1st generation Colt SAA dealers? Would you shoot one if you had one?

[jphendren]

Hello,

I have been a huge fan of Colt SAA since I was a kid, and have owned a nice 3rd generation Colt SAA since 1997.  I have since purchased a couple of USFA copies and enjoy shooting all three quite a bit.  However, as nice as they are, I have this itch to own a "real" Colt SAA from the old west period (1873-1920).  I have been working on raising the funds to buy a nice original Colt SAA, including possibly selling off my newer versions.  I found this website:

http://www.oldcoltsingleactions.com/forsale.html

They have some nice specimens, quite a few come with letters as well.  Any other website/dealers like this one?  I know about Gunbroker, and guns international.  My other question is, would you shoot a 1st generation Colt if you had one?  I know that guns generally older than 1903 or so should only be shot with black powder, and am quite versed at hand loading .45 Colt black powder ammunition, so that is not a problem.

Jared

[St. George]

No name - no background information - no 'real' website with pictures - no references - no nothing.

Don't be grabbing for your wallet anytime soon.

As to shooting them - of course you can shoot them with properly loaded ammunition, and provided they're in good condition.

Scouts Out!

[jphendren]

"No name - no background information - no 'real' website with pictures - no references - no nothing."

This is where I found his website:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/Colt-single-action-army-revolver-45-x-4-3-4-with-eagle-stocks-with-factory-letter-2700.cfm?gun_id=100496366

So he is a seller on guns international, for whatever that is worth.  Are there any other pre-war SAA sellers that you know of?

Jared

[Shotgun Franklin]

If you browse the online sellers you turn a 1st gen shooter on occasion. Take your time. Also put the word out locally, you just never know.

[St. George]

His 'website' - isn't.

Look for an established, reputable dealer if you're looking for instant gratification.

Otherwise, buy some books - like everything John Kopec  and Keith Cochran ever wrote on SAAs - and really learn something about what it is that you want to collect.

Go to the 'big' gun shows - meet the guys who display and who write and ask them serious questions,  be respectful and grateful for their time.

Seek their advice, because guys like that can guide your collecting.

Scouts Out!

[Blackpowder Burn]

I have a pair of 1st Gen Colts, and, in fact, plan to shoot them in a match this weekend.  Both are Cavalry guns - one built in 1880 and the other in 1881.  I've had them checked by a well known SAA gunsmith.  His comment was - "They'll outlast you.  And if anything does break, I can fix it." 

So I go out and happily blaze away with BP ammunition.  And I take along their partner, a '73 Winchester built in 1888.  Soon to be joined by an 1889 Remington shotgun.  It's really nice to be able to shoot guns that were actually there in the period we are all trying to "emulate" in our fantasy game.

[yahoody]

In the grand scheme of things life is short.

If you want to shoot a 1st gen gun I would encourage you to buy a nice one and shoot it.  Nice can mean many things.  I like a gun that is decent condition cosmetically and perfect condition internally.  Not hard to find on a 1st gen gun that has not been messed with/all original if you look around.  The more education you have on the guns the better when you go to buy.

Recently I have been tempted a few times on nicely refinished 1st gen guns myself.

I shoot modern Colts' and USFA guns on almost a daily basis.  And have 1st gen guns in the safe...which I almost never shoot.

Reason I don't?  Not going to do a trigger job and replace parts on a 1st gen gun just to play with it.  Too picky now to shoot a fully sprung Colt with a heavy trigger of any generation.

If you had the chance to compare a few really good 1st gen Colt's and your USFA guns side by side and actual shooting I think you would be under whelmed and disappointed in the Colt and the price by the end of it.

[Charles Isaac]

I have a pair of 1st Gen Colts, and, in fact, plan to shoot them in a match this weekend. 

  I shoot 1st generation Colts too, because they are the real deal and I prefer them.

In the grand scheme of things life is short.

  Ha Ha!  I always say "Life's too short to shoot a fake Colt"!  

[yahoody]

Ha Ha!  I always say "Life's too short to shoot a fake Colt"!  

Agreed!  I shoot a pair Colt's on a weekly basis.   But they aren't 1st gen,  Just copies of 

[Charles Isaac]

I shoot a pair Colt's on a weekly basis.

Outstanding Sir!

[yahoody]

" But they aren't 1st gen,  Just copies of "

Hurts to admit it but aren't all the rest just copiers or clones?  Uberti, USFA or 3rd gen Colt's.  I'm happy shooting what I got.  But they aren't 1st gen guns or pieces of history.

Life is short.  I say if you want to shoot 1st gen guns get on it!  Time is a wastin!

[Shotgun Franklin]

If you have a 3rd Gen Colt go put some history on it. I used one to 'subdue' the President of the LA Kings. He had apparently never seen a SAA before and was real impressed.

[Charles Isaac]

Colt....................... I used one to 'subdue' the President of the LA Kings

Well, thank you for your service as a Peace Officer Shotgun!!!

I always say "Colt-You can bet your life on it!"-and you certainly did!!!

[shrapnel]

I would say to do your homework, find the gun you want, buy it and shoot it. I have several 1st generation guns and shoot them all. I look for 1900 era guns so I can shoot smokeless in them. I would recommend you stay away from Nickel and refinished guns. Always consider what you buy and what you would have to do with it if you decide to sell it. This can save you from buyer's remorse.

Here are some sites to look at Colt's.

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/

http://www.antiqueguns.com/

http://www.antiquegunlist.com/index.php

I had 2 of mine out yesterday, this is an early 1900's 44-40...

[Blackpowder Burn]

Shrapnel,

Have you ever had the chance to visit Collectors Firearms in person?  It doesn't look like much from the outside, but what a huge maze once you walk in the door.  They have some good looking Merwin Hulbert's I wish I could afford.

[shrapnel]

I don't travel much, but I did get into the William Larkin Moore showroom in Phoenix, earlier this year. a real nice gun room with nice guns. I even saw a Sako I wouldn't mind having there. Collectors would be a great visit, as would First Stop in Rapid City.

Here is another first generation Colt in a Lightning SRC 44-40...

[Blackpowder Burn]

Oh, DANG!  Now you're really making me green with envy.   

I'm still working on my old Lightning.  Work has kept me too busy to do much with it.  Maybe I'll get time to make some progress over the holidays.  I'm determined that it will live again! 

[jphendren]

shrapnel,

Thanks for the links!  That last one has quite a few nice guns.  Beautiful Colt Lightning, had planned on buying one of the USFA replica's, but alas they are no more.  Now even used they rarely ever come up for sale. 

Jared

[Niederlander]

Absolutely!  I have an 1894 production Frontier Six Shooter, and I shoot it all the time.  I shoot smokeless, so I fitted a 3rd Generation cylinder to it.  Nothing like a real Colt!

[Charles Isaac]

 

I saw just the butt of Neiderlander's hundred and something year old SAA pokin out the top of a holster from about 15 feet and I exclaimed  "You got a REAL Colt!!!"

Well, at 15 feet it could have been one of those "antique finish" USFAs or Traditions or whatever for all I knew, but I just KNEW it was a REAL freakin Colt. I don't know how I knew, it just had the cool look of a fine old Colt factory made firearm to it and I just knew it was the real deal.

  I don't know much about the people who made my Colts on those old leather belt driven machines and about the only things I know about them is they were Colt employees and every one of em is dead. But the guns they made live on!