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Did I overpay for this Colt Signature Series?

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That test is not a reliable test. Most open top revolvers won't even go together if they're "out of line" (because of the broaching process) so the only test is a small washer in the arbor hole and assemble ( if you can, why can you ?) Or drive the wedge in (don't be a weenie!!) and see if it locks up the cylinder.

Mike
Doesn't need and won't take a washer. Passed test #1.
Cylinder not locked with wedge all the way in. Passed test #2.
Arbor and arbor hole lightly sanded, polished & lubed so gun can be disassembled without need to use ball peen hammer. :cool:
 
wiscoaster!!! You indicated the barrel and frame came apart very hard. Check the slot in the barrel assembly and the slot in the arbor for any burrs that may have been left in the milling process.
Done. Slots & wedge deburred and lubed. Didn't really need deburring, though.

Now, back to work: hammer & hand, block, trigger, spring, etc.

Side note: unlike Ubertis, I notice the parts on this gun are serialized, and it was done by hand engraving. They sure wanted to make sure the whole gun stayed a "genuine" Colt. Hah.
 
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I bumped into this Colt Signature Series 1860 New Army on Gunbroker when I was looking for something else. All of my cap 'n ball revolvers are repros, with no collectible value, so I figured that with the auction standing at $550 at the time, if I could aquire one of these, with at least marginal collectible value, it might be a good score. So I jumped into it. Well, somebody else probably had the same thoughts, so we subsequently enterered into a bidding battle involving last-minute bid increases and 15 minute rule extensions -- the ususal psychological game of Gunbroker chicken, where the bigger cluck gets the hen. Well, I turned out to be the cluck. But not having had the time and opportunity to do due diligence to proper market value before bidding, as I know I should have (and usually do), I'm wondering if I paid too much to be the big cluck for this item. Not that it matters all that much; time levels all stupidty, and the other stuff I was looking to aquire can wait. Your thoughts on the $755 (+ shipping, taxes & fees) price I'm paying?

https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/1008736288
Good for you in making the purchase. I only regret the ones I passed on, not the ones I purchased. The value you have for the Colt is true value, not market value. Enjoy and congratulations on winning the bid.
 
Well, she's back together:
IMG_3799.JPG


But honestly, on the inside, she's all Uberti, and I ended up doing pretty much everything and anything one would do to a brand new Uberti. I suspect Colt did little more than serialize all the parts, stamp the nameplate, and provide the pretty box. But even that little does make it a "genuine Colt" if that's what one wants. However, if the label doesn't matter, there's no sense spending the extra money for a "better" gun because it's not. The only "better" I've seen so far is the rather nice grips (also serialized).

I spent way more time and effort and energy than I planned, plus have other things needing to get done, so I won't make it to the range today to bless her with her first shots. The main reason it took so much is I ran into a weird problem: when I reassembled, I couldn't get a half-cock. After much troubleshooting, I think the main reason was the trigger was rubbing on one side of its trigger guard slot, introducing too much friction for the trigger spring to overcome and move the trigger (required to engage half-cock). Maybe the trigger spring is weak, too, dunno; didn't address that. Easing the trigger slot required some pretty extensive filing, with repeated partial reassembles to test, and thus a lot of my time. But she's function testing OK, now.
 
“According to the Blue Book of Gun Values, "Although parts for the Signature Series were cast in Italy, they were fully assembled and hand-finished in the United States using the proprietary Colt formulas for bluing and color-casehardening." The Italian origin of the raw parts for these revolvers is no doubt the cause of some disagreement on their authenticity, but the Blue Book further states, "Colt Blackpowder Arms Company Signature Series revolvers are regarded as authentic Colt pistols."

Importantly, these revolvers bear only Colt markings—no import or proof marks—settling the issue rather emphatically.

Article link: Shooting The Colt's Signature Series 1860 Army - Shooting Times
Well, the S.T.'s author and yourself can trade all your 2nd Gen. Colt's For the 3rd. Gen Sig series! There's a reason the 2nd Gen.'s bring bigger paydays!
 
Disassembled completely one more time to fine tune fit, discover and eliminate some remaining friction, and now she's tight and solid but easy to take apart, runs smooth, and passes all function tests. Didn't suck any caps, either, when test fired in the basement with just caps. Leading to wiscoaster's new cap 'n ball revolver axiom #1: If the new gun hasn't been disassembled and reassembled at least three times it's not yet ready for the range.
 
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I have a Colt Signature 1861 rifle that I bought unused several years ago. You can bet it wasn't long after that I was out on the range shooting it. It shoot very accurate at close range with mini and round ball, but at 100 yd's patched round ball is the most accurate. Really a nice looking rifle. As I type this it is hanging on the wall just to my right.












