Colt Model 1860 Army

[Johnny676767]

Hello,

Thought I'd share my new purchase. I've been looking for one for awhile and I'm pretty happy with this one. I was happy to find the wedge matched, too. Nice scene and some bluing present. SN# 137119 looks like it was manufactured in 1863 (Colt website). Pate says Indianapolis Arsenal received 1,200 NMAs on October 14, 1863. #137107 is documented to the 7th Indiana. I know that doesn't prove anything, but it's close and kind of cool. He says further that "there is no validity to the practice" of identification through association. But he says the 7th Indiana NMAs were concentrated between 136000-140000. That's a good start for me.

 

[iron bender]

Nice firearm! Love that cylinder with crisp 'scene'. Excellent pick up

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Nice crisp Colt!

 

[Johnny676767]

Thanks for the positive replies. How do I go about getting more information on this particular Colt? I've checked the website and read (am reading) Pate's book The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Is my next option to pay $300+ for a letter from Colt that may or may not tell me anything else?

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Nice cylinder scene...most don't have one (worn off).

 

[Story]

Thanks for the positive replies. How do I go about getting more information on this particular Colt? I've checked the website and read (am reading) Pate's book The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Is my next option to pay $300+ for a letter from Colt that may or may not tell me anything else?

Someone here might have a copy of Springfield Research Society's (aka SRS) serial number list for the 1860s.

See https://www.coltforum.com/threads/s...k-lookup-1860-army-revolver-sn-133812.113635/

 

[Tanglewood]

Thanks for the positive replies. How do I go about getting more information on this particular Colt? I've checked the website and read (am reading) Pate's book The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Is my next option to pay $300+ for a letter from Colt that may or may not tell me anything else?

I acquired an "unlettered" 1860 Army at the Franklin show. A serious Colt collector told me that he calls the Colt Archives Department, and they will tell him if they have shipping information for a given serial number, but not tell the actual information. For that, you purchase the $300 letter. I've not done that myself yet.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

From the inspection markings, you already know it was purchased pursuant to a contract between Colt and the United States, and that it was accepted by the United States.
That's what the letter will tell you.
The letter should also tell you the shipping destination - usually each shipment was for 1,000 revolvers.
It might show shipment went to the Indianapolis Arsenal.
It won't show that it went to any particular unit or soldier.
I don't think this will add to the value of your nice Colt Model 1860, which is in much better condition than most.

 

[plymouthairrifle]

Looks to be Company B 7th Indiana in the SRS

 

[Story]

Looks to be Company B 7th Indiana in the SRS

Exact hit or bracket?

 

[bayonet]

Thanks for the positive replies. How do I go about getting more information on this particular Colt? I've checked the website and read (am reading) Pate's book The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver. Is my next option to pay $300+ for a letter from Colt that may or may not tell me anything else?

If money is not an issue for you then get the letter. Many years ago the letter cost about $25-50 and was worth it. Then it jumped to $300 over night. What a rip off! Talk about a profit for little effort. I have 3 Colts, 1860,1851,1849 and to get the letter would cost me about 1/3 what I paid for each one. Forget it. I did get the letter for a 1860 many years ago when it WAS not $300 but traded it away.

 

[JOHN42768]

Script cartouche J T stands for John Taylor on one grip.

 

[plymouthairrifle]

Exact hit on SRS

 

[scooter748driver]

Nice looking Colt. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[Drumfish420]

Very nice!

 

[Johnny676767]

@plymouthairrifle : that's great. I appreciate you looking it up for me. I've heard the SRS referenced before. Is that a big, mult-volume set of records?

I guess I'm pretty fortunate to have one that can be exactly matched. I'm assuming that's what it is, with the exact SN of 137,119 appearing in there- that's really incredible!

@JOHN42768 : I though that cartouche might be that. Cool

@bayonet : Yes, money is an issue. While a letter would be nice, it's not that nice. Maybe one day.

 

[bayonet]

@plymouthairrifle : that's great. I appreciate you looking it up for me. I've heard the SRS referenced before. Is that a big, mult-volume set of records?

I guess I'm pretty fortunate to have one that can be exactly matched. I'm assuming that's what it is, with the exact SN of 137,119 appearing in there- that's really incredible!

@JOHN42768 : I though that cartouche might be that. Cool

@bayonet : Yes, money is an issue. While a letter would be nice, it's not that nice. Maybe one day.

If you get a ACW era Colt worth $3000 or more oh yeah the letter would be worth it!

 

[plymouthairrifle]

BACK UP YES #137,107 IS IN BUT #137,119 IS NOT! I read the original post wrong SORRY!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

To add one more "remove," the SRS listings for these serials are for Colt Model 1851 Navies, .36 caliber, and NOT the Model 1860 Armies, .44 caliber!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

If money is not an issue for you then get the letter. Many years ago the letter cost about $25-50 and was worth it. Then it jumped to $300 over night. What a rip off! Talk about a profit for little effort. I have 3 Colts, 1860,1851,1849 and to get the letter would cost me about 1/3 what I paid for each one. Forget it. I did get the letter for a 1860 many years ago when it WAS not $300 but traded it away.

Bayonet:

Here's a story that deals with differences between value and effort.

A high powered and connected Washington Lobbyist, I think it was Clark Clifford, listened to his client's question, sat a moment, thought a moment, said "The answer to your question is "No" and billed this client for several thousand dollars for his fifteen minutes.

When he got a complaint which asked why his 15 minutes was worth so much, the answer was that it was worth it because he knew the correct answer ("No"), and he billed this client another thousand for questioning the bill.

I think the story goes on to say that the client paid that original fee and the fee for questioning the fee, because his client knew his wisdom of the way of Washington could not be matched and was worth his fee, and I would guess he wanted to be able to get such questions answered in the future.

I think the point of the story is that the value was in all the many years of wisdom the lobbyist had accumulated, not that it took only 15 minutes.

Sort of like the guy who cuts a raw diamond, and how well he does may make hundreds of thousands of dollars difference in the value of the cleaved diamond. If you own that diamond, you are not paying for the five seconds it take for him to make that strike, but for all the years of knowledge that he used to know how and where to strike it.
Colt has exclusive access to those records.

Colt learned that some customers are willing to pay $300 for that information.
They ask that much
The customer pays that much

That's the way the free capitalist society is supposed to work.