A 5cent Colt

[fred cook]

Well, the finish is nickle anyway! Latest addition to the herd, added just yesterday. It is a 1926 vintage Colt Officers Model in 38 Special. The grips will have to go, but I have a nice pair of giraffe bone grips that should look nice on this one! Not bad for one almost 90 years old!

[tevake]

Really nice looking piece for its age for sure.

Great photos, too

Will it get used, or stashed?

Cheers Riichard

[targa911S]

wow! that's a beauty!

[onewhippedpuppy]

Really nice. Hope you shoot it vs just storing it.

[ficke]

Nice.
Why "5cent"? I never heard that term before.

[Jeff Higgins]

Purty... You're right, though, it deserves far better grips. You'll have to show us once you get them fitted.

[tabs]

Was the OM Colt REFINISHED in Nickle? If it is an original finish it is a SPECIAL ORDER as I have only seen maybe one or two that potentially were originally in Nickle. So if original you have a Colt REAL RARITY. Obviously those rubber grips are not original. Being a 26 the SN should be around 550K

I have seen these OM's with 4, 4.5, 5, 6, and 7.5 inch Barrels. The real tough ones to find are the 4 and 5 inch Barrel ones. Then try and find one that is in 32 Cal with a 7.5 inch Barrel. Only known of two with a third in 6 inch (circa 1922). These OM's came in 38, 32 and 22 Cal. The 32 is tough to find as the majority were made in 1940 with 6 inch Barrels. Earlier ones are known but apparently were special orders.

A unique and interesting variation are the Colt King Super Targets, that were essentially modified by the King Co of San Francisco in the 1930's and 40's...Essentially they installed a rib on top of the Barrel and smoothed out an already smooth action. Slick is the word for them..Colt later duplicated their work and called it a Python and Diamondback.

[Tobra]

5 cents=one nickel

nickel plated

very nice piece, almost too nice to fire

A Diamondback does not have a trigger like a Python at all, unless worked on a bit.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by Tobra

5 cents=one nickel

nickel plated

very nice piece, almost too nice to fire

A Diamondback does not have a trigger like a Python at all, unless worked on a bit.

If it is an original Nickle gun he would have to be a moron to shoot it. If is a refinish who cares? If original I would find either an original set of checkered Walnut's or find a set of original Colt Ivories.

BTW I think I saw this OM on an auction site recently other than GB?

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by tabs

If it is an original Nickle gun he would have to be a moron to shoot it. If is a refinish who cares? If original I would find either an original set of checkered Walnut's or find a set of original Colt Ivories.

BTW I think I saw this OM on an auction site recently other than GB?

Don't know if it is original nickel, original nickel that has been replated or a blued gun that has been nickled. Will probably send for a letter from Colt to find out more. Also, the hammer is not stock Colt. It has been reshaped to look more graceful and to ???. I've got a set of the original Colt checkered walnut grips, but I think it deserves something fancy! I also have a set of Lew Sanderson target grips that would look nice on it!

Yep, was on GB. I saw it and pushed the "Buy it Now" button. Haven't done that very often! I have a soft spot for the Officers Models and didn't have a "shiny" one in my collection.

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by tabs

A unique and interesting variation are the Colt King Super Targets, that were essentially modified by the King Co of San Francisco in the 1930's and 40's...Essentially they installed a rib on top of the Barrel and smoothed out an already smooth action. Slick is the word for them..Colt later duplicated their work and called it a Python and Diamondback.

There was a gunsmith by the name of George Matthews that also did the rib conversions on both Colt and Smith revolvers. If you have a 1989 Handguns Annual you will find a good article with lots of pictures of his work. Also, the 1969 issue of Guns and Ammo Annual has a section on custom handguns with some of his work pictured. One of his guns was a 1877 Colt Lightning that he converted to .22 rimfire. After doing the conversion, he remodeled the grip to look like a single action grip, case hardened the frame and rust blued the barrel, cylinder and grip frame. For a finishing touch he added ivory stocks. I was fortunate a while back to be able to acquire this particular gun. Here is a picture.



