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Old May 28, 2010, 12:14 PM   #1
knightwalkr
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.44 colt

I bought a .44 colt and am trying to figure out if everything on it is authentic... and if so what the value of it would be. where would i go to research this. I can take a few pictures and post if anyone wants to see it.
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Old May 28, 2010, 12:29 PM   #2
PetahW
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Good/clear pics, many of them, some with closeups of the markings/etc, would most likely be very productive.


.
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Old May 28, 2010, 12:48 PM   #3
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You can get a letter from one of the historians at Colt that will tell you all about your firearm when it left the factory (chambering, barrel length, finish, special options like engraving, etc). This is considered the definitive proof of a collector Colt.
http://www.coltsmfg.com/archive.aspx
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Old May 28, 2010, 01:39 PM   #4
Jim Watson
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.44 colt WHAT?
There were numerous very different models.
Do you have a Single Action Army?
Is it marked "Frontier Six Shooter?"

It is going to take pictures.

How can we help if you keep secrets from us?
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Old May 28, 2010, 10:08 PM   #5
knightwalkr
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Hey

photos as requested.
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Old May 28, 2010, 10:21 PM   #6
knightwalkr
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the rest of the pictures...

notice XO4581 on the cylinder and on the frame. but on the trigger guard it has 224098

I took pictures of all the markings on the pistol.
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Old May 28, 2010, 10:24 PM   #7
knightwalkr
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hey

last image
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Old May 29, 2010, 02:22 AM   #8
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My honest take on it is that it's an Italian reproduction Richards-Mason mated with a Colt Signature Series grip and perhaps other parts. What does the barrel address say? The cylinder does not seem to be properly stamped for a Colt and the numbers on the bottom seem very odd for any kind of Colt I've ever seen.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I can chime in.

Best,
Oly
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Old May 29, 2010, 06:02 AM   #9
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Oly nailed it. The barrel has Italian proof marks. It has a Colt 3rd gen grip frame, the Sam Colt signature is the give away. Not sure on the frame. Still a nice revolver. I just hope you didn't pay original 1872 Colt price for it.
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Old May 29, 2010, 06:39 AM   #10
knightwalkr
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re

i paid around 375, the store i bought it from normally fairly knowledgeable had no clue about it and said that they couldnt find rounds for it and anyone who came in and looked for it wouldnt buy it without at least 2 boxes of ammo. I started trying to find information on it. If it turns out to be a reproduction i wont be hurting on the money. I wouldnt have bought it for anywhere near 2k. I am one of those odd balls that feel that something should be used and ive shot about 4 boxes of ammo through it. I still will need to get the materials to reload my brass becuase finding .44 colts is a pain in the ass.


any way you look at it though its a smoother firing weapon than my SA XD .45. I would hope that it is authentic but like I said I use the pistol. It sits on a shelf beside a box of rounds always ready for me to load it and take it up on my hill with the 4 wheeler.
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Old May 29, 2010, 06:47 AM   #11
Mike Irwin
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The proof marks on the barrel don't lie.

It's an Italian reproduction.
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Old May 29, 2010, 10:17 AM   #12
olyinaz
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I don't see any peening in your cylinder notches and apparently you've got a smooth shooting, great looking cowboy gun there so the fact that it's a bit of a parts mongrel shouldn't bother you given what you paid for it. I'd just enjoy it!

Someone else can chime in if I'm wrong but I think you can shoot .44 Russian in that baby as well.

Enjoy,
Oly
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Old May 29, 2010, 11:45 AM   #13
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Quote:
Someone else can chime in if I'm wrong but I think you can shoot .44 Russian in that baby as well.
It may appear so at first glance, but unfortunately you can't after checking up in "Cartridges of the World"

The 44 Colt uses a heeled type bullet with a diameter of .443" vs the 44 Russians .429" bullet. You'd be lucky to hit the ground with such an undersized bullet. The rim diameter of the Rusian is larger as well and also has a thicker rim; 0.045"-0.047" for the 44 Colt vs .060" for the Russian.
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Old May 29, 2010, 12:44 PM   #14
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Rounds

Ive researched it and I think it was the .44 special brass that I could load. but I couldnt fire anything other than black powder... BUT that was when I was thinking it was a Colt. I was told that the pressure from anything other than a black powder would turn the gun into flying parts.

I am currently thinking hard about getting the stuff to load my own ammo.


Yes its extremely smooth firing. I can fire it with one hand and barley have any rise out of the weapon. over all I love the way it fires. almost feels like it was made for my hand. I bought a holster for it so i can carry it more around my farm. It kinda disappoints me that its not a colt. not value wise. i could give a rats ass about it being worth more than 375. I was more thinking about how cool it was to be holding a 140 year old iron that fired cleaner and truer than a new SA XD. and yes at about 50 and 75 yards the .44 is a truer weapon. at about 100 yards Im not acurate enough with a pistol for it either to show a difference.
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Old May 29, 2010, 01:01 PM   #15
knightwalkr
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Rounds

What are the chances of it being able to fire anything other than .44 colt black powder rounds.
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Old May 29, 2010, 03:46 PM   #16
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Starline makes correct brass.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/catego...Support=1&as=1

If you want smokeless loads you can keep the velocities down to bp levels.
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Old May 29, 2010, 04:44 PM   #17
Jim Watson
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Being a modern reproduction, it will take LIGHT smokeless loads.

Being a modern reproduction, it probably does not have the heel bullet chamber and barrel dimensions of the originals. Modern reproduction .44 Colts typically have the same chamber and bore/groove diameters as a .44 Special. The brass length is intermediate between .44 Russian and Special and the rim is small for the rebated black powder cylinder; but the outside diameter of the case and the bullet diameter are the same as Specials. Should handload with Russian dies but a Colt shellholder.

If you don't want to tool up to handload for it, Ten-X will sell you ammo and then reload the returned brass.
http://www.tenxammo.com/Pricing.html
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Old June 12, 2010, 04:59 PM   #18
knightwalkr
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.44 colt replica

POsted in the wrong place

Last edited by knightwalkr; June 12, 2010 at 04:59 PM. Reason: posted in the wrong place
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Old June 12, 2010, 09:12 PM   #19
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Don't assume anything about the cartridges for that gun, make sure what it uses. If you can't be sure, take it to someone who can. Some ".44" repros were made in .44-40 simply because it is widely available where .44 Colt is a custom item, long out of production by the major manufacturers. Even .44 Special is hard to get.

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Old June 12, 2010, 09:30 PM   #20
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FWIW, I saw 3 boxes of .44 Colt at the Cabela's store in Owatonna, MN today in the Bargain Cave. (I don't recall the price)
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