Would you shoot an original 19th Century Colt?

[dwave]

The guy selling it thinks its a fake too, but it is funny how he puts it:

This gun is not a replica

OK, if it isn't a copy its an original right?

I do believe it is however possibly a handmade copy which is 50 or more years old

So...its a replica? (Posibally according to him, I am pretty sure its a fake. Walkers sell for more than 3000.)

REPLICA: a copy exact in all details

 

[SWC Bonfire]

A real walker had rifling that gains in twist as it goes down the barrel if I'm not mistaken. And the thread pitches on the screws are probably not the same as the original. I'd bet they're metric.

He knows its a fake, otherwise he'd prove it was real and sell it for 50 times that price. If nothing else, he could have the frame analyzed in an inconspicuous spot for metallurgical content vs. known authentic revolvers.

 

[Macmac]

There are 4 types.
The real thing

A reproduction, which is like colts 2nd generation, the real thing made of modern materials, but exact to the original.

A Replica, All the foreign makes currently sold, that have other sizes in threads (metric in this case) and are made from modern materials and have some difference if you measured with a mic.

Fakes, Fakes are made today and have been made since most anything collectable was made amd sometimes before any item became collectable.

Fakes always try to decieve the buyer they are the real thing.

 

[jphendren]

According to Dennis Adler, genuine Walker's had an upside down "8" in the 1847 rollmark on the barrel, the smaller loop was on the bottom and larger on the top. Also all Walker cylinders were left in the white and not blued.

Jared

 

[Tallship]

I saw this gun at the Del Mar gun show in December and the guy admitted that it was a handmade "copy" made some time in the 1950's (that's why he says in the ad that it's at least 50 years old). Anyone that pays $3,000 for that gun is being taken.

 

[mukluk]

Did a little research myself regarding the Walker; all the pictures of verified originals I looked at had the 1847 roll mark (and now that you mention it, the 8 is upside down on them, even the military ones). The other thing that screams fake to me is the cylinder notches... on the gunbroker Walker they are quite circular or only very slightly ovaled... on originals they are shaped like a racetrack or a noticeably elongated oval.

 

[scrat]

wow you guys are good. i dont think i would ever buy an original with out consulting you guys.

 

[Yankee John]

My father-in-law picked up a 1964 Gun Annual-type book at a flea market recently. There was a fairly lengthy artical in it about how various gun clubs would have "competitions" using refurbished original pistols. Some even had extra target sights and such added.

My original Remington new Model Army was re-blued ages ago and is quite shootable. One of these days.........

John

 

[Harve Curry]

I have been lucky enough to handle a original Colt Walker, even cocked it and let the hammer down easy. Hmmmmm.
There were some counterfit Colt barrels at shows a few years ago. They were remarked, but it was'nt a roll mark. They were etched, very nice and smooth to the touch. Roll mark displaces metal and you can feel it with your fingers. Also I don't think Colt SAA's had any 5 groove barrels like the fella was trying to sell me.

 

[Roswell 1847]

A reproduction, which is like colts 2nd generation, the real thing made of modern materials, but exact to the original.

I think those count as "Reissue" rather than reproduction since Colt made the originals.

 

[tube_ee]

An original Walker Colt

Would never, ever show up for sale on GunBroker.

These are ultra-high-value collector's pieces, with a long history of fakes and scams. Any such gun would be sold by an auction house specializing in firearms, with a fully-documented provenance going back to the last Colt employee to touch it with a tool.

Julia's (the folks that bought Czar Nicholas II's Parker for $262K) sold one last year for well over $400K.

Collector guns of this type are a whole different world. I doubt there's anyone on this board who plays in that league. If there are, I'm sure they've got some interesting stories, and I hope they'll share them with us.

As to the original question... it's tough. I'd probably shoot it once, because if I could afford to own the thing in the first place, I could afford to take that amount of money and set it on fire. Put yourself in the place of treating half a million dollars like we treat a couple of hundred bucks. "Buying a gun" money. Again, a whole different world.

--Shannon

 

[J.T. Gerrity]

The other thing that screams fake to me is the cylinder notches... on the gunbroker Walker they are quite circular or only very slightly ovaled... on originals they are shaped like a racetrack or a noticeably elongated oval.

In fact, you have it exactly opposite from how it really is: original Walkers have a more circular bolt notch and the repros have the elongated slot.