A Friendly Colt Appreciation Thread

[Rick Bowles]

There is a thread that's blowing up over on the Colt forum.
"A friendly Smith & Wesson appreciation thread" Colt and S&W are unquestionably the preeminent gun makers in the country
and have been making iconic American firearms for well over 150 years.
It isn't surprising that Colt folks also appreciate and own Smith & Wesson firearms.
With a nod to the thread on the Colt forum let's show folks that S&W aficionados
also own, appreciate and shoot Colt firearms.

Allow me to start with three first model, pre-war Woodsman .22pistols, a Sport, a Target and Match Target.

[forindooruseonly]

I do love Colts as well as S&W, so I can get behind this idea.

Also - I am immensely jealous of your elephant ear Woodsman... That is a very nice collection of Woodsmans and nice photography too.

I don't own any early ones, so I'll add a couple from the end of the production run. Not as nice as the prewar guns, but nice enough just the same.



Obligatory Python picture...



And for those single shot aficionados...

[sheepdawg]

I've got five S&Ws on the Colt Forum thread. Here's three Colts.

[824tsv]

My picture taking skills leave something to be desired compared to the posts above, but here you go.

I like Woodsman's too!







I also like .38 wadcutter Colt's
top: Jim Clark Model 61-S (built in 1966) on a Colt .38 Special Kit gun
bottom: Colt National Match .38 Special Mid Range (reflection of the safe door on the slide-poor photo skills)

[410bore]

I only have a few;


Pre War OM .38 with King Sights and Roper Stocks







Diamondback .22 with original box

[RobertJ.]

Here's a DS from 1977, and a NS from 1916:

[Dennis The B]

My favorites -

[05CarbonDRZ]

Here is a pre war detective special with a King Super Police package and a King short action conversion:
DSCN0488 by alex1961m, on Flickr
DSCN0489 by alex1961m, on Flickr
DSCN0491 by alex1961m, on Flickr

[Rick Bowles]

The word "iconic" cold have been reserved for the Colt Single Action Army.
This is a consecutively numbered pair of 4-3/4" .45 Colt SAA with carved ivories.

pre-war Officers Model Target in .22 and .38 with ivory

[iPac]

Somehow I don't think this will be as popular over here, as the Smith thread is on the Colt forum but I will participate.

Here is some bling. Don't see that much of it over here. My 1992 King Cobra 357mag. Never shot it.

3.JPG

[Xfuzz]

A couple..

[H Richard]

Series 70 Gold Cup, slightly enhanced.



Officers Mod Target, that still shoots pretty good.

[824tsv]

Where do you locate the drool button?
Lot's of nice Colt's so far. I'll add a couple more of mine.

[beetledude]

A couple of mine....

[red9]

You may not collect both but, if you like quality firearms, you have to appreciate both Smith and Colt. I have posted this picture before. Matched pairs of similar frame size and same caliber.

Bob

[BigBill]

I need to figure out how to do pics.
I have a Purdy colt 1911a1 series 80 government model in 45acp with a 5" barrel in nickel. Colt and s&w knows how to do nickel right.
I have a Colt Officers Target model revolver built on the larger 41 frame. It's the largest framed revolver in 22lr that I own.

Think about it, if it wasn't for colt and s&w firearms in the old west where would our country be today? I think there's a lot of our nation's history with colt and s&w guns. Think about it there the hand guns that built a country, a nation.

[Harkrader]

I need a LOT more money.

[Harkrader]

The Delightful Dozen:
Delightful Dozen.jpg

And the Hemorrhoid:
Hemorrhoid.jpg

[4barrel]

Here are a few bullseye guns. Some have been shown before. I do have nicer grips but these fit my hands. 45acp--38sp--45acp--38sp--22lr.

[Rick Bowles]

WOW, talk about some Colt porn! A mint, first year Government Model and a 1940 Super Match
(a personal grail gun)! Does the Super Match have a Swartz Safety and what can you tell us about
the lanyard ring. Here's my 1939 National Match. It has the Swartz Safety and like the Super Match
has fixed sights which, by this time, was a special order option as the Stevens adjustable sight was standard.

[S. Hammer]

I have a few Smiths up on that thread. Here's my old duty Python

My Officers Model Match MKIII .38. One of only 496 ever made.

