The Colt Cowboy .45 caliber LC

Cyrille · June 09, 2006, 07:57:55 AM

It looks as though I may be buying a "Colt Cowboy" in the very near future, maybe even today 06/09/06 for $600.00 American. Does this particular revolver have anything to recomend me laying out that amount of cash other than the name "Colt" ? I've heard both good and bad things about this particular model. I know too that Colt has long ceased production on this model. I've also heard that this "Colt" while the genuine article, was actually produced in Europe; in what is now the Chech(sp?) Republic. Any information on this gun will be appreciated.

Camille Eonich · June 09, 2006, 09:13:27 AM

Cyrille here's another post on the colt cowboy that may have something that you can use in it.

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,6826.0.html

Driftwood Johnson · June 09, 2006, 02:20:12 PM

The Colt Cowboy earned a very bad reputation when it first came out, for quality issues. I believe in later production, a lot of these issues were rectified, but by then the reputation had stuck, and they eventually went out of production. One shooter I know was shooting a pair in 45 Colt last year. He was very happy with them. I did not get a chance to shoot them, but I was at least able to handle them and work the actions. They seemed fine to me.

But they were selling for around $600 when new, if I recall correctly. That sounds kind of high for a used one. Just because they have the name Colt on them, they don't appreciate in value like a SAA does. The demand is not very high and they depreciate in value like most other used guns do.

Arcey · June 09, 2006, 04:13:56 PM

Thought ya said ya were on a fixed income 'n couldn't afford a new scale. Now yer thinkin' of spendin' six yards on a low quality pistol?

quote:

"I'm on a fixed income and will just have to make do with what I have until I at least finish paying for my Henry BB and the mule-eared shotgun and the Walker /Colt one more payment on the Henry and then the shotgun and perhaps around Christmas the Walker. But most of that is contengent on whether we survive hurricane season."

Cyrille · June 09, 2006, 10:06:44 PM

I am on a fixed income, as for the scale---I checked my "Pacific balance scale" a division of Hornaday against my nephew's RCBS balance scale and both measured the exact same weight with the powder I use for my reloads, so I decided that buying a new scale wasn't a priority. I stay between the lower and upper limits of the recomended powder charge for the bullet weight that I'm loading. As for the Colt Cowboy revolver I will have a chance to fire it and use it as much as I want before buying and do not have to make the first payment for 90 days (no intrest or carrying charges) and then I'll only have to pay a minimum of $100.00 a month if I decide to keep it. As some who have answered my inquiry have stated they like their cowboy and have had no problems with it. I still plan on getting the Walker around the holidays and the shotgun also if I can swing it! So If the cowboy is as you say it is then I have lost nothing and got to 'play' with a Colt for 3 months with only buying or reloading the bullets for it. Besides I seem to remember you answering a statement of mine compairing Ruger's NV to Colt by saying They ain't bulit like Colts, they don't look like Colts etc. Which I took to mean that in your opinion nothing compaired to a Colt and now you're saying that the Colt cowboy is unworthy of it's name! Je nas comprend pas I don't understand your reasoning. Granted the cowboy was manufactured in Europe but then so are most of the 'clones' that a lot of people in Cascity would swear by. and it is a Colt product and not a 'clone'

RRio · June 10, 2006, 02:17:30 AM

As a former owner of a Colt Cowboy, let me say this:

Do yourself a big favor and use that money on a USFA Rodeo. It's a far superior gun, and should you ever need to replace any parts, you'll not have any problem getting them from USFA.
The inner workings of a Cowboy are different enough from other single actions that you could have a problem if you ever need parts for it. When I checked on a bolt for my Cowboy a couple 3 years ago, the CS rep at Colt told me that they only had 3 left at that time.

Don't mean to rain on your parade, just my 2¢ worth.

RRio

Arcey · June 10, 2006, 02:20:57 AM

Oh my, Cyrille. Are we cross?

Cyrille · June 10, 2006, 07:38:39 AM

Quote from: Arcey on June 10, 2006, 02:20:57 AM
Oh my, Cyrille. Are we cross?

No, not cross or angry or P.O'd or anything of the sort just can't figure out your reasoning processes. I think we could be pards if we both wanted to and gave it a try but you're hard to understand.

Missouri Marshal · June 10, 2006, 12:13:35 PM

Thank God Rugers ain't Colts! History aside Rugers are tougher and more reliable.

Cyrille · June 10, 2006, 01:38:14 PM

Yes indeed, I have three Rugers and enjoy them emenisly[sp?] On a scale rated 1 to 10 for s-- and 1 to 10 for Ruger shooting---10 being the acme and 1 being the lowest, Ruger shooting rates #9 behind s-- and horsebackridiing #7 behind #8 mountain biking.
#1 is not being able to shoot my Rugers when I want to.

