Let say I have a line for an antique colt 1877 SAA striped frame what would be the going price ? I don’t want to rob the fellow. Also cloud a repro be used as the part donner ? Buying a partkit from a dealer where they keep the frame and transfert all parts to the antique frame to rebuild it in 44 Russian or 41 long colt ? Any gunsmith to recommand ? Any help appreciated
Price for a 1877 colt SSA frame
- Thread starter esquif
- Start date
Not sure what just a frame would be worth…. Do you know what caliber it was originally? You can call and order a colt letter or do it online. I like to talk to the guys at the archive. If you don’t know the original caliber it’s a cheap way ($150 US) to keep you out of trouble because the gun is supposed to of started it’s life as an antique classified caliber. I think peacemaker specialists down in California will ship to Canada. Read all the rules or get an importer. Good luck and if you build it post some pics!
Milspectacles
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
That is correct, the RCMP "re-interpreted" the law back around 2014. The way it is now: if the gun started life in a "go"(non-listed) caliber, you can re-chamber it to any other "go" caliber. If the gun started life in one of the "no-go" cartridges, it will be considered restricted/prohibited regardless of any changes you make to the chambering.
For example, a SAA originally chambered in .41LC could be altered to .44 Special, .38 Special, .45 ACP, etc and remain antique. If you instead started with a SAA in .45 Colt or .44-40 and rechambered it to one of those rounds, it would still need to be registered.
Any guns that were converted and lettered prior to the change are a bit of a grey area, but generally accepted as still antique.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Repro parts from VTI for the Rem 1875 or 1863 New Army are interchangeable with Civil war !858's ( all except the Cartridge cylinder for the 1875, you will need a Kirsk or similar conversion cyl., otherwise everything else is drop in)...unfortunatly I havent found the same for the circa 1884 SAA that I rebuilt to shooting condition, nothing from DGW or VTI was a fit , I had to use the Colts parts recirculation boys from down south for parts...and they are "spendy". Parts I needed were a trigger screw $100, cylinder locking bolt $200 and both center pin & cylinder bushing $ 400 so I lathe built the bushing & center pin but had to suffer the other two pieces. I wanted to use an Italian repo cylinder as well but it wasn't even a "close fit" that could be lathe adjusted a smidge so the original is still in the gun.
I havent fired either of these guns since the re-build but will be in the basement today making light 20 gr BP rounds to be used in the first Cowboy shoot of the season...I am endeavoring to use all guns over 100 yrs old for one full main match shoot . Both of the above pistols plus a late 1800's Colts SAA in .41 C, an 1889 Marlin in 38-40 and a 1903 mod 97 Win shotgun.
i think the barrel will be the easiest replacement for you as a new blank to be lathe cut to fit will likely be the cheapest part of the build. I'm sure your project can be completed but you are going to be well acquainted with files & emory cloth before your done. I have no doubt that you can't compete your project but just be aware that some frustrating moments of "now why the f^%k wont that fit". The frustrating thing about Colts SAA's is that there were parts changes throughout the 1st-2nd and 3rd gen build time frame and all are not documented into ser # ranges so lots of times parts are not inter-changeable from generation to generation or even in the same generation....but damn its satisfying when you can finally thumb that hammer back click click click and the cylinder rotates to be locked up in battery by the locking bolt.
Good luck man
I havent fired either of these guns since the re-build but will be in the basement today making light 20 gr BP rounds to be used in the first Cowboy shoot of the season...I am endeavoring to use all guns over 100 yrs old for one full main match shoot . Both of the above pistols plus a late 1800's Colts SAA in .41 C, an 1889 Marlin in 38-40 and a 1903 mod 97 Win shotgun.
i think the barrel will be the easiest replacement for you as a new blank to be lathe cut to fit will likely be the cheapest part of the build. I'm sure your project can be completed but you are going to be well acquainted with files & emory cloth before your done. I have no doubt that you can't compete your project but just be aware that some frustrating moments of "now why the f^%k wont that fit". The frustrating thing about Colts SAA's is that there were parts changes throughout the 1st-2nd and 3rd gen build time frame and all are not documented into ser # ranges so lots of times parts are not inter-changeable from generation to generation or even in the same generation....but damn its satisfying when you can finally thumb that hammer back click click click and the cylinder rotates to be locked up in battery by the locking bolt.
Good luck man
It is my understanding that a revolver registered in Canada in a non-antique qualifying caliber could not be reclassified as antique if converted.
But if never registered in Canada, then the revolver's caliber determines antique status - regardless of the caliber when it left the factory.
Ok this make sens to me
Thanks any Leeds on a Canadian saa gunsmith?
Milspectacles
CGN Regular
- Location
- Central Alberta
Personally I would recommend Peter Riedel at RustyWood Trading Co in BC, I sent him a SAA that was in a really bad way and he had it fixed up and turned around back in my hands within a week. Others say they didn't like his work on their revolvers but I have no complaints.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Peter at Rusty Woods would be my only recommendation as well , i havent had Peter do any work for myself but I have shot some of the guns he has worked over for others in the Cowboy game and he is a wizard with Italian stuff.
I agree with Tiriaq, if it’s never been registered you should be good to go. Parts are definitely expensive. Someone was just selling them on the EE, freemanrivers. I bought a couple spare parts. Adds up quick. You could try peace maker specialists in California, if I recall correctly last time I talked to them hammers were $600 US. They do have cylinders and barrels. If you look long e rough I’m sure you’ll gather up all the necessary parts and will find some deals along the way. If it was me I’d build it in 38 special just because reloading components are easy to come by and you would have nice thick cylinder walls. And just to clarify it is a Cokt model 1873 SAA made in 1877 not a model 1877 thunderer right? Just wanted to check before you spend a bunch of money incase the guy advertised it wrong to you.
Given the antipathy of our Government towards firearms and firearm owners, I would be inclined to assemble the revolver in an "antique" caliber. The OP mentioned .41 and .44 Russian in Post 1. Those, .455 or any demonstrably pre-'98 caliber might be safer than a "modern" caliber. .41 is more challenging to load for than most others, so it might not be the best choice, unless a .41 cylinder and barrel were to fall into one's lap.
As far as making a barrel goes, that little ejector housing stud complicates things somewhat.
As far as making a barrel goes, that little ejector housing stud complicates things somewhat.
1877 is Colts double action revolver. Parts are available but scarce in Canada.
I can’t find an ejector housing for love or money.
Some of the suppliers in the US don’t ship to Canada.
There isn’t a modern equivalent reproduction that u can salvage parts from.
GC
I can’t find an ejector housing for love or money.
Some of the suppliers in the US don’t ship to Canada.
There isn’t a modern equivalent reproduction that u can salvage parts from.
GC
rommelrommel
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Peter's work is really good and he's a solid guy IMO. I know some say different, but he's made a couple mistakes with my guns over the years and set them right without so much as a second thought.
Its a 1873 colt SAA frame made in 1877 I was thinking in 41 lc since i have a model of 1892 in that caliber. Brass can be made using 38 spl brass. Bullet is a ##### but I am hunting down a mold that would make this a non issue
I agree I am to afraid of the gov to do modern caliber in antique.
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Using the RCMP / CFC definition of disqualifying status, I would make the argument that ALL Colt SAA manufactured before 1898 should be antique.
The Colt SAA was DESIGNED for the .44 S&W American and .44 Henry cartridges.
The US Army told Colt to design a new cartridge because they didn't like the .44 American Ctg (adopted by the US Army in 1869 in the S&W Model 3).
