Colt .45 Long Colt Identification - The Firearms Forum

kncrsr5r · 11-26-2008, 04:18 PM

PICS BELOW.

Can anyone help with Year Made, etc.

.45 Cal
Serial# 244xxx
7.5" Barrel
Nickel
13" Overall
Plastic Grips with Colt Logo
Patent Dates and Colt Logo on left side under cylinder, 45 COLT on Barrell.
COLTS PTFA MFG Co Hartford CT USA on top of barrell.
No Markings on right hand side.
Serial Numbers on bottom of grip, Frame, and Trigger Gaurd Frame.
#5988 on Gate

Pics Soon

muddober · 11-26-2008, 07:00 PM

I don't have a book with serial numbers and dates but I have been playing with Colts for years and my guess is that your gun was made about 1905. Also with all due respect the correct terminology for your guns chambering is 45 Colt and not 45 Long Colt. I think the "long" came from people trying to distinguish the much shorter 45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge (45 ACP) from the much longer 45 Colt cartridge.

kncrsr5r · 11-26-2008, 07:06 PM

No disrespect taken. I'm no Guru. Thanks for the info!

muddober · 11-26-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kncrsr5r

No disrespect taken. I'm no Guru. Thanks for the info!

You are welcome. I would also like to add even though you did not ask, your gun as you have described if at all decent is worth in the thousands of dollars and NOT in the hundreds of dollars, so don't let anybody try to fool you on value.

Alpo · 11-26-2008, 09:20 PM

It was made in 1903. You said "plastic" grips. If they are plastic (and they might be) then they have been replaced. Most probably, though, they are "hard rubber", or "gutta percha". That would be the correct grips for that timeframe. Sounds like your loading gate has also been replaced, since it should have the same number as the rest of the gun.

kncrsr5r · 11-29-2008, 01:26 PM

kncrsr5r · 11-29-2008, 01:27 PM

more...

kncrsr5r · 11-29-2008, 01:29 PM

still more...

kncrsr5r · 11-29-2008, 01:30 PM

again more...

kncrsr5r · 11-29-2008, 01:34 PM

This is a family gun. It was my Great Great Grand fathers. It has been used for personal protection, much to the final dismay of a would be assailant who saw it from it's dangerous side.

Now seeing it's condition...what would a general insurance and retail value be?

Alpo · 11-29-2008, 04:32 PM

I like those nice, crisp, sharp screw heads. Don't look like anybody has been playing around with the innards. What would y'all call that? That's a nickel gun. 10%? I'd say it oughta sell for at least 3 grand - maybe more. If it was mine I'd insure it for about 5.

Oh, and those grips are gutta percha. The right stuff for that gun.

muddober · 11-29-2008, 11:16 PM

With all due respect to Alpo the numbers on the loading gate of old Colts has no reference to the serial number meaning your gun is as original as they come. I already knew this but to be sure I just checked a half dozen of mine and without exception the numbers on the loading gates had nothing to do with the serial number.

45Auto · 12-02-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddober

With all due respect to Alpo the numbers on the loading gate of old Colts has no reference to the serial number meaning your gun is as original as they come. I already knew this but to be sure I just checked a half dozen of mine and without exception the numbers on the loading gates had nothing to do with the serial number.

The loading gate No. will be on the frame someplace if you take it apart.

11-26-2008, 04:18 PM	#1
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Colt .45 Long Colt Identification PICS BELOW. Can anyone help with Year Made, etc. .45 Cal Serial# 244xxx 7.5" Barrel Nickel 13" Overall Plastic Grips with Colt Logo Patent Dates and Colt Logo on left side under cylinder, 45 COLT on Barrell. COLTS PTFA MFG Co Hartford CT USA on top of barrell. No Markings on right hand side. Serial Numbers on bottom of grip, Frame, and Trigger Gaurd Frame. #5988 on Gate Pics Soon --> Last edited by kncrsr5r; 11-29-2008 at 01:37 PM..

11-26-2008, 07:00 PM	#2
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification I don't have a book with serial numbers and dates but I have been playing with Colts for years and my guess is that your gun was made about 1905. Also with all due respect the correct terminology for your guns chambering is 45 Colt and not 45 Long Colt. I think the "long" came from people trying to distinguish the much shorter 45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge (45 ACP) from the much longer 45 Colt cartridge.

11-26-2008, 07:06 PM	#3
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification No disrespect taken. I'm no Guru. Thanks for the info!

11-29-2008, 01:26 PM	#6
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification Pics Attached Images

11-29-2008, 01:27 PM	#7
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification more... Attached Images

11-26-2008, 09:20 PM	#5
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification It was made in 1903. You said "plastic" grips. If they are plastic (and they might be) then they have been replaced. Most probably, though, they are "hard rubber", or "gutta percha". That would be the correct grips for that timeframe. Sounds like your loading gate has also been replaced, since it should have the same number as the rest of the gun.

11-29-2008, 01:29 PM	#8
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification still more... Attached Images

11-29-2008, 01:30 PM	#9
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification again more... Attached Images

11-29-2008, 01:34 PM	#10
kncrsr5r Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 41	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification This is a family gun. It was my Great Great Grand fathers. It has been used for personal protection, much to the final dismay of a would be assailant who saw it from it's dangerous side. Now seeing it's condition...what would a general insurance and retail value be? Last edited by kncrsr5r; 11-29-2008 at 01:36 PM..

11-29-2008, 04:32 PM	#11
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification I like those nice, crisp, sharp screw heads. Don't look like anybody has been playing around with the innards. What would y'all call that? That's a nickel gun. 10%? I'd say it oughta sell for at least 3 grand - maybe more. If it was mine I'd insure it for about 5. Oh, and those grips are gutta percha. The right stuff for that gun.

11-29-2008, 11:16 PM	#12
muddober Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,436	Re: Colt .45 Long Colt Identification With all due respect to Alpo the numbers on the loading gate of old Colts has no reference to the serial number meaning your gun is as original as they come. I already knew this but to be sure I just checked a half dozen of mine and without exception the numbers on the loading gates had nothing to do with the serial number.