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Brokenbear

Brokenbear

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Arriving today is supposed to be an unfired 3rd Generation Colt 1849 Pocket Model ..I bought for just a bit over the current 1849 Pocket versions offed by the current importers.

I bough it to shoot ..however after buying it (bought it under the impression the 3rd Gen was not looked upon as a true Colt Company issue as the Colt factory only "lettered" a few if any) ..hence I was buying it as a shooter ...I realize from reading that the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen were actually fitted/finished by the same basic folks and both from imported from raw Italian casting ....HOWEVER ..I am also reading that the 1849 Pocket was NOT in the 2nd Gen round issue...

Now I am seeing "blips" saying "not so fast on not treating the 3rd Generation as a collectable ??? what to do what to do?????

I am hoping as I turn to the forum that some knowledgeable folks might share their thoughts on the shooter or no shooter subject...

You won't hurt my feelings at all because I currently am looking at it just as a jazzed up Uberti or whatever ...

Thanks
Bear
 
I own several revolvers that are older but not as old that but still ANIB. I've had numerous talks with people about shoot or not. My thinking is that any firearm that is 50 years old or more and unfired should remain that way unless you have nothing else to shoot.
 
Acquired a 3rd generation colt back in 99 and was unpleasantly surprised, It ended as a shooter and was not satisfactorily accepted. That one moved on. Apparently, the weapon was on or near the last run as it had some Italian markings left on it. It had paperwork but I have often wondered if it was a counterfeit. As I was not well informed about the different runs of the colts and at the time was not really interested as the weapon was a trade in, more or less a plus. I was aware that Italian castings were imported for it. I have handled original colts and that particular one did not hold a candle to them.
 
Brokenbear said:
Arriving today is supposed to be an unfired 3rd Generation Colt 1849 Pocket Model ......HOWEVER ..I am also reading that the 1849 Pocket was NOT in the 2nd Gen round issue...

Now I am seeing "blips" saying "not so fast on not treating the 3rd Generation as a collectable ??? what to do what to do?????

I am hoping as I turn to the forum that some knowledgeable folks might share their thoughts on the shooter or no shooter subject...

You won't hurt my feelings at all because I currently am looking at it just as a jazzed up Uberti or whatever ...

Thanks
Bear
Click to expand...
The "Third Edition Blue Book of Modern Black Powder Values" on page 206 shows both the Colt 1848 Baby Dragoon and the Colt 1949 Pocket pistol being made as a part of the Third Generation series. There was also a "1849 Pocket 150th Anniversary Gold Rush Edition" made during the Third Generation series production.

The Second Generation series does not show any of the 1848 or 1849 Colt revolvers as a part of their production.
 
Well gentlemen and Ladies? ..the 3rd Gen 1849 Pocket Colt arrived this afternoon .....

It is unfired ....

I have until this coming Tuesday (when my .323 round balls will arrive) to decide whether it is going to be a shooter or looker ..I presently do not own a single looker

I will say the metal to metal ...wood to metal finish is very good
That Electra Blue Colt bluing is certainly a notch or two above the "crowd" ..also above the crowd is the mirror polished metal the blue and case hardening are resting on

The Case Colors are good when you realize they are 30+ years old

Bear
 
Brokenbear said:
Arriving today is supposed to be an unfired 3rd Generation Colt 1849 Pocket Model ..I bought for just a bit over the current 1849 Pocket versions offed by the current importers.

I bough it to shoot ..however after buying it (bought it under the impression the 3rd Gen was not looked upon as a true Colt Company issue as the Colt factory only "lettered" a few if any) ..hence I was buying it as a shooter ...I realize from reading that the 2nd Gen and 3rd Gen were actually fitted/finished by the same basic folks and both from imported from raw Italian casting ....HOWEVER ..I am also reading that the 1849 Pocket was NOT in the 2nd Gen round issue...

Now I am seeing "blips" saying "not so fast on not treating the 3rd Generation as a collectable ??? what to do what to do?????

