Is it true the new Colt signature series is Italian made?

[[email protected]]

Received the sad news that Mike Venturino passed away this week.

Big loss for the shooting and outdoor community.

That is sad news, he was a good guy. I met him at SHOT and we corresponded occasionally, a wealth of information and a friendly guy.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

The 3rd generation or "Signature Series" Colts were made in Brooklyn, N.Y. Some of them were pretty sad, while others--maybe the later ones--were much nicer.

I never cared for the stamped, Sam Colt facsimile signature on the grip strap. I realize that is why they called it that series, it just isn't for me.

 

[fireman1]

The second generation Colts were not made by Uberti. Colt bought rough forgings from Uberti and machined and finished them in the United States. They do not carry any Italian proof marks or stampings--and all Italian made firearms do. They are considered to be genuine Colts by Colt and by collectors. This myth about the second gen Colts pops up on the web every three months or so and refuses to die.
The "Signature Series" guns, while not as desirable as second gen guns, were also made in America and not in Italy. You will not find any Italian markings on them either.
Perhaps one day this false story will fade from memory and newcomers will not be led astray by this nonsense.

A number of the parts in the Gen 2 guns were made by Colt or the usual Colt subcontractors also. IIRC the frame was made by Colt.

 

[fireman1]

Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!!. I just saw this thread is 17 years old!

 

[GYJ]

A number of the parts in the Gen 2 guns were made by Colt or the usual Colt subcontractors also. IIRC the frame was made by Colt.

Colt didn't make anything. They assembled and finished them from all outsourced parts.

 

[fireman1]

Colt didn't make anything. They assembled and finished them from all outsourced parts.

Colt did indeed make some of the parts domestically. That has been documented in other threads on this.

 

[M. De Land]

SURE IT IS, STAMP COLT ON IT AND IT GOES UP 500! :rotf: Kidding aside I dont have a clue,( was in gun shop other day and saw a Colt CAR-15 for 1500 mine was 400 something 15 ? 20 yrs back,cant belive they cost that much more to make now. I cant find the box for this unfired T/C Patriot its here...someplace and seems to be a great money booster with a sale, I was given 2 very small bottles out of a old case "Tanter" 577 cal?? - something like that it has about 2 tea spoons of sperm whale oil in each - wonder what those are worth as the label is compleat and from a well known whaleing town here in USA??? NO they arent for sale. Fred :hatsoff:

I know a fella that has several still full cans of Herter's Sperm Whale oil from when it was available I think for gun lubrication.

 

[morehops52]

I love it when 17 year old posts get resurrected.

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

And the same false or misleading information repeated....

 

[Hawk54]

Go to Capndballrevolvers.com and you can get all the real answers about second and third generation Colt revolvers. No speculation. Just facts.

 

[Blackpowderart]

Do the 2nd generation Colts have the infamous short arbor problem?

 

[Eterry]

Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!!. I just saw this thread is 17 years old!

You know Batman never went that long without a sequel... it must be time for a re-deux.
Chapter II.

 

[Dickydalton]

Do the 2nd generation Colts have the infamous short arbor problem?

Yes. Because the rough castings were sent to Colt that way.

 

[smoothshooter]

Yes, the Colt Signature Series were made with some Italian parts being put together in New York by the Imperato family who also still make modern Henry rifles. In general, the Signature Series are not as well made or as authentic in detail as the 2nd Generation Colt cap and ball revolvers.

I own and have owned many 2nd Generation Colt cap and ball revolvers since I came back from Vietnam in 1971.

The 2nd Generation Colts were made on and off from about 1971 to 1982. These are mainly Uberti parts shipped in as semi-finished components which were then built and finished into guns to Colt STANDARDS.

Several companies subcontracted with Colt to assemble and finish these generally fine quality 2nd Generation Colts.

Then there is a gap to approx. mid-1990's when the then owners of Colt made a licensing agreement to allow the Colt Signature Series to be made. The agreement included that the Signature Series would be referenced in the regular Colt catalogs.

Confusion ensued.

A few years ago the Signature Series went out of business. In my opinion the Signature Series, while o.k., is no where near as high in overall quality and attention to accurate detail as the 2nd Generation Colt cap & ball revolvers.

An EXCELLENT book which included all this and more is "Colt Blackpowder Reproductions & Replicas" by authority Dennis Adler. Think book has been updated and revised. A very good read with great pictures. Also has lots of information on Italian and Ruger revolvers as well as shooting and maintenance.

If you want to shoot the Colts, author & respected authority Mike Venturino has an entire chapter on Colt cap & ball revolvers in his book on shooting Colt single actions.

Sidebar: Mike Venturino taught actor Tom Selleck how to accurately handle and shoot the Sharps rifle for Tom's movie Quigley Down Under. Tom Selleck collects guns including big bore Winchester lever actions such as the Model 1876 Winchester.

Don’t know if it is widely known yet, but Mike Venturino died recently.
Very sad to hear.

 

[Jeff Coates]

Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!!. I just saw this thread is 17 years old!

And yet the debate rages.

Colt did a pretty good job of creating uncertainty. We all know they were business decisions when made, but throughbthe lens of time it gets muddied and confusing.

One can see how records a century and a half old het so confusing when trying to track serial numbers.