. The man's son's don't care for it and so maybe, when he and his wife need some extra money, They'll be willing to sell it to us.

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Fred]

[Major Tom]

What is the purpose of the metal plate below the cylinder? Great looking pistol! Any other known history about it?

[joem]

Metal plate look like a shim to help hold the cylinder alignment with the barrel. If you replace some parts you may devalue it a bit for collecters.

[Fred]

The cylinder pin is the wrong type, that could be replaced with a correct type and fit and it'd be OK. The hammer spring is busted. Again, that could be replaced as well as a trigger and cylinder bolt and trigger/bolt spring. It also needs a new cylinder pin retaining screw. Those pieces are all small and often replaced with little effect on the value of these old U.S. Cavalry Colts. I don't think that any knowledgeable collector would turn his nose up at this Colt. Some might try to convince the owner who they want to buy it from that their Colt wasn't worth much.
One guy on the Colt Forum tried to convince me that the Colt was actually a piece of Junk that should be hung on a wall. Ha!

[Fred]

What is the purpose of the metal plate below the cylinder? Great looking pistol! Any other known history about it?

The owners great grandfather had gone to work on the Martin Ranch in Western Nebraska at the age of 11. His uncle or some other relative owned the ranch. That's all that I know about it.

[Fred]

Here's a a link to The Colt Forum where I've posted a thread about this Colt. Lots of interest there. Read everything posted so far. It's quite interesting.

http://www.coltforum.com/forums/single-action-army/98769-attic-condition-u-s-colt.html

[musketshooter]

You have a very valuable gun that is worthy of professional restoration to shooting condition. I would not refinish it, just make it workable.

[70ish]

It's just an opinion, but you can fix a piece any time, but you can't unfix it ever again. There's still a lot to learn about this wonderful piece and I think you still have places to go and people to see before you decide whether to fix or not to fix. It's already been in this condition for over a hundred years. As a collector, I wouldn't touch it. If you want a working pistol, buy a replica. If you fix this one, you will, at best, have a working pistol that may still risk catastrophic failure each time it is shot. And, it will just be another old SAA. As it is now its trying to tell you its own, unique history. Try to listen.

If you ever contact the appraiser again, you might want to ask him what you should use as "insurance value". That's dealer speak for an approximate, retail price they would ask if it were their's. I'm guessing that his number that he gave you is what he thinks it could bring at an auction which are most frequently attended by dealers.

This is a wonderful piece and it's character sets apart from most of the others. Thanks for sharing!!

[Fred]

Thanks 70ish. Some Excellent advice to follow!

[70ish]

The cylinder pin is the wrong type, that could be replaced with a correct type and fit and it'd be OK. The hammer spring is busted. Again, that could be replaced as well as a trigger and cylinder bolt and trigger/bolt spring. It also needs a new cylinder pin retaining screw. Those pieces are all small and often replaced with little effect on the value of these old U.S. Cavalry Colts. I don't think that any knowledgeable collector would turn his nose up at this Colt. Some might try to convince the owner who they want to buy it from that their Colt wasn't worth much.
One guy on the Colt Forum tried to convince me that the Colt was actually a piece of Junk that should be hung on a wall. Ha!

The screws for the trigger, the cylinder stop and the hammer already look newer than those for the frame and backstop. It sounds like you have already checked the trigger and trigger spring and the cylinder stop, but if you haven't yet inspected the internals, you may find that those parts are also replaced. If so, it would be a bit of a flag for a collector. He/She may want to know when, why, and by whom, etc. If the original parts are not in the pistol, it means more questions. All are reasons to proceed slowly, one step at a time. Eventually you will reach a point from which you can make a decision that seems right.

One of the comments on the Colt forum, I think, indicated that the hand, if missing, is not available as a replacement. That's not altogether true. Replacements are available, but very hard to fit properly.