Colt Peace Maker Information Needed

JLuna223 · September 14, 2011, 09:23 PM

I was recently handed down a Colt Peacemaker and I am just looking for more information about this pistol. I have detailed pictures of numbers and markings on the pistol. All the serial numbers match up except the one on the gate. Anymore information about the gun will help.

Lee McNelly · September 14, 2011, 10:07 PM

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The Colt Archive Letter

Considered one of the most unique and prestigious services offered by Colt, the Archive Letter is universally recognized as an unparalleled investment in firearms collecting. The Archive Department will search through Colt’s vast archives to provide you with accurate and documented details confirming the original specifications and delivery of your particular Colt firearm. You will then receive a personal letter outlining all of the fine points of your firearm, written on Archives Department’s distinctive stationary, embossed with the official seal and signature of the Colt Historian.

Whether your Colt is a treasured family heirloom or a more recent purchase, a Colt Archive Letter can provide fascinating valuable information of historical or anecdotal importance. The collectible value of your Colt is often greatly enhanced when it is authenticated in this exceptional fashion.

Colt Archive Letters can provide descriptive details about custom engraving and other special features that will ensure the value of the firearm for future generations to treasure.

To place your order by phone using a credit card, contact the Archive Department at the number listed below. Model and serial number information is necessary when placing your order.

You can also submit your request by mail. Simply download and fill out the “Colt Archives Specification Sheet” and submit with your payment. Payment options and instructions are located at the bottom of this form.

Click here to see our Archive Services Price List.

To contact Colt Archive Services directly:

p (800) 962-(Colt) 2658 ext. 1343
f (860) 244-1439

■Joe Canali - Historical Research Sales Coordinator - ext: 1343
■Beverly Haynes - Colt Historian - ext: 1391

Jim March · September 15, 2011, 01:20 AM

That's an old one - black powder frame, probably pre-1895. The set-screw that holds the base pin (the axle that the cylinder spins on) is a giveaway.

If the nickel finish is original you've hit the jackpot but...odds are it's a re-finish. Appears to have been done fairly well though.

Depending on exactly how old, that thing could be worth serious money even if it is a refinish. If original...holy cow.

DO NOT shoot it OR clean it until you know what you've got and how to do so. It cannot fire modern smokeless powder cartridges...just for starters, the frame is cast iron! The good news is, the "cowboy action shooting" games have a category in which you have to shoot black powder cartridges and those rounds would be appropriate in that gun, assuming it's still in good condition which in the the case of this antique should be determined by a gunsmith. The cleanup procedures for black powder are "peculiar" as the stuff is highly corrosive and needs specific cleaning techniques and materials...and on top of that, in this gun's case those cleaning supplies must in turn be compatible with the nickel finish. I would have to do some serious digging to figure out what's safe to use on that thing and I've been shooting modern guns for some time now.

Hawg · September 15, 2011, 06:04 AM

The number on the gate is an assembly number.

Lee McNelly · September 15, 2011, 06:33 AM

No infor about when where who shipped to

Shotgun693 · September 17, 2011, 06:27 PM

You need to get it appraised for insurance reasons. The Appraiser can tell you when it was made. If you know any history of the gun write it down and keep it with the gun. It's not cast iron, only the very earliest guns were, but it is a lower grade steel than we have now. DO NOT ,EVER, NEVER SHOOT IT WITH SMOKELESS AMMO. It appears to be in shooting condition, with ammo it was designed to use.
It appears to be a nice old gun.

shafter · September 17, 2011, 06:28 PM

That looks pretty nice!

Hawg · September 17, 2011, 07:38 PM

Yeah, it's most likely cast iron. You can get the manufacture date from the serial number.

http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html

I would spend the money(about 100 bucks) to get it lettered from Colt. That will tell you what finish it had and where it was originally shipped to, most likely a hardware store somewhere but will still have some good info.

Shotgun693 · September 17, 2011, 08:09 PM

Only the very first Colts were a very low gradesteel, often said to be cast iron, and they are not safe to shoot with any powder. I had serial # 289 at one time. Gun steel has gotten better and better over time. BP has a different burn curve than Smokeless Powder. BP is much gentler on old guns.

Jim March · September 17, 2011, 08:42 PM

The letter is worth it regardless, but if it shows an original nickel finish you've scored gold. Literally thousands in extra value. Even if the nickel was added later, any black-powder-era with the original length barrel as that almost certainly is, is worth serious coin.

The letter might also luck out in another way: you might find it linked to a particular historical figure.

Model-P · September 20, 2011, 01:59 AM

From what I can see, your sixgun was made between 1883 and 1887. The cylinder looks to be a later replacement. And, FYI, the frame should be mild steel. They only used wrought iron ("cast iron" is pure hogwash) before 1883, which was before your gun was made as far as I am able to ascertain from the one photo. More pictures would help, and a serial number (last three digits can be cryptic. i.e. "xxx") would give the exact year, plus or minus one.

Though not original to your gun, if those are ivory stocks they are worth a fair amount in their own right.

