Turn of the Century Colts?

[yahoody]

I am a big fan of "turn of the previous Century", Colts.  My grand Father's Colt is from 1911.  I have a few I really enjoy.  Anyone else into shooting the older Colts?

1904 FSS


1901 38wcf

[Abilene]

I've posted these before.  The 7 1/2" 45 Colt is a 1901 model and left the factory as a 4 3/4" 38-40.  It would be wild if this was part of a matched pair with yours!  (s/n is 2110xx).  I've put almost 2900 rounds through it, mostly at CAS matches.  Not really sure how well it groups.    But a lot of clean matches (a lot easier today than it used to be).

The long-flute 32-20 from 1915 belongs to my brother, but he has never shot it.  I've put over 1000 rounds through it.

I shoot the two together about once a year now, and the .45 will get shot at least once more with a Cimarron antique model that looks the same.

Yahoody, the top one appears to be ivory.  What is the second one?  Looks good.  What does "FSS" mean?  I know it's not Factory Short Stroke. 

[yahoody]

Nice!

Frontier Six Shooter,  aka 44 WCF from Colt.

Yes it is ivory.   Bone on the other.

[DeaconKC]

My 1905 Bisley in .38WCF, still shoots nice!
https://i.imgur.com/8hkTktI.jpg

[hrt4me]

@yahoody, what loads are you firing in your 1904 FSS ?

[yahoody]

200 gr lead and 8.0gr of Unique

[mtmarfield]

      Greetings!

   Using BP handloads, I once shot my Colt's 1902 Philippine DAA .45. It shot rather well!

                    M.T.M.

[Baltimore Ed]

I've used the top two when I was dressed in my Span Am outfit. Nice .38 civilian Colts from the 1890s. Atrocious trigger pulls though.

[Niederlander]

A friend of mine had at least a dozen (probably more like two dozen) early double action Colts, which he very graciously allowed me to shoot.  All had very nice single action pulls.  All had equally bad double action pulls.  You could tell Colt really wasn't planning on anyone SHOOTING those things double action!

[LongWalker]

Got to play with three '73Ps (all in 45 Colt) in a Ransom rest today: one BP frame, one late 1st gen, 1 2nd gen.  Accuracy was . . . well, mediocre, with BP factory-equivalent loads, but it was interesting.  Cylinder throat diameters were all over from .4508"-.457", but no thread choke (a definite plus).  If one would have had consistent cylinder throat diameters I'd probably have a "new" pistol.  But it was fun!

[Fox Creek Kid]

Yes, but it opens up Pandora's Box on using smokeless in those not VP proofed as I see here.

[yahoody]

Yes, but it opens up Pandora's Box on using smokeless in those not VP proofed as I see here.

Old adage was anything past serial number 192000 was safe with smokeless.  Other than the fact Colt didn't start proof stamping guns till around 1906.     If you cna show me a VP gun prior to 1906 that is not a rebuild please do.  Shooting the thin walled 45s with smokeless at your own peril (and the gun's)  if it isn't VP proof marked.  But then Colt would also proof marked older guns at times, built prior to 1900, if they were being rebuilt at the factory.  Any number those around and almost always in 45.

I shoot a few early 1900 Colts with smokeless but none of them in 45 Colt.  44wcf, 38wcf and 32wcf all shoot a lighter bullet and have more steel in the cylinders.  It helps.   They are the better bet if you want to shoot smokeless in a gun built after 1900 and prior to a VP, proof stamp.     

Guns shown (left top to bottom and then right top to bottom) are a 1892, 1899, 1900, 1901,1902, 1904, 1909, 1912. Calibers are .32 WCF. 38wcf, .41 Colt, 44wcf, 45 Colt. Grips range from old ivory, old and new pearl, old bone, new wood and Colt hard rubber.

[Niederlander]

I shoot an 1894 Frontier Six Shooter with a 3rd Generation cylinder installed regularly.  I don't hotrod it by any means, but it's a great shooter.

[yahoody]

Good call Sir!

I have spec cut 2nd Gen cylinders for my oldest 45s.  Although a loose throat 3d Gen would be better if I thought about it.  And I use a new 3rd in 38wcf cylinder that I run as well in my older 38s.

For the little money involved there is no reason to risk the older guns.

[yahoody]

A pair of 45s.  From 1892 and 1905.
I find that most of my old Colt's shoot better than expected over a sandbag rest.  These were black powder loads from 20 yards out of the 1892 gun.   Have yet to shoot the 1905 gun.




6 rounds into te right his target, with the orange dot the POA.  POI just a tiny bit higher. Perfect for 20 yards.  Nice but also not abnormal with the right ammo and bullet dia.  I was so excited after
that 6 that the right target didn't fare as well.  Still, good enough.

[Darto]

I was reading on internet couple weeks ago that James Arness in Gunsmoke used a Colt from the 1890's instead of a modern Great Western clone. It sold after he died and was in the auction description.

[470Evans]

I enjoy shooting my 1906 Frontier Six Shooter.

[Professor Marvel]

Would a 1903 in .32 acp count ?

[Abilene]

Would a 1903 in .32 acp count ?

It does fit the definition. 

[cpt dan blodgett]

I've used the top two when I was dressed in my Span Am outfit. Nice .38 civilian Colts from the 1890s. Atrocious trigger pulls though.

My 1914 New Service may have a better feeling trigger pull than my S&W Military & Police of 1941-2 origin.  The colt feels longer and lighter while the S&W feels a bit heavier but shorter.  My 400Kish serial numbered Victory model seems to be a bit smoother and lighter than the 41-42 gun and is better for me than the New Service.  One day I may come off the dimes necessary to get a trigger pull guage.