Dug up a SA revolver

[OldIron86]

I have talked to the sheriff, he ok'd me keeping it. Also not loaded I found it in a boggy/loamy area. The rust is even and I can see crosshatching on the hammer.I don't believe it is 100 years old, or at least hasn't been in the mud for that long. As for why I want to clean it, I want to identify it. Maybe restore it to a presentable if not firing state. I guess I could ask the man I bought the land from as he is 97 years old, it could be his.

 

[Jim Watson]

I don't believe it is 100 years old, or at least hasn't been in the mud for that long

It is a Colt Lightning, made only 1877-1909, it is for sure well over a hundred years old.
No way to tell when it got dumped, though.

Most Lightnings had hard rubber grips, which are pretty stable. Only early guns had rosewood grips that would have rotted away.

From pictures of other dugups, I think electrolysis to be the way to go. It would take a lot of Evaporust and heavy mechanical methods like wire brush or blasting would just grind it up.

 

[skeeterfogger]

Serial number? From a 1800's revolver? Maybe but it's not worth the search or disfigurement.

That's supposed model. No telling what year is was made.

 

[Tallball]

Yeah, it looks like one of those early Colt DA's to me, too.

 

[Browning]

I’d go with electrolysis, scrubbing with a nylon brush, oil and disassembly, more scrubbing, reassemble, oil lightly and display.

Though just me though.

I totally wouldn’t care about it being found in the dirt. It’s almost as old as the dirt it was found in. Any supposed crime (which is what some are hinting at) would be just as old. It’s also black powder. If anything it’s more likely some teenager stole it off a horseless carriage than they were to do anything violent with it.

I wouldn’t overthink it.

 

[OldIron86]

Marking are showing up with light cleaning. On barrel: COLT D.A .38. on frame just below cylinder: Pat: SEPT 18,1871, "JUN 5,1874, "JAN 19,1875. No serial No.? It's soaking in some white vinegar. When it's clean I'm going to dry it thouroghly and take it to a gunsmith for disassembly. The rust looked much worse than it was, with light rag scrubbing I can see the miniscule writing. Going to talk to the previous landowner and neighbors to see if they may have had a gun stolen. Aside from the rust there is no damage. I'm thinking some dummy stole/took this and didn't know how to use it and tossed it in the mud. Must not have been there a year or two. I'll post pictures when she's done with her bath.

 

[whughett]

It is a Colt Lightning, made only 1877-1909, it is for sure well over a hundred years old.
No way to tell when it got dumped, though.

Most Lightnings had hard rubber grips, which are pretty stable. Only early guns had rosewood grips that would have rotted away.

From pictures of other dugups, I think electrolysis to be the way to go. It would take a lot of Evaporust and heavy mechanical methods like wire brush or blasting would just grind it up.

I soaked a civil war Remington submerged in Evaporust for four days. No scrubbing or wire brushing. Let the stuff do it’s job. You’ll be amazed. The cylinder was rust welded to the base pin. A padded pipe wrench and a vice to get the cylinder to just move, back in the solution after the third day I was able to pull the base pin and all the screws.

 

[drband]

Evaporust is sold at Harbor Freight!

 

[whughett]

I watch a lot of “restoration vids on YouTube, one guy, HandToolRescue” is sponsored by Evaporust rust, he does some amazing restoration work.

 

[OldIron86]

Evaporust is on its way! I'm Going to work hard to find the owner, even if it is a Colt and I would LOVE to keep it, it's not mine and I'd be just as much a thief if I didn't try to find the rightful owner.

 

[Old Stumpy]

I so regret disposing of my Man From U.N.C.L.E. magic decoder ring ......

I never owned one.
I still get messages on Channel "D" from Mr. Waverly on my communicator pen, though.

 

[Milt1]

OldIron86, you are apply named!

