Colt Frontier Scout

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shoff535

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I just started looking at the Frontier Scouts, and I was wondering if someone can tell me the main differences. I know that they used aluminum or zinc alloy frames, but did they ever use steel? what is the difference between the various series (K, F, '62, etc). oh, by the way, I am talking about the reissued ones from the late 1950s through the early 70s when they were discontinues. Were they all 22 cal?
Where I am ultimately going with this question is that i want to compare and contrast with the 22 cal Peacemakers (of the same era).

thanks,
Steve
 
Colt made a bunch of these .22 revolvers over the years.

The "Q" and "F" series came first in the 1950's. Colt then went to a slightly heavier frame with the "K" series. All of these guns had alloy frames.

The .22 Peacemaker Scout revolvers of the same era were steel framed guns.

IIRC Colt Scouts were either .22 LR or .22 Magnum. Interchangeable cylinders started in 1959.

Hope this helps.
 
Virginian

Tell me about it. I had a beautiful New Frontier .22 with the 4 3/8" barrel, color case hardened frame, and the black plastic grips with the rampant colt and eagle on them. If I remember correctly, I think I traded it in on a new .32 H&R Magnum Super Single Six when they first came out. Didn't really care that much for the .32 Magnum, but I would love to have that little Colt .22 back.
 
There is a reference book

specifically on the Colt .22 western style revolvers, the Colt Scouts, Peacemaker, and New Frontier. I was going to give you the title and author but cannot find it right this minute. It gives lots and lots of detail about the construction history of these guns and determining the approximate date of manufacture. The earlier entry that said the frames on the Frontier Scouts are alloy is correct and he is correct about the frames on Peacemaker and New Frontier being steel is correct. If you decide to buy a Scout make sure and get one with a pinned barrel. At first barrels were not pinned and there was some trouble with them becoming loose from shooting due to the fact of the alloy frame instead of steel. Then the company started to pin the barrels. So, a word to the wise. My motto is, BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE GUN. Knowledge is power, knowledge saves you money. The $25 you might spend for this book will save you pain and regret later.
 
ah, good stuff so far, thanks for all of the input.
Moewadle, if you can lemme know what the book is that you are thinking of that would be great. I have a colt book at home (I think it is "Colt Heritage") good history on the company, but weak on specifics of various models, but, a good s/n list in the back.

Thanks,
 
I don't know about the pinned barrel but don't let the aluminium frame be an issue. I am not at home to check on the pin but I have my father's F series Scout. I have personally put 5000 rounds in it an he had shot at least twice that much. It still is in great shape and only retired out of respect. I bought myself an identical one and a two tone for each of my 2 sons.

In my experience, the best .22LR shooters are the early Scouts marked .22LR as the bore is set for that not .22 Magnum. But an aluminum Scout in .22 Magnum is a joy of a field carry piece.
 
Here is the book information

that I referred to above. The title is COLT SCOUTS, PEACEMAKERS, AND NEW FRONTIERS IN .22 CALIBER and was written by DON WILKERSON. I think he is deceased because I bought my copy from a web site run by his widow and I think my copy was around $25 new couple years ago. However, I think that web site may no longer exist. I went to Amazon.com and there are two copies for sale for $39 and $40 respectively. I went to AddAll used and out of print books (if you used those last 7 words to with which to google you will have a book search web site that is excellent and really easy to use.) and there were about 3-4 copies for sale. One was $40 and the others around $90. I found a web site that I have seen before called COLLECTORS FIREARMS and they are in Texas. They have one or more copies at $36. I am sure all of these prices do NOT include shipping costs. So, for any of you who may be looking for this book there is a start. I know something about books and I would suggest if you can get lucky and find one at a gun show for around $25-30 you probably have a bargain and cheaper would be a steal. Happy hunting!
 
Great! there is a guy in LA that I buy out of print books from every so often, and he has that one listed....
Thanks,
 
And one last offer

I like to help people with information and I know most of us cannot afford to buy loads of $40 books. So, with that in mind I would like any of you to feel free to email me directly at [email protected] if you have questions about these Scouts that I can research in my book. I will be glad to do that. I also have a all the Gun Digests except a very, very few of earliest ones and 2008. So, if you have a question I can research via Gun Digest let me know. Just make sure and put a subject in your email that is clearly related to firearms so if it gets in my spam filter I can sort it out.
 
