Need open top/conversion experts!

[Kodiak Bill]

The font on this one seems to be the same front on the frame of the one in question.

 

Does anyone know what’s going on here? 

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Kodiak Bill said:

The font on this one seems to be the same front on the frame of the one in question.

 

Does anyone know what’s going on here? 

Unless that's an 1849 Pocket .31 caliber, I'll say that's a modern reproduction... or an original that was also restamped, engraved, refinished and had a whole lot of value removed in the process.

 

If you look at serial number stamps on original C&B revolvers, one thing you'll find they have in common is the number is extremely rarely in a straight line...   If you look up Colt serial numbers on their website, they'll list any 2nd gen reproductions they produced with that serial number.  All 6 of my 1851 2nd gens are so listed... first with that serial numbers 1st issue, then the year of issue for the 2nd gen.

 

As for the 1st gun... you seem to have been resoundingly told it's a reproduction over on the Colt Forum... If you believe it to be a Colt, send off a request along with your pictures (& money) and ask Colt.

 

As for the screws, don't let them bother you, all my 1851s have SAE or USS threads.  (Including my sole ASM... but it was reputedly assembled with Uberti parts left over from the Colt 2nd Gen,.. its date code is from 1986 and has all it's Italian proof marks as it was imported as a complete gun).  

[Kodiak Bill]

The problem with the Colt forum is, there has to be a few people out there that know what this is. So far, it’s people saying it’s Italian, based on the marks on the cylinder, that isn’t original to the gun.

[Griff]

4 hours ago, Kodiak Bill said:

The problem with the Colt forum is, there has to be a few people out there that know what this is. So far, it’s people saying it’s Italian, based on the marks on the cylinder, that isn’t original to the gun.

Frankly, the only one who might know would be the 'smith that did the conversion.  While I think that one would tend to defarb the whole gun... rather than just part of it... it is the sum of its parts... for what it's worth, I think it's a well done modern conversion, whether of an original, or a replica is almost beside the point.  It would only be of interest if you were wanting to shoot the gun with smokeless ammo.  If it were an original, any value it had as a Colt is gone.  The conversion did some of that, and the remarking did the rest. It's a "shooter"... maybe.  I have a couple of spare Uberti cylinders for my 1851s that I bought as parts... I'll have to look at them to see if they have Italian proof marks... but I'm a few days away from home.  IMO, the only sure way to know is to have the steel analyzed and determine if it's of late 19th Century origin.