 

[WestKentucky]

Definitely looks like a thunderer. That grip design along with the... shelf? on top of the grip frame is pretty distinct. If it’s not a colt, it’s something awfully close.

didn’t see the later posts... good for you on trying to find the guns owner. If you don’t find it’s rightful home, then you have a nice conversation piece

 

[OldIron86]

Alrighty, talked to to lands previous owner. It was his father's gun, been put up in a shoebox in the shed for many years. Says he has no idea how it got in the mud. My guess is a child found it and lost it in the woods at the edge of the yard. He said go ahead an clean till my hearts content. Wet spots are hopped #9 oil.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I didn't want to post photos of the Colt Lightning because I don't have any that belong to me.

Instead, here is a link to a Wikipedia page about it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_M1877

I'm not sure about where the Serial Number would be on that model, but the SN on the SAA is stamped on the underside of the frame, in front of the trigger guard. Like this:






The early ones had the SN stamped there on the frame, as well as nearby on the trigger guard, as well as on the bottom of the backstrap.

 

[Speedo66]

Alrighty, talked to to lands previous owner. It was his father's gun, been put up in a shoebox in the shed for many years. Says he has no idea how it got in the mud. My guess is a child found it and lost it in the woods at the edge of the yard. He said go ahead an clean till my hearts content. Wet spots are hopped #9 oil.

Is he ceding it to you? Generally, when you buy property, it comes with every thing on it. Did he indicate how long it'd been missing?

Is there a consensus as to whether that gun would be safe to shoot, assuming the cylinder turns, internals aren't seized, and the inside barrel isn't clogged with rust? Surface rust pits don't look deep.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

Dang. The only thing I've ever dug up on my property has been old horseshoes.

And rocks.....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Evaporust is on its way! I'm Going to work hard to find the owner, even if it is a Colt and I would LOVE to keep it, it's not mine and I'd be just as much a thief if I didn't try to find the rightful owner.

I think you are incorrect on that. You bought the property so in turn what is on the property, unless specifically omitted in writing is yours now. I know you are trying to be nice but in reality the gun is yours. I would not ask anyone other than the previous owner, people do lie you know and might say it's theirs even though it's not.

 

[Jim Watson]

I'm not sure about where the Serial Number would be on that model, but the SN on the SAA is stamped on the underside of the frame, in front of the trigger guard. Like this:

I found a picture of a clean Lightning, the serial number is in the same location, on the frame just in front of the trigger guard and on a gun that old, on the trigger guard.

 

[KevininPa]

You could try placing the revolver in a bucket with Coca-cola for a day or so to remove some of the rust.

I do this a lot with rusty stuff. Strong mix of generic kool aid works well also. Learned that in the Navy.

 

[Obturation]

Alrighty, talked to to lands previous owner. It was his father's gun, been put up in a shoebox in the shed for many years. Says he has no idea how it got in the mud. My guess is a child found it and lost it in the woods at the edge of the yard. He said go ahead an clean till my hearts content. Wet spots are hopped #9 oil.

Lookin good.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Is there a consensus as to whether that gun would be safe to shoot, assuming the cylinder turns, internals aren't seized, and the inside barrel isn't clogged with rust? Surface rust pits don't look deep.

I wouldn't.

This model was notorious for a delicate lockwork that was prone to breakage. That's why Colt came out with another model a year later that was more robust. It would be very hard to find replacement parts and even harder to find a smith who could work on it.

 

[GBExpat]

Evaporust (the active ingredient of which, I have always suspected to be phosphoric acid) should do a great job.

Citric acid (I add citric acid powder to water to clean both brass cases and rusted ferrous material) solution would, also.

Have fun with this, OldIron86 ... I think that I am correct in saying that a number of us reading this Thread are a bit jealous.

Oh ... and Welcome to THR!

 

[MEHavey]

Evaporust (the active ingredient of which, I have always suspected to be phosphoric acid)

See
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showpost.php?s=a01fa2a719f551505a3183ce84931cb6&p=244728&postcount=1

 

[GBExpat]

Excellent information, Thank you!

That is the first time (of many) that dangling my Evaporust "hook" in a Forum has resulted in The Answer being provided by some kind soul.