September 14, 2011, 10:07 PM	#2
Lee McNelly Junior member Join Date: June 9, 2011 Posts: 325	colt Contact Colt Custom Repair & Refinish Archive Services FAQ Search Our Site Locate a Dealer click here for auto lookup Archive Services The Colt Archive Letter Considered one of the most unique and prestigious services offered by Colt, the Archive Letter is universally recognized as an unparalleled investment in firearms collecting. The Archive Department will search through Colt’s vast archives to provide you with accurate and documented details confirming the original specifications and delivery of your particular Colt firearm. You will then receive a personal letter outlining all of the fine points of your firearm, written on Archives Department’s distinctive stationary, embossed with the official seal and signature of the Colt Historian. Whether your Colt is a treasured family heirloom or a more recent purchase, a Colt Archive Letter can provide fascinating valuable information of historical or anecdotal importance. The collectible value of your Colt is often greatly enhanced when it is authenticated in this exceptional fashion. Colt Archive Letters can provide descriptive details about custom engraving and other special features that will ensure the value of the firearm for future generations to treasure. To place your order by phone using a credit card, contact the Archive Department at the number listed below. Model and serial number information is necessary when placing your order. You can also submit your request by mail. Simply download and fill out the “Colt Archives Specification Sheet” and submit with your payment. Payment options and instructions are located at the bottom of this form. Click here to see our Archive Services Price List. To contact Colt Archive Services directly: p (800) 962-(Colt) 2658 ext. 1343 f (860) 244-1439 ■Joe Canali - Historical Research Sales Coordinator - ext: 1343 ■Beverly Haynes - Colt Historian - ext: 1391

September 15, 2011, 01:20 AM	#3
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	That's an old one - black powder frame, probably pre-1895. The set-screw that holds the base pin (the axle that the cylinder spins on) is a giveaway. If the nickel finish is original you've hit the jackpot but...odds are it's a re-finish. Appears to have been done fairly well though. Depending on exactly how old, that thing could be worth serious money even if it is a refinish. If original...holy cow. DO NOT shoot it OR clean it until you know what you've got and how to do so. It cannot fire modern smokeless powder cartridges...just for starters, the frame is cast iron! The good news is, the "cowboy action shooting" games have a category in which you have to shoot black powder cartridges and those rounds would be appropriate in that gun, assuming it's still in good condition which in the the case of this antique should be determined by a gunsmith. The cleanup procedures for black powder are "peculiar" as the stuff is highly corrosive and needs specific cleaning techniques and materials...and on top of that, in this gun's case those cleaning supplies must in turn be compatible with the nickel finish. I would have to do some serious digging to figure out what's safe to use on that thing and I've been shooting modern guns for some time now. __________________ Jim March

September 15, 2011, 06:33 AM	#5
Lee McNelly Junior member Join Date: June 9, 2011 Posts: 325	INFOR No infor about when where who shipped to

September 17, 2011, 08:42 PM	#10
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 7,417	The letter is worth it regardless, but if it shows an original nickel finish you've scored gold. Literally thousands in extra value. Even if the nickel was added later, any black-powder-era with the original length barrel as that almost certainly is, is worth serious coin. The letter might also luck out in another way: you might find it linked to a particular historical figure. __________________ Jim March

September 15, 2011, 06:04 AM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	The number on the gate is an assembly number.

September 17, 2011, 06:27 PM	#6
Shotgun693 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2011 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 959	You need to get it appraised for insurance reasons. The Appraiser can tell you when it was made. If you know any history of the gun write it down and keep it with the gun. It's not cast iron, only the very earliest guns were, but it is a lower grade steel than we have now. DO NOT ,EVER, NEVER SHOOT IT WITH SMOKELESS AMMO. It appears to be in shooting condition, with ammo it was designed to use. It appears to be a nice old gun.

September 17, 2011, 06:28 PM	#7
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	That looks pretty nice!

September 17, 2011, 07:38 PM	#8
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Yeah, it's most likely cast iron. You can get the manufacture date from the serial number. http://proofhouse.com/colt/index.html I would spend the money(about 100 bucks) to get it lettered from Colt. That will tell you what finish it had and where it was originally shipped to, most likely a hardware store somewhere but will still have some good info.

September 17, 2011, 08:09 PM	#9
Shotgun693 Senior Member Join Date: September 3, 2011 Location: Poteet, Texas Posts: 959	Only the very first Colts were a very low gradesteel, often said to be cast iron, and they are not safe to shoot with any powder. I had serial # 289 at one time. Gun steel has gotten better and better over time. BP has a different burn curve than Smokeless Powder. BP is much gentler on old guns.

September 20, 2011, 01:59 AM	#11
Model-P Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 727	From what I can see, your sixgun was made between 1883 and 1887. The cylinder looks to be a later replacement. And, FYI, the frame should be mild steel. They only used wrought iron ("cast iron" is pure hogwash) before 1883, which was before your gun was made as far as I am able to ascertain from the one photo. More pictures would help, and a serial number (last three digits can be cryptic. i.e. "xxx") would give the exact year, plus or minus one. Though not original to your gun, if those are ivory stocks they are worth a fair amount in their own right.