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Well, the S.T.'s author and yourself can trade all your 2nd Gen. Colt's For the 3rd. Gen Sig series! There's a reason the 2nd Gen.'s bring bigger paydays!
I was simply quoting S.T., a rather well recognized firearms publication, and doing so to enable a man who spent that kind of money better enjoy his purchase. No offense but I’ll take S.T.’s opinion over yours!
 
Well, she's back together:
View attachment 256080

But honestly, on the inside, she's all Uberti, and I ended up doing pretty much everything and anything one would do to a brand new Uberti. I suspect Colt did little more than serialize all the parts, stamp the nameplate, and provide the pretty box. But even that little does make it a "genuine Colt" if that's what one wants. However, if the label doesn't matter, there's no sense spending the extra money for a "better" gun because it's not. The only "better" I've seen so far is the rather nice grips (also serialized).

I spent way more time and effort and energy than I planned, plus have other things needing to get done, so I won't make it to the range today to bless her with her first shots. The main reason it took so much is I ran into a weird problem: when I reassembled, I couldn't get a half-cock. After much troubleshooting, I think the main reason was the trigger was rubbing on one side of its trigger guard slot, introducing too much friction for the trigger spring to overcome and move the trigger (required to engage half-cock). Maybe the trigger spring is weak, too, dunno; didn't address that. Easing the trigger slot required some pretty extensive filing, with repeated partial reassembles to test, and thus a lot of my time. But she's function testing OK, now.
Gotta say NICE and well I often forget today`s insane pricing I have recently let google assist me, DANG from $525 to $650 pending condition of course. I often forget what COVID and Greed have done to this Country..... I guess "Market Value" is a lot higher today. Good Luck and Enjoy
 
Well, she's back together:

I spent way more time and effort and energy than I planned, plus have other things needing to get done, so I won't make it to the range today to bless her with her first shots. The main reason it took so much is I ran into a weird problem: when I reassembled, I couldn't get a half-cock. After much troubleshooting, I think the main reason was the trigger was rubbing on one side of its trigger guard slot, introducing too much friction for the trigger spring to overcome and move the trigger (required to engage half-cock). Maybe the trigger spring is weak, too, dunno; didn't address that. Easing the trigger slot required some pretty extensive filing, with repeated partial reassembles to test, and thus a lot of my time. But she's function testing OK, now.

Disassembled completely one more time to fine tune fit, discover and eliminate some remaining friction, and now she's tight and solid but easy to take apart, runs smooth, and passes all function tests. Didn't suck any caps, either, when test fired in the basement with just caps. Leading to wiscoaster's new cap 'n ball revolver axiom #1: If the new gun hasn't been disassembled and reassembled at least three times it's not yet ready for the range.

I was planning not to post on this 4 page thread that could have got the same information with one*, I didn't want to continue feeding the fire, but I gotta do it. No offense 'wiscoaster', but I've always understood and with all new firearms I've bought (new of used) that I give the firearm a good cleaning to get rid of any oils/contamination that may be in the bore (cylinders if revolver), give a light oiling to needed parts, and then if the action and parts are functioning as designed fire a number of rounds through it to break it in and see if there are any bumps in the road so to speak. By stripping it down completely (3 times?) and filing on parts you have no idea if that was needed or not, have no idea how the revolver functioned, what it may have needed, and there is the possibility you may hamper functioning and cause problems that were never there in the first place. Just saying. I recall your Kibler SMR and the wreak that was. Your cap 'n ball axiom makes no sense. This is all I'm saying on this and you can post reply's until your fingers are sore, I'm not responding.

*Discussion on various generations of Colt's, ie. 2nd vs 3rd (Signature Models) and current produced models excepted. Too bad it's not on a separate thread.
 
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I was simply quoting S.T., a rather well recognized firearms publication, and doing so to enable a man who spent that kind of money better enjoy his purchase. No offense but I’ll take S.T.’s opinion over yours!
No offense taken but 3rd Gen. Signature perc. revolvers were made in Italy by Uberti for Lou Imperato under his arrangement with Colt. They are excellent repro.'s and are a little more polished than the American made 2nd Gen.'s. The 2nd Gen.s did have 3 or 4 ruff Italian forgings that were finished and then assembled and completed with US parts here in the US. I believe some people get info for the Colt Single Action Army 2nd and 3rd Gen.'s confused. Mike Bellevue has a good bit of info on the differences between the Colt models on YouTube.
 
The only arrangement that Lou Imperato had with Colt for the 3rd gen pistols was a license to put Colts name on the barrel and frame.
 
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