Driftwood Johnson · June 13, 2006, 03:17:54 PM

QuoteDoes this particular revolver have anything to recomend me laying out that amount of cash other than the name "Colt" ?

Let me attempt to answer that question this way. A few years ago Volkswagon introduced a new model car that they called the Beetle, or maybe the New Beetle. It is a thinly veiled attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the old beetle that has not been produced for many years. The New Beetle looks vaguely like the old beetle in that it has a similar round shape. That's where the similarity ends. The old beetle had a tiny little rear mounted air cooled engine and rear wheel drive. The new one has a highly efficient front mounted water cooled modern engine and front wheel drive. There's probably lots of other differences too. When you get right down to it, except for a superficial resemblance to the shape of the old beetle, they really don't have anything to do with each other, other than they share the name Volkswagon. Yet people seem to be buying them because they somehow think they are getting a piece of the nostalgia of the old beetle.

I submit to you it is the same situation with the Colt SAA and the Colt Cowboy. They both will shoot, and if you get one made after the QC problems were cleared up the Cowboy is probably a well made reliable gun. But it is not the same as a SAA by any stretch of the imagination. The parts inside are totally different, none of them will fit in a SAA, the frame is totally different, in short, it is a completely different gun. It just kind of looks like a SAA. No collector will be interested in the Colt Cowboy, and it will never appreciate in value like a SAA will. Is the SAA a better gun than the Cowboy? Probably not. When you get right down to it, the SAA is a very old design and is prone to some parts breaking and wearing out easily. The new Beetle is undoubtably a better car than the old one ever was. But no collector will ever be interested in one. There are legions of collectors for the old beetles. Anybody who buys a new beetle because he thinks he is buying a piece of the past is just kidding himself.

I'm not saying that you should be buying a gun to be collectable. You clearly want a shooter. But you sound like you also want a piece of history. There is something intangeable about the SAA that does not transfer over to the Colt Cowboy. That is why it is the most sought after collectable gun in history. You can't build in collectability just like no real coin collector wants a Franklin Mint 'collectable' anything. You just can't build it in.

Unfortunately, the mystique of the Colt name will not transfer over to the Colt Cowboy. I have a bunch of Colt DA revolvers, and not one of them commands the collectability or the aura of the SAA. It's the same with the Cowboy. If you are buying it so that you can have a Colt, you would probably be better off buying an old Colt Police Positive, or a Detective Special, or an Official Police, or a 1917. Those are great old Colt guns. Or a Python. There's a collectable and highly prized Colt. But the Cowboy will always be an also ran compared to them. And $600 really is too much for a gun that sold for that much to begin with and has not appreciated one bit since it was made.

I just ran a quick check over on GunBroker.com. There's a Cowboy over there right now going for $400. That sounds about right. Look for yourself. There's several more going for $800 and $900. But the dealer is making a big deal about the fact that there were only a few made and he's trying to make it sound like they are very desirable and rare. If he sells them for those prices I have a bridge in Brooklynn I would be glad to sell to the same guys. They just don't command that kind of value.

If you want to buy the Cowboy because of the name Colt, it's up to you. If I was you, I would look into a USFA Rodeo instead for about the same money. It's a much better gun.

Cyrille · June 13, 2006, 05:19:04 PM

I like your analogy Mr. Driftwood, as I wrote Arcey, I have a ninty day 'trial period' in which I get to keep the 'Cowboy' for that period of time and use it as much as I want, no strings attached. If I decide to buy it I have another ninty days to pay for it, no intrest or carrying charges. If I don't want it I simply give it back to the owner[but if I do return it a box of .45 caliber long colt will accompany it.] No papers other than owner/regristation papers. This is a handshake agreement where one's word is one's bond.

Driftwood Johnson · June 14, 2006, 10:00:20 AM

I can't see how paying too much over 90 days is any better than paying too much all at once, but it's your money. I've stated all I know about the subject.

St. George · June 14, 2006, 10:42:33 AM

Entering into the fray for a moment...

Driftwood's comments are right on the money.

The Colt Cowboy was an attempt to help the Czech firearms manufacturing business and put out a low-cost revolver with the 'name' to compete with the Vaquero.

It didn't work - largely because of those differences cited earlier.

Think of it this way.

In the military surplus game - there are 'GI-Issue' and 'Original GI' products - and then there are 'GI Type'.

One's real - the other's a look-alike.

The Cowboy's a look-alike - and this one's overpriced, to boot.

