testtest

Black powder Colt

I have acquired a Colt single action serial number 117xxx. It comes back as made in 1898. But it is a black powder frame. All serial numbers match, what’s up with this?
 
"Black powder" frames are frames in which the base pin is held in with a screw from the bottom. "Smokless" frames have the spring loaded cross bolt that is depressed to remove the base pin. The nomenclature comes from the frame change Colt made in the late 1890's on the 1sr generation SAAs during the black powder transition.

From...

 
I did some medium searching , found a 370 page pdf of verified individual 1st Gen s/n .

117,xxx is 1886 . Bellow is a screenshot of some 117xxx guns with factory letters and other documentation . I'll post where to get the pdf in following post .
1000002285.jpg
1000002285.jpg
 
Generally, Black Powder > Smokless SAA :

The visible difference is screw vs spring loaded cylinder latch retainer . Also changed was the steel and heat treatment.

The transition is Generally accepted to start in 1896 at s/n 164,100 . As of 1900 at s/n 192,000 , all subsequent SAA are * Officially Factory Certified * for smokeless.

In-between, Colt used up parts on hand in various combinations . Individual guns in that 4 yr period could have randomly received all " smokeless " components . The closer to 192,000 the more likely.
 
Back
Top