Great Find! - I think.

[James Hunt]

Had about two hours to go to the Mich. Antique Arms show, and it takes 45 min to get there. But it was either that or work in the pasture. Was not looking for anything. But as always happens under that circustance, and at the end of the show day...

I kinda always wanted a Remington, not that I'm any sort of collector because I do like Colts (did like them before you had to take out a 2nd mortgage). But the Beals, Old Model and New Model saw a lot of history and have a very nice appearance. Of course the price on them is going up. Junk seems to start at 700, it works for about 1200-1500, and ya' really want it for about 2100. So I sort of gave up. The first time I past this guy's table I saw the price tag and figured expensive repro what is he thinking, the second time I thought what a really expensive repro, what is that all about. Never bothered to look. End of show passing again and that gun just sorta said take a look. So I took a look. It was the real deal. Somebody appears to have taken a rather nice gun with all the appropriate markings, although top of barrel is pretty thin, even a slight cartouche on the grip, and re-blued it! Probably replaced some screws cause they are not very buggered. Further the guy had left for the day, and the guy at the next table looked at me and send, "he's gotta get $750 for it". The gun was tight. The bore was very good with only very slight almost not noticable pitting, and that check almost wrote itself. The reblue job is not that bad, but it falls short of the term restoration. Serial number range is 56XXX, I was glad to get an authentic Remington New Model that I can shoot.



The image makes the gun look a little better than it actually is, the stain or whatever that is, poor blueing?, on the barrel is only on that side and I'm hoping a little steel wool will take that out. After I bought it I got worried that I just bought an expensive repro that someone had stamped, so went to a couple of "experts" (I'm an expert with your potential purchase, not mine!). Who also said it was the real deal, best sign was one offered to buy it. Took it home, took it apart, got out my books and am satisfied it's real. I can live with the reblue. Now if one of you know's better, tell me to sit down before you begin and start with "we all have made this mistake, it's not your fault".

[James Hunt]

I should add that if this is real and I got a good deal - it is something that NEVER happens to me. I'm the type of guy who usually ends up paying retail plus 10%. Or worse, I once got a great deal on a Colt, problem was it wasn't. Anyone of you guy's want a gun made in Mexico?

[James Hunt]

Joss: thanks for the response as I don't know much about Rem. and have only a few books which dicusses them. The SN are where you describe them, all match. There are letters all over the gun. There is an R stamped lft side just ahead of the cylinder. There is an S stamped on the frame just above the hammer screw. There are W's stamped on the brass trigger guard, the rt side of the frame ahead of the cylinder, Twice on the cylinder, on the loading lever, and on the rt side of the barrel. Except for the S which I haven't read about, this is appropriate for a martially marked gun. I believe there is supposed to be a letter on the hammer but I don't see one. Of course could be worn off, all are reasonbably visible but light. Barrel address with New Model is three line but much is not readable. Never thought about the screws, good point. Can't read the cartouche on the grip, just see an outline of one. Regards, Jim

[James Hunt]

Thanks Josh this has made my month! I guess the god's of antique arms have looked down and paid me back for my Mexican made (and stamped) Colt. Back to retail plus 10% I guess, but I sure appreciate this one. Can't wait to shoot the thing.

[Big Hext]

Howdy,

Joss has told you right.. Remingtons are very difficult to date, they typically used batch serial numbers and re-used them from time to time.  I have seen two 75s with the same ##s.  It's eye opening for sure, we get so used to the Colt way.

The best thing is that the grips appear untouched.  The metal looks unbuffed, and it may be a cold blue job.  Which isn't great news to the collector value, but it is closer to original.  You might want to consider toning down the blue with a flitz or semichrome rub, see if it will bring down the blue and create a more original appearance.  We sell brown 58s for $1000 or so and we have an excellent original for $2500 or so, if that gives you an idea about values.  (and I can't post pictures of them, not allowed by CCity.)

I think you have a gun that you can easily get your money out of right now, and probably a bit more in the future.
Adios,

[James Hunt]

Big Hext: Thanks for the response. I had thought of some light steel wooling, didn't think about semi chrome polish. The more I look the more I think it is a reasonable cold blue job. I can't tell if the hammer has a little case color still left, or it is just browned out, or both. Fortunately it appears that it was not touched. The grips are in remarkable shape with only a very slight chip on the lft side, they fit well including the eustacheons (or what ever those things are) on both sides. Two of the screws in the frame and the grip appear almost new not being buggered at all - clearly the previous owner(s) were better with a screwdriver than I or else they are replacements. The cylnder looks appropriate with some dings around the safety notches and some wear between the cynlinder stops. There is just a slight amount of fore and aft movement of the cylinder I don't think it would effect shooting, just enough to suggest 130 years of slight wear.

I now wish that the seller had been at his table so I could learn more. Why did this gun survive in this condition, why did someone take a neat gun and do only a fair probably cold blue on it? Why did this guy not ask more?

I can see the scene at the show 9:00 am Sunday morning as the seller returns to his table, his buddy handing him the check with the sale news, and an abrupt explosive "NO, NO, I said I wouldn't take less than .....", ehcos throughout the hall.

If he calls, I'm not at home.

[Wymore Wrangler]

Nice purchase, I had one a couple of years ago, Ultona offered me a Uberti 73 that turned out to be over 25 years old and never fired, at least until I got it home, for less than a new 66...

[O.T. Buchannan]

You done good James!!!  I've been fortunate to luck upon a good deal more than once.  I think they usually see me coming, figure I ain't got much money, and lower their prices for me.....

[James Hunt]

Thankis OT. You must practice that poor look. I seem to naturally shuffle by each table with sucker written all over me. I think God looked down and granted me my one firearm purchase break in life. Any body want to buy a genuine made in Mexico Colt? We can deal!!!!!

[Chance]

Nice deal there, JH. You may want to consider bronze wool rather than steel if you want to tone that finish down a mite. It won't leave any scratches.

[James Hunt]

Bronze wool? I have never even heard of it. But I will look for it.

[Chance]

I had difficulty finding it myself but I bought some in a small hardware store in AZ when I was over there a couple of years ago. Here are the details:
It's called Rhodes American Bronze Wool.
Made by:
Homax Products
840 West Horton
Bellingham
WA 98226
www.homaxproducts.com

[Big Hext]

Some of the "choregirls" are made of all bronze and will do the same job.  They aren't as fine as the 0000 steel wool, so if that is available in a bronze.. go for it.

[James Hunt]

Thanks!

[French Jack]

James, speaking from experience, 0000 steel wool will not scratch your gun if you use a bit of WD40 on it.  I have successfully used it to remove rust from a blue finish without destroying the blue.  I would not use any coarser grade of steel wool on a firearm for such a project.

[Big Hext]

I had difficulty finding it myself but I bought some in a small hardware store in AZ when I was over there a couple of years ago. Here are the details:
It's called Rhodes American Bronze Wool.
Made by:
Homax Products
840 West Horton
Bellingham
WA 98226
www.homaxproducts.com

I got my local ACE hardware to order in some of this for me.. it comes in a "fine."  I don't know how that will rate according to the "0" scale, but it's gotta be better than a choregirl.

Adios,

[James Hunt]

Thanks guys, I couldn't wait any longer and took some 0000 steel wool to the gun taking off some of the uneveness and brightness of what must be cold blue - gun just looks great.