Colt SAA with black powder frame

Jake MacReedy · April 04, 2010, 09:30:42 PM

This is just a "tantalizing" tidbit...I recently purchased a "new-build" late 3rd Gen. Colt SAA with a 5 1/2" barrel in .45 Colt with the black powder frame. Now it is a fine revolver as is, but I thought to myself "why not give it a case-hardened hammer and 1-piece walnut grips to go along with its bullseye ejector?" So I sent the hammer off to Dan Printz in North Carolina to have it color case-hardened, and sent the gripframe off to Don Collins in Indiana to have some 1-piece fancy walnut grips fitted. Both the hammer and the grips should be back in a couple oif weeks. As soon as they come in, and I reinstall them, I will post pics of my new "1870's Colt SAA."

Jake

St. George · April 04, 2010, 10:17:23 PM

Congratulations!

I expect the return of three color-case-hardened hammers, myself - probably this week.

Amazing how something so simple can turn back the Hands of Time.

I know you'll be well pleased.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

jphendren · April 05, 2010, 11:06:22 AM

I asked Colt why they don't color case harden the hammer, their reply was that it made the hammer brittle. It seems odd that their older guns had a cch hammer, and I don't believe those were brittle.

What do you fellas think about that?

Jared

St. George · April 05, 2010, 03:13:22 PM

If you spoke to Customer Service, don't be surprised that you got an answer that wasn't 'complete', since most of those folks aren't 'gun' people and work away from the main plant.

They're limited to what they're told - nothing more - even their supervisors.

Colt likely doesn't -case-harden the hammers, because leaving the flats bright is easier and cheaper, and because sometimes small parts - when truly case-hardened - can warp, causing a dollar loss in replacement.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Fox Creek Kid · April 05, 2010, 11:01:50 PM

St. George, you´re going to like those hammers.

RRio · April 06, 2010, 12:48:33 AM

Very nice Frontier Six Shooter, you have there, Fox Creek Kid !

Old Doc · April 06, 2010, 07:55:36 AM

What are the chances that the hammer colors will be different from the frame. Even with true bone case hardening, there can be differnces from one process to another. My Turnbulls don't look like my Colts.

Old Doc · April 06, 2010, 08:03:42 AM

It's nice but doesn't look like original Colt finish. Tell us more.

St. George · April 06, 2010, 09:06:44 AM

Different parts 'will' color differently - the coloring is merely the cosmetic result of hardening that outer 'skin' of the metal - a needed process with early revolvers.

Colt does a 'true' bone/charcoal process - but a merely 'cosmetic' version 'can' be applied that's generally covered by application of a clear-coat, and several folks are doing this and passing it off as being done the old way.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Jake MacReedy · April 06, 2010, 09:35:42 AM

Mine's being done the old-fashioned way...bone meal and charcoal. Even if it's not exactly like the rest of the frame, it matters not to me. I doubt seriously that all the originals matched perfectly anyway. I'm truly looking forward to seeing the finished revolver, with those one-piece grips and the CCH hammer!

Jake

St. George · April 06, 2010, 10:24:53 AM

A properly-done one-piece walnut is a beautiful addition to a Colt and the case-hardened hammer just adds to it all.

One of my Colts was fitted with one-piece walnuts by Ray Meibaum about 25 years ago and they feel and look 'great', since they were fitted 'slim' - like originals were.

He'd installed a 4 3/4" barrel at the same time, and later, I had John Kopec fit a .45ACP cylinder, as well - since shooting a GI National Match .45 for Uncle Sam ensured a 'very' steady supply, and it just made perfect sense...

Happily - that cylinder fits all my other Colts perfectly.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Fox Creek Kid · April 06, 2010, 01:07:16 PM

Quote from: Old Doc on April 06, 2010, 08:03:42 AM
It's nice but doesn't look like original Colt finish. Tell us more.

Go here:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21506.0.html

Old Doc · April 06, 2010, 01:26:55 PM

Quote from: Fox Creek Kid on April 06, 2010, 01:07:16 PM
Go here:

http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21506.0.html

Thanks. A very nice piece. Did classic first generations ever have that high a gloss to the bluing. It resembles the Royal Blue that Colt put on Pythons and some New Frontiers. In the photos, the case-hardening seems to display yellows and greens, whereas most Colts I have seen, the case colors are more grey-blue-black. Your gun, the colors look more like the two guns I have that were done by Turnbull. No less attractive, just demonstrates different artisans may achieve different results.

St. George · April 06, 2010, 03:25:40 PM

The First Generation commercial finish was 'very' bright.

It was also delicate - and as it was exposed to the elements and to sunlight - it 'silvered', somewhat.

Exposed to sunlight - case-hardened coloring 'will' fade - and that's why a couple put on a clear-coat, to help retard that and to protect a fragile finish.

As to the colors shown - ''up close and personal', the coloration is closer to what you're thinking of - some photos just don't translate well.

I routinely use a 5 1/2" .45 made in 1907, and it saw service during the Mexican Revolution.

It silvered a long time ago - but if you look, you'll still see the colors - you just won't see much of them.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

Fox Creek Kid · April 06, 2010, 08:06:47 PM

Quote from: Old Doc on April 06, 2010, 01:26:55 PM...In the photos, the case-hardening seems to display yellows and greens, whereas most Colts I have seen, the case colors are more grey-blue-black. Your gun, the colors look more like the two guns I have that were done by Turnbull. No less attractive, just demonstrates different artisans may achieve different results.

The frame is untouched, i.e., factory Colt from 2008.

Old Doc · April 06, 2010, 09:02:38 PM

Quote from: Fox Creek Kid on April 06, 2010, 08:06:47 PM
The frame is untouched, i.e., factory Colt from 2008.

That's interesting. Does it have that much yellow in it in person or is it the photo. As for the bluing, the finist bluing I ever saw was on the Colt Sauer rifles available back in the 70's. The bluing was like looking into a shimmering pool of dark black oil.

Fox Creek Kid · April 07, 2010, 01:43:56 AM

Old Doc, it´s just like that in person.

Old Doc · April 07, 2010, 01:34:23 PM

Still very nice.

Jake MacReedy · April 07, 2010, 04:46:55 PM

Received the one-piece walnut grips today. A little disappointed, as the maker did not make them as slim as I had requested. So I am going to work on them and slim them down to 1st Gen. size myself.

Jake

St. George · April 07, 2010, 05:06:31 PM

Go slow and 'try' often - and you shoud be fine.

Too many folks have no idea that original Colt grips had both a 'flare' and a 'taper' to them, and when fitted like that, they're quite comfortable to shoot.

Looking around, you see a lot of after-market grips just slapped on and screwed down tight - with a slab-like appearance - and folks accept them.

Good Luck - I'm sure they'll be great when you're done.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!