M1860 Fluted Colt Army

[Missouri_8th_Infantry]

Several of you warned me about the addiction and for the third time in as many months I purchased an 1861-manufactured CW firearm. Unlike the 4-screw Colt Army I purchased last month, this one has a fluted cylinder. The serial number is 2791 which puts it just two away from one shipped to Peters, Williams & Co., Richmond, Va. on to April 15, 1861.

The gun has been cleaned at some point but on the positive side, has all matching numbers including the wedge. You can see this fluted Colt's 7.5" barrel next to its younger (but bigger) brother with the 8" barrel.

 

[bayonet]

Nice is the Hartford address on the barrel still visible? Colt dumped the fluted cylinder because they were rupturing during firing. So they went with the solid one. Bet that cost you some $

 

[Lanyard Puller]

I'D get a Colt Letter on it and just include the cost into the value. I've got #2708 and #2737 both lettered to Richmond and both 7 1/2 barrels.

 

[scooter748driver]

Wow! Very nice Colt - I'm jealous!

 

[Seduzal]

Wow, Thanks for sharing these photos. Enjoy it.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Unless this "came out of the woodwork" I would bet that someone already got a Colt archive letter on this, didn't like what it showed (meaning shipment to Colt's New York Office instead of to Richmond), and they "lost" the letter.
I've had several Colts with letters which got forgotten when the dealer who bought them from me offered them for sale.

 

[Mark A]

As Lanyard Puller stated it's worth the expense for a Colt letter. We would be interested in knowing where and when your revolver was shipped. Your Fluted Cylinder Colt has a nice tight seam at the barrel and frame junction, that's always a nice feature on these old Colts. It would be nice to see a photo of the barrel address. Even though it's a low numbered Army revolver with a 7.5 inch barrel we shouldn't just assume it's Hartford marked. My Williams, Peters and Company fluted cylinder revolver has a 7.5 inch barrel with a New York address.

 

[Bonedaddy]

Great looking Model 1860. Thanks for showing.

 

[JOHN42768]

Very nice Colt

 

[Missouri_8th_Infantry]

Nice is the Hartford address on the barrel still visible? Colt dumped the fluted cylinder because they were rupturing during firing. So they went with the solid one. Bet that cost you some $

Correct, this one has the Hartford address. Regarding cost, I guess I paid in line with what they go for. My hunt right now is for a CW-era Kerr revolver since @Jeff in Ohio pointed them out to me. They don't have the slick lines of a Colt, but are good looking in the way that an English Bulldog is

 

[Papabyrd]

This is my 1860 fluted cylinder Serial # 1164 and its holster. Shipped January 16, 1861, to Colt in New York. Barrel is pretty pitted, and someone cleaned it and sanded it down some and cold blued it. But it works and locks up tight

 

[Papabyrd]

I just noticed My 1860 has a small H stamped right behind the hammer on the back strap. Would this be a Colt inspection stamp or Military?

 

[Missouri_8th_Infantry]

This is my 1860 fluted cylinder Serial # 1164 and its holster. Shipped January 16, 1861, to Colt in New York. Barrel is pretty pitted, and someone cleaned it and sanded it down some and cold blued it. But it works and locks up tight
View attachment 436601View attachment 436602View attachment 436603View attachment 436604View attachment 436605View attachment 436606View attachment 436607

Good looking holster. Is it original?

 

[Papabyrd]

Good looking holster. Is it original?

yes it is The gun had been in it forever

 

[bayonet]

This is my 1860 fluted cylinder Serial # 1164 and its holster. Shipped January 16, 1861, to Colt in New York. Barrel is pretty pitted, and someone cleaned it and sanded it down some and cold blued it. But it works and locks up tight
View attachment 436601View attachment 436602View attachment 436603View attachment 436604View attachment 436605View attachment 436606View attachment 436607

Colt shipped it to Colt? Go figure. Wonder if they had a shop in NYC where they sold their pistols?

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Colt shipped it to Colt? Go figure. Wonder if they had a shop in NYC where they sold their pistols?

Colt made 'em in Hartford. Colt had an office in London, in NYC, and later in San Francisco.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I've got a three digit 1860 with 8 inch barrel and round cylinder. The first four pages of Colts shipment register are long gone, and half of the first thousand 1860s made won't letter for that reason. Many, perhaps most, of the fluted cylinder Colts were refitted with round cylinders when the weakness of the fluted versions was discovered.

 

[Missouri_8th_Infantry]

I've got a three digit 1860 with 8 inch barrel and round cylinder. The first four pages of Colts shipment register are long gone, and half of the first thousand 1860s made won't letter for that reason. Many, perhaps most, of the fluted cylinder Colts were refitted with round cylinders when the weakness of the fluted versions was discovered.

Did Colt put serial numbers on the replacement round cylinders that matched the rest of the original gun?

 

[Jonl51]

As Lanyard Puller stated it's worth the expense for a Colt letter. We would be interested in knowing where and when your revolver was shipped. Your Fluted Cylinder Colt has a nice tight seam at the barrel and frame junction, that's always a nice feature on these old Colts. It would be nice to see a photo of the barrel address. Even though it's a low numbered Army revolver with a 7.5 inch barrel we shouldn't just assume it's Hartford marked. My Williams, Peters and Company fluted cylinder revolver has a 7.5 inch barrel with a New York address.

View attachment 436546View attachment 436547View attachment 436548View attachment 436549View attachment 436550

Awesome Colt. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Lanyard Puller and Mark A know more than I do, but I still would bet that this Colt has been lettered before, and the person who paid for that letter decided that it didn't add to the value and just "forgot" to mention it when it was sold.