Colt smoothbore

[kardar]

Hello

My friend has a Colt Smoothbore revolver in excelent condition. He would like to know more about this gun, when it was made, current value & stuff like that. Is there a website or registry where he can find this info.

Any help would be appriciated

Thanks

 

[dan belisle]

He can get a letter from Colt on when it left the factory and such, do a Google for Colt and go to thier website. - dan

 

[groundskeeper willy]

Pardon my lack of knowledge, but why have a smoothbore revolver?

Shot shells for snake loads?

 

[rickruddell]

Kardar:

Some folks had snoothbore firearms made for trick or exhibition shooting. Shows like the 101 Ranch or Buffalo Bill's Wild West shows used shot in their rifles and handguns.

Have seen some smoothbore Winchester model 1892's (they are pricy) and some Colt SAA conversions to smoothbore.

Kardar: What is the model and serial number of the firearm? You can go to

www.proofhouse.com

They have colt serial numbers up to the 1980s.

Colt firearms have a strange following of collectors - who prize unique guns, and factory original condition. Pricing depends on condition and whether the gun is all original (the older the gun - the less likely that it wasn't bubba'd at some point).

Anyway - if you can give us more information - somebody will be able to give you an idea about value.

Rick

 

[kardar]

Colt Smoothbore

Thanks all.
Rick I went to the Prrohouse web site and found out that this particular gun was manufactured in 1900 Colt New Service model. It has a 47XX serial number both matching on frame & cylinder holder. It is in its original condition without any modifications. Caliber is .45 Long colt.

I checked the Colt web site too, they charge a US$100.00 for the info and other stuff for this model. I will have to check with my friend if he agrees to pay that much just for the info.

Thanks again
kardar

 

[rickruddell]

Kardar -

I typed in colt new service smoothbore and found this on gunsamerica.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976435141.htm

The Colt letter is expensive - but generally adds $100. value to the gun and if your gun is a rare variation it will add more value.

Maybe you should check with the Colt Collectors on this one!

Rick

 

[scanner]

smoothbore

Many Colts and S&W revolvers had their barrels changed to a smooth bore (usually about 8" long, but some were 6" to 12") and were used for rabbit hunting, and shooting rats in junk yards back when you could carry a sidearm in the field in Canada. Local gunsmiths did this work, and it was all done on the older Colt and S&W double action revolvers, larger frames, in calibers like 44-40, 455, and mostly 45LC. You could buy shot shells in those calibers, like sizes #9 shot to #12, or many guys reloaded their own using the old Lee Handloader kits, and melted wax on top of the shell to keep the BB's from falling out (but you could buy plastic shot cups for the same purpose).

 

[Lee Enfield]

Re: Colt Smoothbore

Thanks all.
Rick I went to the Prrohouse web site and found out that this particular gun was manufactured in 1900 Colt New Service model. It has a 47XX serial number both matching on frame & cylinder holder. It is in its original condition without any modifications. Caliber is .45 Long colt.

I checked the Colt web site too, they charge a US$100.00 for the info and other stuff for this model. I will have to check with my friend if he agrees to pay that much just for the info.

Thanks again
kardar

I've seen 1 factory New Service smooth bore. It was an old model circa 1903 chambered in .38WCF (38-40) with a 7-1/2" barrel.

I waited too long & it went to the US.

After 1935 smooth-bore handguns required registration in the US. Factory ones are now considered "Curio & relics", but if their particular serial number is not in the BATFE data-base they are technically contraband (in the US). It is possible to apply to add a given serial to the list.

D