[Ivan the Butcher]

I can't post pics, but I have given a home to a 1919 PSS in 32-20, a Cobra, a pre 70 Commander in 45 ACP, and 70 series Commander in 38 Super. They get along just fine with my 15 Smiths. Ivan

[MarkAlt]

A Lightweight New Agent...



Special Combat Government carry model...



An Elite Combat Elite...



The required Python pic . A 2.5" bright stainless...



Delta Elite...

[SHOOTER13]

Added my S&W's to the Colt Forum Thread...here are my "Ponys"

[Saigon1965]

I like Colts and I like Ivory -

[Erich]

[Old cop]

I still have my '68 Cobra .38 purchased new as my first off-duty gun. Not carried much now, mostly doing home defense duty.

[boykinlp]

Colt Model 357


Colt Python


Colt 1908 Vest Pocket


Colt Series 70 Combat Government

[Ranger17]

just over a couple years ago i decided that in my 50's i wanted to get into shooting/gun ownership for the first time (i did shoot rifles off and on over the years just not consistently or with ownership). My in-laws who are all hunters/sport shooters offered me their dad's gun for my first firearm; it was just sitting in storage for a few years after he had passed.
So low and behold, i was handed down an early 50's Colt Challenger, one that may have been in their family since day one.

Not the most pristine piece anymore, but all i can say is that old gal sure still shoots nicely. In the couple years i've had her (i still take it to the range every now and then) i've put maybe 1k rounds thru it. Thing just keeps going and going lol.

It hooked me on shooting, and someday i'll hand her down to my grandson and keep it in the family.

[ContinentalOp]

[GF]

Lawd have mercy ... you guys have fine handguns!

I'm in (The LOW end) on the thread.

A Mod 37 & an Agent ...



Trooper III



Colt JR ! !



Python



Woodsman



GF

[davidward501]

I too own Smith & Wesson, the majority of my collection, and Colt. I have to admit that I bought a Cply 1911, NIB, solely because of fond memories of it saving my A** a few times in Viet Nam. It is and was the most reliable pistol I have ever carried.

David

[italiansport]

One of my favorite duets:
I have a letter on the engraved Model 1908 and know who owned it originally but alas I have no address - not city or State! The engraving is non-factory but the grips are factory pearls.




Here's a new in box 60s Colt Cobra. it can't be cocked because the original factory grease has hardened. I've never taken it apart to free it up. The blotches on the exterior are factory grease as well.



Jim

[BearBio]

I know Rick has seen these (and others) before but most of you haven't, so here's a few of mine:

An early 1900's Bisley in 41 long Colt. Letters to Mexico City. Engraved in a Native American motif with carved ivory and ruby eyes:


Two third generation SAA with ivory grips, ivory handles knife, watch fob is wart hog ivory:


A Colt SAA from 1907 in 41 long Colt, real pearls and re-nickeled:


Colt Signature Series Walker with a Leach Bowie with hippo ivory:


CA. 1905 SAA in 38-40 and a matching Winnie '92:


Colt 1878,Colt lighting storekeeper and a Thunderer:


Lightning strikes twice: storekeeper and a Lightning (rifle by Colt)




A Thunderer and a Lightning (rifle by Colt)

[Johnny J. Frame]

Also have a 1970s nickel Cobra.

[ISCS Yoda]

I have a charming Colt Cobra that a friend literally gave to me. It's a great little carry gun. I should carry it more often. It's my only Colt now that I've sold my Mustang + and I'll be keeping it. I need to post a picture of it here in my revolver album.

Maybe I'll carry it tomorrow, see how it feels instead of my 642.....

[manderson]

Nickel Model 357







Custom Shop Python







A Variety of Pythons



A Rack of Colts

[Auburn4]

WOW!!!! GOD Bless America. ABSOLUTELY SOME FINE FIREARMS. I have two also, a Colt Cobra 2" and a Trooper Mrk III. 4". Let us own up Fella's, I bet that we all have or had a Colt at one time. Great idea on the thread.

[Walter Rego]

Here's one that gave Smith & Wesson's K-38 Masterpiece a run for it's money back when revolvers were kings of the target range.

[BrewsterII]

Colt's and Smith's, what's not to love!