I do like my Colts!

[tabs]

Originally Posted by fred cook

Don't know if it is original nickel, original nickel that has been replated or a blued gun that has been nickled. Will probably send for a letter from Colt to find out more. Also, the hammer is not stock Colt. It has been reshaped to look more graceful and to ???. I've got a set of the original Colt checkered walnut grips, but I think it deserves something fancy! I also have a set of Lew Sanderson target grips that would look nice on it!

Yep, was on GB. I saw it and pushed the "Buy it Now" button. Haven't done that very often! I have a soft spot for the Officers Models and didn't have a "shiny" one in my collection.

I have had a mushy heart for the OM as well. That is why you might say, that I know so much about them. Did you know that there were 5 variations of standard Walnut grips put on them over the years?

1. Solid checkered grips no medallion...1903-1908

2. Solid Checkered grip wt deep dish Colt medallion small center diamond 1908-1917

3. Solid checker wt deep dish Colt med. large center diamond. 1908-1917

4. Solid RAISED checkered grips wt deep dish Colt medallion circa 1917-1926?

5. Solid checker with raised nickle Colt medallion 1926 - 1941


Post war 1946..Colt went to a plastic grip that they called Colt Wood.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by fred cook

There was a gunsmith by the name of George Matthews that also did the rib conversions on both Colt and Smith revolvers. If you have a 1989 Handguns Annual you will find a good article with lots of pictures of his work. Also, the 1969 issue of Guns and Ammo Annual has a section on custom handguns with some of his work pictured. One of his guns was a 1877 Colt Lightning that he converted to .22 rimfire. After doing the conversion, he remodeled the grip to look like a single action grip, case hardened the frame and rust blued the barrel, cylinder and grip frame. For a finishing touch he added ivory stocks. I was fortunate a while back to be able to acquire this particular gun. Here is a picture.



I do like my Colts!

Did U ever meet Cam Cogsdale?

[ficke]

Originally Posted by Tobra

5 cents=one nickel

nickel plated

very nice piece, almost too nice to fire

A Diamondback does not have a trigger like a Python at all, unless worked on a bit.

Thanks!

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by tabs

I have had a mushy heart for the OM as well. That is why you might say, that I know so much about them. Did you know that there were 5 variations of standard Walnut grips put on them over the years?

1. Solid checkered grips no medallion...1903-1908

2. Solid Checkered grip wt deep dish Colt medallion small center diamond 1908-1917

3. Solid checker wt deep dish Colt med. large center diamond. 1908-1917

4. Solid RAISED checkered grips wt deep dish Colt medallion circa 1917-1926?

5. Solid checker with raised nickle Colt medallion 1926 - 1941


Post war 1946..Colt went to a plastic grip that they called Colt Wood.

You left one style out. The top option grip for an Officers Model starting in 1904 was the walnut "Fleur de Lis" style grip. My 1904 OM (4th oldest one known) has them. Here's a pic:



The oldest known OM is serial 229881. This one is 232xxx. These guns' serials were mixed in with the regular New Army/Navy production and later the Army Special guns.

[tabs]

No the Fleur de Lis was the one I meant.

I had 237,898....stone cold mint.. Also had a 7.5 32 cal C 1922..

[tabs]

I have a friend who has a SA converted into 22. Have to ask him bout that one again?

[stogie25]

This one is from the mid 1930's. This should be the original grip. This one I miss.

[tabs]

What gets me is that I had a Bisley Flat Top that was restored..probably by De Haas...sold it, Recently sold a Bisley 4 5/8 45 LC all the while thinking I could get a USFA Bisley Flattop tgt to shoot....Ehhhhh USFA is no more...

[tabs]

Originally Posted by stogie25

This one is from the mid 1930's. This should be the original grip. This one I miss.

Pencil b...

I also had a "Lend Lease" marked 7.5