Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies - The Firearms Forum

Tizz · 01-04-2011, 08:46 PM

My grandfather has these. One is a 45, the other is a 38-40 with beautiful stag grips. My grandfather's cousin was friends with Wild Bill Elliott and we were told he received these guns from Wild Bill and used them to put on shows in parades in Graham, Texas - then later sold them to my Grandpa. Beautiful guns. Any idea what they history on these and what they are worth? Here are the serial numbers and photos:

Serials:
45: 998xx
38: 1980xx

reinhard · 01-04-2011, 09:15 PM

it looks like the colt's are refinished ,I can't see any patent dates or horse
sharp pictures would be great,nice story on the guns, try to get your colt's letterd , I like them and I would love to own them

Tizz · 01-04-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinhard

it looks like the colt's are refinished ,I can't see any patent dates or horse
sharp pictures would be great,nice story on the guns, try to get your colt's letterd , I like them and I would love to own them

Thanks. What do you mean by letterd? Can't we tell from the serial numbers? I believe the grips are sambar stags.

Alpo · 01-04-2011, 09:20 PM

If they were, in fact, used in movies or by a western star, then they would almost certainly be refinished. Take an old Colt, that cost 5 bucks at the pawn shop and slap a cheap chrome finish on it, and voila, you have instant snazzy good-guy gun. Might even saw the end off if it's too long. Lone Ranger's guns were cut-down 7 1/2"s. No front sights. Bat Masterson's (Gene Barry) gun was also chopped, chromed and given a set of crappy plastic "stag" grips.

Alpo · 01-04-2011, 09:24 PM

For a price, Colt will research your gun and tell you when it left the factory, and how it left the factory - barrel length, finish, grips, any special features. And they'll tell you where it went. It might just be "one of seven sent to Joe's Hardware", but in those days of mail order guns, they might have been sent directly to Wild Bill. Although, with the 45 being made in 1884 and the 38 being made in 1901, I doubt they were sent to him.

Tizz · 01-04-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpo

For a price, Colt will research your gun and tell you when it left the factory, and how it left the factory - barrel length, finish, grips, any special features. And they'll tell you where it went.

This is what I'd like to do, can you point me in the right direction to get this started? Thanks.

Alpo · 01-04-2011, 10:02 PM

Factory Letters for Colt Firearms: Colt's Manufacturing Co. Inc., PO Box 1868, Hartford, Connecticut 06144-1868 Phone: 1 (800) 962-2658 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************1 (800) 962-2658***Historical Department. Kathy Hoyt

Tizz · 01-04-2011, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reinhard

it looks like the colt's are refinished ,I can't see any patent dates or horse
sharp pictures would be great,nice story on the guns, try to get your colt's letterd , I like them and I would love to own them

The patent dates are there, and on the top of the Barrel it says Colt, Hartford Connecticut.

popgun · 01-05-2011, 12:15 AM

Well Wild Bill Elliott did use chrome six guns with stag grips. He wore Dbl holsters turned backwards. It was his signature look.

01-04-2011, 08:46 PM	#1
Tizz Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 25	Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies My grandfather has these. One is a 45, the other is a 38-40 with beautiful stag grips. My grandfather's cousin was friends with Wild Bill Elliott and we were told he received these guns from Wild Bill and used them to put on shows in parades in Graham, Texas - then later sold them to my Grandpa. Beautiful guns. Any idea what they history on these and what they are worth? Here are the serial numbers and photos: Serials: 45: 998xx 38: 1980xx Attached Images --> Last edited by Tizz; 01-04-2011 at 10:03 PM.. Reason: re-size images

01-04-2011, 09:15 PM	#2
reinhard V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 202	Re: Single Action Matching Colts used by Wild Bill Elliott it looks like the colt's are refinished ,I can't see any patent dates or horse sharp pictures would be great,nice story on the guns, try to get your colt's letterd , I like them and I would love to own them

01-04-2011, 09:20 PM	#4
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies If they were, in fact, used in movies or by a western star, then they would almost certainly be refinished. Take an old Colt, that cost 5 bucks at the pawn shop and slap a cheap chrome finish on it, and voila, you have instant snazzy good-guy gun. Might even saw the end off if it's too long. Lone Ranger's guns were cut-down 7 1/2"s. No front sights. Bat Masterson's (Gene Barry) gun was also chopped, chromed and given a set of crappy plastic "stag" grips. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

01-04-2011, 09:24 PM	#5
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies For a price, Colt will research your gun and tell you when it left the factory, and how it left the factory - barrel length, finish, grips, any special features. And they'll tell you where it went. It might just be "one of seven sent to Joe's Hardware", but in those days of mail order guns, they might have been sent directly to Wild Bill. Although, with the 45 being made in 1884 and the 38 being made in 1901, I doubt they were sent to him. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

01-04-2011, 10:02 PM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,772	Re: Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies Factory Letters for Colt Firearms: Colt's Manufacturing Co. Inc., PO Box 1868, Hartford, Connecticut 06144-1868 Phone: 1 (800) 962-2658 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting************1 (800) 962-2658Historical Department. Kathy Hoyt __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies. Last edited by Alpo; 01-04-2011 at 10:04 PM..*

01-05-2011, 12:15 AM	#9
popgun V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 403	Re: Single Action Matching Colts possibly used in Movies Well Wild Bill Elliott did use chrome six guns with stag grips. He wore Dbl holsters turned backwards. It was his signature look.