I am hoping as I turn to the forum that some knowledgeable folks might share their thoughts on the shooter or no shooter subject...

You won't hurt my feelings at all because I currently am looking at it just as a jazzed up Uberti or whatever ...

Thanks
Bear
Click to expand...


Unless you just took up this sport to make some extra $ none of these repros are worth so much coin to not enjoying by shooting. I know many National Champs who shoot pre-1865 original Caplock and Flintlock singleshots as well as Percussion Revolvers Worth $$$$+++ in national and state level NMLRA/NRA an INT team matches. After shooting them myself I could see why they do. If I had an extra 30gs I would also...c
 
@Brokenbear, your photo software on your computer will have a selection in your edit picture section to resize the picture. Select resize and use a pixel size of 1020 and the other dimension will set itself. Save the adjusted picture under a different name and post the reduced picture to the Forum. We'd love to see pictures of your new (to you) revolver.
 
Grenadier1758 said:
@Brokenbear, your photo software on your computer will have a selection in your edit picture section to resize the picture. Select resize and use a pixel size of 1020 and the other dimension will set itself. Save the adjusted picture under a different name and post the reduced picture to the Forum. We'd love to see pictures of your new (to you) revolver.
Click to expand...
I will see if I can follow the bread crumbs ...thanks ..I think ;-)

Bear
 
Well ...it is going to be a shooter ..tomorrow or after church Sunday

I purchased this Colt from the executor of an estate sale sight unseen ...The gentleman who passed either did not really know how to prepare firearms for long term storage or was simply unable to do so

I pulled it down and it was dry as a bone except easy to get to exterior large areas ..but no rust as such anywhere ..I could see some finger prints in the case colors area that may or may not clean up with some Kroll ..

But it still will be a nice above average shooter ..all 5 chamber are round and all are .3185 diameter ..the arbor set seems good ..the hammer spring is very strong ..I do not have anything to compare the nipple flash hole size to but it does not appear to be excessively large (like the diameter slightly larger than a straight pin)
....no cylinder play and lock up is crisp .. the timing is good both slow cock and fast ..

The Blue and case colors are above average but I think the silver plating on the gripframe is weak in that I see a corner here and an edge there that have a "suspect" look to them ...time will tell on that one ..

Bear
 

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Morning Brokenbear,

You made a good buy on that one. Shooter or collector, not a real Colt ? You will hear a lot of different opinions on that but the bottom line is that they were licensed by Colt and were made in NJ USA by Anthony Imperato's company, the "Colt Blackpowder Arms Company" Mr. Imperato now owns the Henry Firearms Company.

Please see the attached 1998 Colt catalog pages

I have 3rd gen Colts that I shoot, other 3rd gen's that stay in the safe unfired, clean & oiled as an investment. In my opinion the fit, finish, & function of my 3rd gen Colts is excellent. Are they more or less accurate than a current Italian model BP revolver ? You would need to hear that from a better shot than myself. <G>

I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks,
O.R.
 

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Colt Black Powder Arms was Imerato's last gasp at keeping his Colt licensed company afloat, so much so that in waning few years it was marketing all manner of "Colt" accessories before it folded ~2002 (?).

IMO, all of the Colt guns (from the 2nd Gen on) were all about external looks and not the internal workings. The rough parts were purchased from Uberti and finished Stateside, and the internals got little attention insofar as fit/function.

The photo of the Colt 1848 Baby Dragoon is not an 1848 at all. The 1848 had a short frame and a short forcing cone. The 1848 was made from 1848-1849 and overlapped the production of the 1849 which had the longer frame/forcing cone.

I am willing to bet that Colt BPA used the 1849 frame/barrel as an economic expedient rather than producing a short frame/barrel.
1848 Baby Dragoon Imperato 001.jpg


1848 Pocket .31 Replica Arms made by Armi San Marco in the late 60's.

1616877394670.png


Regards,

Jim
 

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