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Colt Rimfire Pistols


X Mark

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I'm looking for information regarding the value of an old Colt rimfire pistol.

The pistol belongs to a friend and I don't have access to it at this time.

It came to my friend with the family story that said it belonged to a relative that was a Sheriff  "back in the day ".

 The pistol is a SAA in .41 rimfire.  I don't have a serial number at this time.

   Any help that can be provided regarding the value of this type of pistol would be appreciated.

I understand that there are condition issues that would affect the value.

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2 minutes ago, largo casey #19191 said:

I thought Colt Thunderers were in 41?

                                                                          Largo

Rimfire???

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I looked & the only thing they show for rimfire is Derringers.

                                                                                                                  Largo

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Maybe it is not a “rim fire”.  Have you been able to inspect it yourself?

 

If you have not seen the revolver yourself, ask your friend to photograph both sides of the gun, the rear area of the revolver with the hammer cocked all the way back, and also photograph the rear of the cylinder (removed from the frame, if possible).
 

If it really is a rimfire, it will be very interesting to see the photographs!

 

Cat Brules

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A

The Colt 1873 SAA was offered in dozens of calibers. The list of cartridges it was not available in is probably shorter than the list of calibers you could have one in.

 

None of my research has ever turned up a definitive listing of cartridges it was sold in. Of note is that there was a run of revolvers chambered in .44 Henry rimfire.

 

 

From ColtFever.com

 

Quote

By 1878 the Colt SAA was being offered from the factory in additional calibers for civilian and foreign military sales. Many were sold in .44-40 Winchester Center Fire (44WCF), introduced in 1878 to allow cross-compatibility with the Winchester '73 lever action rifle; this model was called the "Colt Frontier Six-Shooter" which was etched and later roll-stamped on the left side of the barrel. Additional period calibers for the SAA included .38-40 Winchester (38 WCF) introduced in 1884, the .32-20 Winchester (32 WCF) introduced in 1884, the .41 Colt introduced in 1885, the .38 Long Colt in 1887, the ..38 Special and the .357 Magnum in the 20th Century. Some of the separately-serialized .44 Henry rimfire revolvers were rechambered to .22 rimfire after 1885. The SAA at one time or another was offered in dozens of calibers from .22 rimfire to.476 Eley, though the .45 Colt has always been the most common. A scaled-down .22 rimfire version called the Scout or Frontier Scout was available in the late 20th Century.

 

Quote

From 1873 through 1940 (with small numbers assembled during and after World War II, the so called "Pre-War, Post-War" model), production of the Colt Single Action Army reached 357,859. This is identified as the "Pre War" or "First Generation" of the model. Calibers, at least thirty in all, ranged from .22 rimfire through .476 Eley, with approximately half, or 158,884 (including Bisley and Flat Top Target variations), chambered for .45 Colt. The next most prevalent were the .44-40 Winchester Center fire (WCF) at 71,392; 38-40 (38 WCF) at 50,520; 32-20 Winchester (32 WCF) at 43,284 and, the 41 Colt at 19,676.

 

 

Once you can put your hands on the pistol take pictures being especially careful to note the barrel markings and barrel length. Then contact the Cody Firearms Museum and see what you can learn.

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I'm looking through all my references, and I can't find anything about a Colt's Model 1873 SAA in .41 rimfire.

I have found where they started making a .44 Henry Rimfire in 1875, only 1863 of them were made and 107 of them factory converted to .22

Found lots of "Derringers", assorted pocket pistols, and the Colt New Line produced in  .41 rimfire "short" and "long"

 

If that really turns out to be a 1st Gen SAA in .41 rimfire, get a Colt letter on it!  

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10 minutes ago, Trailrider #896 said:

Nothing is impossible in the world of Colt SAA's.  While it is possible for that gun to be chambered in .41 rimfire, I would think it more likely to be .44 Henry so as to match Henry or Winchester M1866's.

Agreed!  I've seen a LOT of "never made" guns.