[Cyrano]

And one rifle.
Two Colt Commandos.
Colt M 1909.
Coplt M 1917..
Colt Banker's Special 22
Colt Lightning Magazine Rifle, cal 38-40 (my great-grandfather's deer rifle).

[Cyrano]

Colt M 1911
Colt M 1911A1
Series 70, slghtly tweaked, and Colt Combat Commander, both in 45 ACP.
Colt M 1903, Parkerized, marked US Property and has British proofs.
Colt 38 Super, second year of production.

[bmcgilvray]

Colt has an honored second place behind my beloved Smith & Wesson guns here and the Colts are well-loved themselves. Colts are gratifying to own and, in the case of the Detective Special which is better than any Smith & Wesson J-Frame, are taken seriously.

Here's a 1905 vintage Single Action Army in .38 WCF (.38-40).




I like the .41 Long Colt cartridge really well as a fun and useful obsolete round for playing with.

Here's a Colt New Navy in .41 that dates to 1901.

[one eye joe]

THIS IS HEARTWARMING TO SEE. I SHOT COLTS EXCLUSIVELY FOR 30 YEARS, BEFORE I GOT THE ITCH FOR A .44 MAGNUM. I JUST COULD NOT WARM UP TO THE ANACONDA, SO I JUMPED THE FENCE AND PURCHASED A PAIR OF 629s--A 3' AND AN 8 3/8"…..

I SHOT AND CARRIED 1911s, PYTHONS, AND DIAMONDBACKS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY PICS THAT I HAVE HANDY ARE OF MY 8" PYTHON, SO I WILL SHARE IT BELOW…..

AS USUAL, THERE ARE SOME MAGNIFICENT COLLECTIONS OUT THERE IN THE HANDS OF OUR FORUM MEMBERS, AND THE PHOTOGRAPHY IS OUTSTANDING….

[bmcgilvray]

Newest Colt is this Government Model that my son ordered for me when he ordered himself one through the Twentynine Palms PX less than a year ago while he was still in the Marine Corps.



Showing the Marine 3/7 commemorative stocks that came with it.


Father and son .45 automatics out for a shoot just this past weekend.


My first Colt, first .45 automatic, and first military collectible handgun, this World War I rework by Augusta Arsenal was acquired when I turned 21 in 1978. Learned about 1911s and .45 ACP handloading on this one.


A pre-1911 Colt .45 Automatic, this pitiful Model 1905 was purchased from a woman whose grandfather brought it up with him out of Mexico years before. Could have been Pancho Villa's personal side arm. Ya' never know.


A favorite 1947 vintage Government Model.


Circa 1979 Gold Cup purchased new in about 1982.

[Absalom]

Just like I did in the Colt Forum thread on S&W, here are a few random historical Colts, amateurishly photographed:

1. A US Army Model 1901 .38, shipped in 1901 to Benicia Arsenal in CA.
2. A Colt Police Positive .38, shipped in 1915 to the Audley Safety Holster Co. in New York, with a NY patrolman's name and shield number engraved on it.
3. A Colt Pocket Hammerless 1903, shipped in 1917 to the Wm. Frankfurth Hardware Co. in Milwaukie. A very interesting gun I wish could talk; basically no finish left, but great action and not a spot of pitting or corrosion anywhere, so well taken care of. The bluing must have just rubbed off over decades of daily carrying.
4. A Colt Army Special shipped to Murta Appleton Co. in Philadelphia in 1924.
5. A Colt Official Police, .38 Spl., shipped in 1951, Allentown, PA, Police.

[PROnSHIELD]

WHEW!!!

I don't know how much more my heart can take...

[jaymoore]

A few favorites:


Needs an original Magazine, though!


1924 Argentine Naval Contract. Probably favorite Colt of all of 'em!


Only "tooth" grips I have.

And a rather used SS Python complete with night sights, 'cuz it's not a collector's piece!:



ETA: A definite favorite, as it's an "end of the world or somesuch" thing:

Although it's certainly not NIB anymore.
Mostly Colt (some stirring about of parts and some additions- would be an A4 clone, but for the adjustable LMT stock):

[silentflyer]

I am drooling on the keyboard....

[SlowerTrafficKeepRight]

Amazing posts, comments, and photos, to the trusted Colt. I'm gonna go out and buy two.
Dang it... Spending more money.

Drool