worth the trouble?

[relicKING]

London Made Model 1849 Colt

it has heavy damage to the cylinder from either a blowout or being bullet struck possibly. has matching numbers. what would one value this at? can it be restored? worth the trouble?

 

[huskerblitz]

I'm not expert, there are others on the site that are. My opinion would be to leave it as is. It gives it a unique character. I don't know the value but I like it the way it is right now.

 

[sourdough]

relicKING,

If it was my pistol, I would just leave it as is. I would just oil it up to protect what is left of it, and display it in a shadow box. It is, after all, over 150 years old.

It would be interesting to know the history of this pistol. The condition of the cylinder is such that it is not a safe shooter, obviously. The steel Colt used back then was not the best, even though English steel was better than American steel at the time, and could have ruptured with a heavy load in a weak chamber. (When Colt started producing the 1860 Army/1861 Navy models he used a newer process steel which he termed as "silver steel".) The wood is good. The frame screw heads and the load lever/rammer pivot screw head are very nice, but what aggravates me is that often the wedge screw head is in bad shape. There is no need to EVER remove that screw. A tap or two on the right side of the wedge with a wooden or plastic mallet (with the application of some oil in the wedge area) should be sufficient to remove it and the barrel and cylinder. The cylinder bolt stop slots are in good shape and there is not an apparent turn line from bolt drag, so I don't think it was ever fired a great deal.

What is most curious is the "stud" used to secure the load lever to the barrel lug. It definitely is not factory and most probably a later gunsmith repair. Even if you had access to an original screw, the threads are probably gone because the original screw entered from the left side of the barrel lug, and the "stud" may have negated that.

IMO, judging from your pics, it is a 5-shot, 4" barrel 1849 London Pocket .31 caliber, probably made around 1855 due to the long frame/long barrel forcing cone/large beveled load aperture, but without a serial number the date is a guess. If you do not want to state the serial# in this thread, you can PM me and I will look it up and just report back without mentioning the serial number. Some folks are very particular about that.

Even with matching numbers, the "stud" negates any real collector value.

I hope you did not pay a lot for it.

I only collect replicas, being 65 and retired on SS. I have a Replica Arms El Paso 1848 Pocket 6" barrel w/load lever .31 5-shot manufactured in 1963 (first year of production Armi San Marco). Until I can re-temper the bolt/trigger spring, it is just a wall hanger. Note the V-notch load aperture and the short frame/short forcing cone, and the load lever/rammer pivot screw entering from the right side, like the original pistols.

And I have always been a sucker for squareback trigger guards.

Yours is still a nice display pistol. Congrats, sir.

Jim

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Nice London Colt! Personally, I would leave it "as-is", for two reasons:
1 - It is part of the history of the revolver.
2 - Repairing it will not enhance the value of the revolver enough to cover what the repair will cost you.
Just my thoughts!
J.

 

[hrobalabama]

Leave it as it is. After being a colt collector, I have learned that the Colt Pocket model is at the bottom of the collectors agenda. I had a passel of pocket models ( some engraved and in wonderful condition) and a couple of Colt Navies and Armies on display at a Civil War Exposition. A very well know collector came by and said to "give up pocket models"and stick to the 51's and 60's. The Colt 1849 Pockets were used and carried by the armies of both sides but to the collector they are just not desired.

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice one. I would leave it just like it is.

 

[Frederick14Va]

I would also leave it exactly as it is... its all part of the character and history of the piece. The damage is certainly the result of a cylinder blow out failure... Being struck by an object or another projectile would not incur damage in that manner. The damage, and alterations pointed out all affect the overall value collectively, and typically would be priced accordingly. But still would be a nice display piece as it is.

 

[JOHN42768]

It is what it is. Leave History alone

 

[Patrick H]

Restored? Not without replacing the cylinder...and then it's not original. Leave it just the way it is. It's a treasure. Are you asking whether to buy it? That is totally up to you. If the price is right, I would not hesitate. Just so you'll know my true feelings, I think that gouge in the one chamber of the cylinder has a story associated with it. What is the story? What do you want the story to be? Can't you see the attraction of this piece, just the way it is?

 

[Michael W.]

As is.

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Nice London Colt! Personally, I would leave it "as-is", for two reasons:
1 - It is part of the history of the revolver.
2 - Repairing it will not enhance the value of the revolver enough to cover what the repair will cost you.
Just my thoughts!
J.

Not only will it not enhance the value, but it will destroy any value as a collectable, even with the burst chamber.

 

[ewmail15]

No harm in leaving it as is, or in searching for another cylinder, should it be in gunsmith-approved condition to fire it.

 

[Package4]

View attachment 165698 View attachment 165699 View attachment 165700 View attachment 165701 London Made Model 1849 Colt

it has heavy damage to the cylinder from either a blowout or being bullet struck possibly. has matching numbers. what would one value this at? can it be restored? worth the trouble?

Leave as is and if you want get another cylinder, if you can find a London made one. The blown cylinder gives it character.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

You can replace the cylinder, but then you have mismatched numbers, and most likely a cylinder without the necessary English proofs.
J.

 

[Cpl. Smith]

Leave as is and if you want get another cylinder, if you can find a London made one. The blown cylinder gives it character.

Agreed