3rd Generation Cavalry Colt

[Niederlander]

Hello!
    I'm interested in getting a 3rd Generation SAA that's as close as possible to the original U.S. issued pieces.  What model would be the closest?  I've looked at Colt's website and it's not overly helpful.  I'd also consider a Peacemaker Centennial if I could find a used one, but the only ones I've seen for sale are NIB, which means their current owners are quite proud of them.  I want a shooter.  Thanks!

[Pettifogger]

Colt's catalogs aren't very good and even their custom accessory sheet isn't very helpful.  The closest thing to an original Cavalry Colt would be a blue/case hardened frame, 7 1/2" .45 with the BP frame, a bulls-eye ejector and one piece walnut grips.  The only way to find out what they are currently offering is to call them and ask.

[Harley Starr]

(saved for future reference.)

[Fox Creek Kid]

Centennials can be found on Gunsamerica.com and Gunbroker.com now & then. However, you aren't going to "steal" one for less than $1,200 unless it's a Midnight deal in a back alley.    Be advised that Colt .45's are famous for oversized chambers & you'll need a soft 0.454" bullet to shoot the best.  

If you're really flush with cash go here:

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/1stGeneration.asp

[Niederlander]

Colt's catalogs aren't very good and even their custom accessory sheet isn't very helpful.  The closest thing to an original Cavalry Colt would be a blue/case hardened frame, 7 1/2" .45 with the BP frame, a bulls-eye ejector and one piece walnut grips.  The only way to find out what they are currently offering is to call them and ask.

That was about what I figured.  I couldn't tell if they offered the one piece grip from the online catalog.  I'll just have to call them and see what's available. 

[Niederlander]

Centennials can be found on Gunsamerica.com and Gunbroker.com now & then. However, you aren't going to "steal" one for less than $1,200 unless it's a Midnight deal in a back alley.    Be advised that Colt .45's are famous for oversized chambers & you'll need a soft 0.454" bullet to shoot the best.  

If you're really flush with cash go here:

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/1stGeneration.asp

I'd never be described as flush with cash, but I've been interested in a real Colt for years now. I'll have to sell some stuff, but I'd love to have one.  You get what you pay for!

[Shotgun Franklin]

Nearly every gun shop has some kinda lay-a-way plan. I  to get a pair of'm that way.
You can always just buy the basic gun and then put whatever grips of ejector rod you want on it.
I think the BP frame is about to get hard to find again.

[Niederlander]

I just talked to someone at Colt, and he said the black powder frame model was still available, for what it's worth.

[jdpress]

I realize it is not a Colt, however, the current price is excellent at $940. and the quality is excellent; equivalent to the current Colt production quality.  I don't believe you will find a more realistic Cavalry reproduction.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=228736659

Good luck with your search.

J.D. Press

[Niederlander]

I realize it is not a Colt, however, the current price is excellent at $940. and the quality is excellent; equivalent to the current Colt production quality.  I don't believe you will find a more realistic Cavalry reproduction.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=228736659

Good luck with your search.

J.D. Press

I missed it, but we'll see if they re-list it.  It looks really good.

[St. George]

Except that it's 'not' a Colt...

Call the Colt Custom Shop - speak to a living human, and see what they can do for you.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

That's the straight truth St George.
I play with Ubertis but carry a Colt.
It's kinda like takin' your cousin to the Prom. She's might be nice and all
but she ain't the Head Cheerleader like you was dreamin' about.

[Harley Starr]

That's the straight truth St George.
I play with Ubertis but carry a Colt.
It's kinda like takin' your cousin to the Prom. She's might be nice and all
but she ain't the Head Cheerleader like you was dreamin' about.

[jdpress]

Two Colt 1973 Peacemaker Cavalry Centennial models are currently listed on Gun Broker.  On the first one, for some reason, someone has replaced the one-piece walnut grips with Colt 2-piece hard rubber grips which takes a lot of the nostalgia away from this model.  The second one has the walnut grips but the reserve is fairly high at $1,995.  The only distraction on this nicely finished Colt model is the roll mark on the left side of the barrel - 1873 Peacemaker Centennial 1973

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=228241388

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=229103437

J.D. Press

[Shotgun Franklin]

Well for a shooter gun, the grips that come with it should not matter much. My Colts are shooters and they are on their second set of replacement grips and I'm thinking hard of new grips. Just haven't found exactly what I want yet.

[Niederlander]

Two Colt 1973 Peacemaker Cavalry Centennial models are currently listed on Gun Broker.  On the first one, for some reason, someone has replaced the one-piece walnut grips with Colt 2-piece hard rubber grips which takes a lot of the nostalgia away from this model.  The second one has the walnut grips but the reserve is fairly high at $1,995.  The only distraction on this nicely finished Colt model is the roll mark on the left side of the barrel - 1873 Peacemaker Centennial 1973

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=228241388

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=229103437

J.D. Press
I've been watching those two.  I don't like the fact that the one is missing it's wood grips, and $2,000 seems a little high to me.  I'll just keep looking.   Thanks!

[Niederlander]

I realize it is not a Colt, however, the current price is excellent at $940. and the quality is excellent; equivalent to the current Colt production quality.  I don't believe you will find a more realistic Cavalry reproduction.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=228736659

Good luck with your search.

J.D. Press

I e-mailed them about it and it already sold.  It looked really nice, too!

[The Wizard]

Colt 1973 Centennial verus USFA Cavalry.  I have one of each.  In a side by side comparison it is hard to pick which one is best.  Fit and finish on both are excellent, at least on the ones I have.  As for the Colt the pros are IT IS A COLT, has small hole in ends of base pin.  Cons are Royal Blue not what original came with,  as jdpress said " the roll mark on the left side of the barrel - 1873 Peacemaker Centennial 1973", serial number does not comform to original style and format, cartouche on grip not as originals and on a personal note grip does not feel right.  As for the USFA the pros are finish and marking more or less as the originals.  Cons are it is NOT a Colt,  markings of top of barrel wrong, no small hole in ends of base pin.

I shoot both the Colt and the USFA.  I just shoot the USFA more.

[St. George]

As an aside...

The Colt '1873 Peacemaker Centennial 1973' barrel markings are those found on a 'commemorative'...

Those revolvers were built way before C&WAS came to be as popular as it is - and were probably never envisioned to be shooters, since they were packaged to be display guns.

They were built just as we were starting to see excerpts from Kopec, Graham and Moore's works that were truly delineating the Colt Single Action Revolver.

The cartouche on the grips 'looks' like an original - but was not made to look exactly like one - to attempt to preclude faking - and the serial numbers followed suit.

The finish was what was put on a commemorative - it wasn't supposed to look like the 'Government Blue' found on originals, since it was supposed to be eye-catching and not utilitarian - because folks who buy commemorative 'anything' want things to be bright and shiny.

If one wants a modern-made 'Cavalry Colt' - then the best bet is to have Colt build one and mark it properly - or pay to have a custom refinisher do the work.

No matter what - a USFA clone will never be a 'real Colt' - so talk to the Colt Custom Shop, or to a custom refinisher - and start saving your spare change, and sell off some stuff you don't use anymore - and prepare to be happy, once the work's been done.

Good Luck!

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Fox Creek Kid]

...or to a custom refinisher - and start saving your spare change, and sell off some stuff you don't use anymore - and prepare to be happy, once the work's been done...

That of which St. George speaks is true: cheap it ain't.