I also suggest you find a copy of Don Wilkerson's book. I bought it from Don W right after it was published at a gunshow. Those were good old days and I remember telling Mr. Wilkerson a year prior to publication that I was really looking forward to it.

Prices on these guns started to take off after publication of the book. Prior to that they all sold for about the same money. For the most part, nobody knew much about them. I'm sure there were a few who were well versed on the lower production guns, but I sure wasn't one of them.

Moewadle; what book have your written or are you currently writing a book?
 
To answer your question

I did self-publish a book on movie tie-in paperbacks, nothing to do with guns. How did you happen to ask that question?
 
...if you have questions about these Scouts that I can research in my book.
Click to expand...
That's the reason.

I also have almost all the Gun Digest which I find to be quite useful for general research issues. The catalogs are good too.
 
After handling a Frontier Scout in a local gun shop last year, I've been keeping an eye out for one. The one they had was a pristine collector piece, and I'd rather pay less for one with a nick or two and shoot the snot out of it. The only concern I have is that it doesn't have adjustable sights as most .22s seem to. Has anybody found this to be a problem?
 
If I were you, I would look around and find a Colt New Frontier which has adjustable sights. New Frontier's have a steel frame as do the fixed sighted Peacemaker models. Excellent 22/22mag revolver! Better in my opinion than anything else that is currently available.
 
Gosh, they are pretty little revolvers. I have never seen one that the case coloring looked bad.
 
I found a new frontier with the .22 mag cylinder only at a gun show and it shots like a dream and looks brand new, I think I paid $325 for it.
 
"shoots like a dream"

I found this to be a very true statement yesterday.

Fired about 50 rounds of Win. T22's through the LR cylinder.

Very much impressed. I think this one will be a keeper, and worthy of a set of ivories:)

Wish I would have picked one of these little Colt’s up yrs. ago.

Guys, FYI don't always go by those over priced reserves that are set on auction site items.

I got my little gem by contacting the seller (Gun Broker listing) through
email and made him a reasonable out the door offer. I got it for well
below his set reserve on the listing.

The big question in my mind is, why did Colt ever stop making these little gems. :confused:
 
Just picked up a sweet early F model shooter from a friend. Untill looking it up I had no idea they had such a following. Had no idea of history and varieties. Lots of info out there but still unclear on: Can a mag clinder be had and just replace original long rifle (in early model)and change back whenever? When they say white alloy frame does that always include backstrap and trigger guard? What exactly is duotone? Is the recommended bolt stop upgrade as simple as on full size SAA? I'm not going to mark the screws yet just to peek. After many years w/1st Gen SAAs never thought I could be so impressed with little Scout until having one in my hands for first time. Thanks for this site. Wish I had stumbled on it years ago. BB
 
Borderbud, see #8 posting

above and you will have the information for the best reference book on the Colt SA "Peacemaker style" .22 revolvers. It gives very detailed information on Scouts, Peacemakers, New Frontiers, the whole .22 Colt line in these models.
 
I don't have access to my copy of Wilkerson's book at the moment, so I'll tell you what I know. Single caliber L series are rare. Most were shipped with the two cylinders. The only way to verify if one was shipped with a single cylinder or both is to have the original box or get the Colt historical letter. The letter may in fact not mention this, but you can hope.

The cylinders were each fitted to the gun and normally can not be simply "dropped in" although you might get lucky.

The duotone blue was a blue revolver that had a combination bright blue and kind of a matt subdued blue on the other portion of the revolver. The early Troopers were shipped like this.

I believe the "white" is simply a non-blued frame and as far as I know it would include the trigger guard and back strap. I believe only the barrel was blued. To say something "always" is the case with Colt would be a stretch as Colt was known to make some unusual variations to spur sales or for a special order.
 
I picked up this sweet buntline a few months ago and it's one of my favorite rimfires!
It's got some wear on the finish but that just makes it easier to use as I don't worry about holstering etc...
One thing I have noticed is that other New Frontiers have a non fluted mag cylinder while the one I got with the gun is fluted?
It works fine but has anyone else ever seen two fluted cylinders with these guns?

buntline.jpg
 
here is a link to an online owner's manual that was given to me on a different forum. (thank you Hud105)

http://stevespages.com/pdf/colt_new_...r_buntline.pdf

it's doesn't have the information you requested and probably won't answer your questions, but it is related to the colt frontier and i believe a lot applies to the frontier scout model as well. maybe you or somebody else will find it helpful.

By the way, the scout is a nice little pistol. mine has a ser.# of 149xxxF.
 
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