 

But...it would take some real good docs to support it...and then it would be worth a fair amount.

 

Phantom

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59 minutes ago, Goody, SASS #26190 said:

I'm betting dollars to donuts that IF it's a Colt SAA and IF it's a 41 caliber, it's a 41 Colt, not a rimfire.

 

We alllll know you like yer donuts...

 

:P

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Let’s start with the firing pin and the shape of the pin hole in the action.  Pointed round pin and hole or flat pin and flat pin hole

 

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Howdy

 

The most complete list of cartridges for the Single Action Army I know of is what Jerry Kuhnhausen lists in his book The Colt Single Action Revolvers A Shop Manual, Volumes 1 & 2.

 

The only 41 caliber cartridge he lists is the 41 Colt. Left to right the cartridges in this photo are 45 Colt, 41 Colt, and 44 Colt.

 

poSZgqUMj

 

 

 

 

No mention of the 41 Rimfire, which was a very short cartridge meant for small derringers such as this Remington Model 95 double derringer.

 

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Kuhnhausen states that over 1800 Single Action Army revolvers were chambered for 44 Rimfire, which I take to mean 44 Henry. The rounds in this photo, left to right are 22 Long Rifle, 32 Short Rimfire, 32 Long Rimfire, 38 Rimfire, 41 Rimfire, and 44 Henry.

 

po98oZMzj

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Gentlemen ,

   Thank you for all your information.

I am urging my traveling friend to un-case this Colt when he arrives back home . He'll get some pictures  (hopefully detailed ) and I'll post them back here.

 Again , thanks .

   X  Mark

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Okay folks ,

 Here's the skinny on the Colt "rimfire".

It is marked .41 Colt so it's not a rimfire.

My buddy talked to the Colt people and they said it was made in 1892.

 Nothing to get real excited about----just another old Colt.

  Yeah , like they're not something special      !!!!!!  9sarc)

 

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X Mark, 

 

the bore on the .41 Colt is .401, same as the .38 WCF aka .38-40. Your friend could locate a .38 WCF cylinder and have it timed to his revolver. The reloading components are available for .41 Colt but factory ammo from some of the smaller loaders runs more than $1.00 per round last time I checked. In today’s market it may be more.

 

Here is some great info if he decides to put that old smoke wagon back in action:

 

Loading the .41 Colt

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FYI

 

Late Black Powder SAA (Mfg. 1890 - 1896, ser. no. range 130,000-165,000)
three line patent date format changes to two lines with three dates, circled rampant Colt trademark is added to left side of frame, grips transition from wood and rubber with eagle to plain two-piece rubber by 1892, and caliber designation is added to the barrel and eliminated from trigger guard.
Late Black Powder SAA (Mfg. 1890 - 1896, ser. no. range 130,000-165,000) image1
 
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
  N/A $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $12,000 $9,500 $8000 $6,000 $5,600 $4,800 $4,000
Subtract 40% for nickel finish.
Add 25% for original box.
Add 10% for 4 3/4 in. barrel.
Add 20% for wood or rubber with eagle grips.
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21 minutes ago, Sedalia Dave said:

FYI

 

Late Black Powder SAA (Mfg. 1890 - 1896, ser. no. range 130,000-165,000)
three line patent date format changes to two lines with three dates, circled rampant Colt trademark is added to left side of frame, grips transition from wood and rubber with eagle to plain two-piece rubber by 1892, and caliber designation is added to the barrel and eliminated from trigger guard.
Late Black Powder SAA (Mfg. 1890 - 1896, ser. no. range 130,000-165,000) image1
 
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
  N/A $30,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $12,000 $9,500 $8000 $6,000 $5,600 $4,800 $4,000
Subtract 40% for nickel finish.
Add 25% for original box.
Add 10% for 4 3/4 in. barrel.
Add 20% for wood or rubber with eagle grips.

real world pricing is about 1/3 to 1/5 of those from 50% and down.

 

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