Colt Army 1860 Question

[Roccus]

I've just acquired a Colt Army 1860 in decent condition with a low serial number (5574) and noticed that it had the cut outs and screw lugs for a detachable shoulder stock but no government markings. I was under the assumption that the stock capability was for military use. What are the chances that it had seen service in the war?

 

[scooter748driver]

First, welcome from the Fort Sumter and the Fredericksburg forums.

Nice pistol! 1861 manufacture date See if there are any small letters stamped on the pistol. My understanding is that military Colts were sub-inspected and will have inspector letters stamped around in various places. However, I am no expert and am going strictly from memory. Others who know way more will be along soon to offer advice.

However, give it's an 1861 Colt, I would say the probability of it being used in the war is very high.

 

[TexBadger]

does the cylinder serial number match? I would have thought this one would have a fluted cylinder given that serial number range. Considering the early war production I would agree that there is a good chance it was used in some form in the war but it appears to have no martial marks/cartouches so it would have been a private purchase.

 

[Roccus]

does the cylinder serial number match? I would have thought this one would have a fluted cylinder given that serial number range. Considering the early war production I would agree that there is a good chance it was used in some form in the war but it appears to have no martial marks/cartouches so it would have been a private purchase.

Where is the serial number on the cylinder? I haven't removed it yet and don't see one.

 

[JOHN42768]

Welcome, enjoy. I can see that the cylinder number is also 5574. Highly likely being shipped in July 1861 that it saw action during the Civil War

 

[UCVRelics]

Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. Nice looking Colt. Is the address on top of the barrel Hartford or New York? On the shoulder stock, a civilian could buy one with the stock option. Colt did not discriminate and sold to who ever had the cash.

 

[Roccus]

Welcome From THE Heart Of Dixie. Nice looking Colt. Is the address on top of the barrel Hartford or New York? On the shoulder stock, a civilian could buy one with the stock option. Colt did not discriminate and sold to who ever had the cash.

It's a New York address.

 

[Roccus]

Welcome, enjoy. I can see that the cylinder number is also 5574. Highly likely being shipped in July 1861 that it saw action during the Civil War

So the cylinder address is actually on the frame?

 

[scooter748driver]

So the cylinder address is actually on the frame?

There should be a corresponding serial number on the cylinder that should match the serial number of the revolver (5574). The top of the frame has the address, in your case New York.

 

[JOHN42768]

So the cylinder address is actually on the frame?

The number on the cylinder, frame, trigger guard, barrel, butt, wedge, arbor were all the same when it left the factory

 

[Roccus]

I see no number on the cylinder. Where would it be? All other numbers match.

 

[Roccus]

I found the number. Sorry, bad eyes. I thought it was a patent number. All numbers match.

 

[UCVRelics]

1860 colt cylinder serial number

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I see no number on the cylinder. Where would it be? All other numbers match.

Here is the area of the cylinder of one of mine, serial 3652, showing where you will find the serial number on a cylinder.
All of the guns made through the War years had the frame cut out for a stock, even though almost none were fitted with a stock and nearly all of the early guns (say, up to about serial 50,000) had the extra screw on each side for a stock, whether of military or civilian.
The manufacture of a frame involved many machining steps, and likely the Colt factory set up created that frame cut out and then the cut out was used to hold the frame steady for later machining steps. So, this no-longer-needed cut out might have been needed to hold the unfinished frame steady and in the correct position for later steps.

 

[Roccus]

Thanks, everyone. All questions answered for now.

 

[JoeCollector]

You should read " Colt 1860 by Charles Pate" . Nice pistol .

 

[oldironside]

You should read " Colt 1860 by Charles Pate" . Nice pistol .

Hi Yes I highly recommend Charles Pates book very informative.