Colt Blackpowder Arms has the same identity crisis happening with the 'Signature Series' of percussion guns - they're 'licensed' by Colt - but Colt's only real involvement with the resurrection of the percussion line was in the 'Second Generation' guns.

If you can pay that amount - put the money into a safe place and save up.

With some judicious trading and a bit of luck - you can connect with a 'real' Colt that you can shoot and that will actually rise in value.

If you like the caliber - 'real' Colt SAA's in .357 don't command much of a price when compared to those in .44 and .45 - so get one this year and re-barrel next year and you'll still be money ahead.

Look for such a piece in a shop that caters primarily to the 'Black Gun' crowd - those guys who love Glocks and various AR's.
A Single Action won't have the same 'sales appeal' to them and often the owner wants to get it moving down the road.

Scouts Out!

Cyrille · June 14, 2006, 04:02:12 PM

Quote from: Driftwood Johnson on June 14, 2006, 10:00:20 AM
I can't see how paying too much over 90 days is any better than paying too much all at once, but it's your money. I've stated all I know about the subject.

I might just do that Mr. Driftwood but I feel that I have to go through with my part of the agreement---at least partly, there's nothing that says I have to keep for the full trial period. It is already" in my hand," so to speak, so I'll try it and see if I like it.
But to tell the truth, the preponderance of the opinions solicited thus far are of a negitive nature; gives a body something to mull over. Thanks.

E.R.Beaumont · June 15, 2006, 01:14:05 AM

Howdy Pards and Pardettes.

Cy, Pard I ain't gonna tell you anything negitive about the Colt Cowboy, cause I don't know anything about them. What I will tell you is that there are several brands of firearms out there that are the same as the Cowboys. That is, pistols that have transfer bars, will hold 6 rounds safely, and look sorta like a SAA. They are all in curent production, which means that parts are available. And all of them cost less than $600.00 NEW.

Those are Ruger, Taurus, and Beretta I have Berettas, a pair of nickel plated 7 1/2" .44Winchester Central Fire Stampedes. I have Rugers, a pair of SS 4 5/8" .45 Colt Vaqureos. I don't have New Vaqureos, or Black Hawks. I don't have a Taurus Gaucho, yet, but I do have a T'bolt. If the Grouchos are as nicely built and put togeather, they are well worth the money.

There also used to be adaquate pistols imported by the guys that used to import the Russian Bikael shotguns. I don't know if they are still in business, but if they are these pistols are also much less than $600.00. Oh ya, EAA Bounty Hunter.

And lastly, when you ask for opinions and they are all the same, maybe they are right. Everyone has told you that the gun ain't worth that much. But you just don't seem to hear them, what everyone has said is. Give the gun back to whom ever gave it to you and thank them very much for their kind offer.

That is all I think I know.
Regards, Beaumont

Cyrille · June 15, 2006, 07:06:49 AM

Thank you Mr. Beaumont, I apprecate your input. You gentlemen have reversed my orginal plan to purchase the "Cowboy", I will return the revolver, but since I still have it for the weekend I'll go ahead and shoot it just so I can say I did. One thing that I really found uncomfortable already is that the hammer spur scrapes my thumb joint where the thumb joins the hand when I 'dryfire' it with dummy rounds and I have to curl my pinkie beneath the grip as it will not fit onto the grip itself. But I still want to see how it shoots. To quote a line from the movie"Dirty Harry"--- "I gots to know."

Driftwood Johnson · June 15, 2006, 04:21:38 PM

I think you will find that most shooters who shoot a SAA or any copy of it curl their pinky under the grip. I certainly do. The grip is too small for most men to cram their entire hand onto. Allowing my pinky to curl under the grip, helps control recoil. The 'plowhandle' grip does not rotate as much when stopped by the pinky. The other little known benefit is that if you keep your pinky off of the grip, AND hold a little bit low on the grip, you open up about 1/4" of space between the knuckle of your middle finger and the rear of the trigger guard. This prevents the trigger guard from smacking your knuckle with even the heaviest recoiling loads. Once you start to expect to have your knuckles rapped, you will start flinching.

Cyrille · June 19, 2006, 04:30:07 PM

Mr. Driftwood:
That's why I like my 'old style' Roogers!!! My hand fits the handle or should be ---the handle fits my hand

Driftwood Johnson · June 21, 2006, 09:26:22 AM

I grip my 'old style' Vaqueros with my pinky curled under the grip on them too. That is the grip I prefer. Even with a Vaquero, I find my hand is too cramped to try and cram it entirely onto the grip. And this way, as I mentioned, my knuckle never gets slapped by the trigger guard. You might want to try it and see if you like it. As I said, you will probably find that most shooters do not try to cram their entire hand onto the grip of a SAA. It's not for want of trying, it just works better that way.