Army Special Back from Cylinder & Slide

Muddyboot · #1 07-04-2018, 09:29 AM

A few weeks short of a year being gone, my chopped AS in .41 LC
returns with Cylinder & Slides Standard Polish & Reblue. I'm happy with the job they did, the revolver has some pitting on the right side plate, but
otherwise is in good condition.

billwill · #2 07-04-2018, 09:59 AM

Very nice piece of work you have there. Let us know how it shoots. Enjoy.

jeeps · #3 07-04-2018, 10:01 AM

A vintage e.d.c.

Muddyboot · #4 07-04-2018, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billwill

Very nice piece of work you have there. Let us know how it shoots. Enjoy.

Shot it yesterday, excellent inside of 20 feet, but spreads out beyond that.
Of course that could be my fault also....

murphydog · #5 07-04-2018, 11:16 AM

Nice work! Are they able/willing to work on older Colt revolver internals also?

Muddyboot · #6 07-04-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphydog

Nice work! Are they able/willing to work on older Colt revolver internals also?

They've done work for me on both Army Specials and Official Police Models with internal issues, though I'm not sure if the go back to pre 1900 Colt's. Best to email and ask them.

Quality of work has always been first rate...

bigchuck83 · #7 07-04-2018, 01:51 PM

Great looking gun.

153 · #8 07-04-2018, 02:04 PM

Did they chop the barrel?

WC145 · #9 07-04-2018, 03:45 PM

Terrific looking piece, got any 'before' pics? I have a 1909 PPS that had the barrel chopped to about 2" sometime during it's life. The blue is quite worn and there is some pitting, but I'm leaving it the way it is.

Muddyboot · #10 07-04-2018, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 153

Did they chop the barrel?

No, that was done by a different smith....

Muddyboot · #11 07-04-2018, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WC145

Terrific looking piece, got any 'before' pics? I have a 1909 PPS that had the barrel chopped to about 2" sometime during it's life. The blue is quite worn and there is some pitting, but I'm leaving it the way it is.

I did, but they were lost when my old laptop died...

CH4 · #12 07-04-2018, 05:06 PM

To quote Tom Petty: The waiting is the hardest part.

Very nice!

dr. mordo · #13 07-04-2018, 06:38 PM

Beautiful!

You could work up some reloads and have a pretty unique CCW there. 41 LC is no magnum, but it's hotter than a 38 SPL so still relevant.

BearBio · #14 07-05-2018, 09:40 AM

Grashorns?

bmcgilvray · #15 07-05-2018, 09:48 AM

So "b'niss-like" looking and in .41 Long Colt too!

Yum!

Cocked & Locked · #16 07-05-2018, 09:51 AM

Fine looking Colt!

Bakebfr480 · #17 07-05-2018, 10:56 AM

Very nice!

Muddyboot · #18 07-05-2018, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BearBio

Grashorns?

No, a seller on Gunbroker makes them. He is located in Colorado.

JJEH · #19 07-05-2018, 07:49 PM

Droooooool

DWalt · #20 07-07-2018, 11:54 PM

I suppose most know that there are virtually no mechanical differences between the old Colt Army Special and later revolvers built on the same frame such as the Colt Official Police, the various Officers Models, and even the Colt Python. If you can work on any of them, you can work on all of them.

bmcgilvray · #21 07-08-2018, 12:19 AM

Colt E and I frame revolvers from 1915 to 1978. Virtually the same inside.

E-Frame has hammer-mounted firing pin. I-Frame has frame-mounted firing pin.

Is the Python really any better?

dr. mordo · #22 07-08-2018, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

Colt E and I frame revolvers from 1915 to 1978. Virtually the same inside.

E-Frame has hammer-mounted firing pin. I-Frame has frame-mounted firing pin.

Is the Python really any better?

What the heck? You always show off your S&W collection, but goddang you've got some Colts!

I must admit I envy your collection which seems to include most of the classic revolvers from the last 100ish years.

Beautiful guns!

DWalt · #23 07-08-2018, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

Colt E and I frame revolvers from 1915 to 1978. Virtually the same inside.

E-Frame has hammer-mounted firing pin. I-Frame has frame-mounted firing pin.

Is the Python really any better?

No, just a lot more expensive. A mystery is why a Colt 357 or an earlier Colt Trooper in .357 can be had for under $1000 vs. a Python for $2500 and up (often way up). Aside from the Python's shrouded and ribbed barrel, they are otherwise identical. And there were far more Pythons made than 357s or .357 Troopers. There is always the myth about the better finish and fit of the Python, which I think is hogwash. I have a 1960 357 and its fit and finish could not be improved upon. And a .357 Trooper which is not very far behind.

bmcgilvray · #24 07-08-2018, 08:53 PM

Yeah and DWalt, the 1978 Python would be gone long before I'd entertain selling the 1954 3 5 7. What's more is that my Python, which is a garden variety representation of the breed with a typical factory original action, would have to get up pretty early in the morning to whip the fine-feeling actions as exhibited on the 1925 vintage Army Special .41, the 1953 Official Police, or the 1957 Officers Model Match.

Full disclosure: I'm not at my double-action best with any Colt revolver, my trigger finger, being long accustomed to the Smith & Wesson K and N Frame guns.

Hi Dr. Mordo; I'm the merest of neophytes when compared to some of the heavy hitters to be found here on Smith & Wesson Forum or over on Colt Forum.

Poor Muddyboot. We've done sent his thread, which is about his fine "bi'ness-like" custom .41 Long Colt, straight into the ditch. And a fine .41 it is too.

Love .41 Long Colt! As a fantasy revolver notion of mine, it'd be a hoot for Colt to make a run of .41 Long Colt Pythons since the Python frame was an outgrowth of the old ".41 frame" Colt E-Frame. While we're at it, how about a five-shot .41 Long Colt chambered Detective Special?

There's a reason why I'm not consulted for marketing ideas.

Cocked & Locked · #25 07-08-2018, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddyboot

No, a seller on Gunbroker makes them. He is located in Colorado.

That GB seller in Colorado is also is a member of this forum and does awsome work.

Warren Sear · #26 07-08-2018, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

No, just a lot more expensive. A mystery is why a Colt 357 or an earlier Colt Trooper in .357 can be had for under $1000 vs. a Python for $2500 and up (often way up). Aside from the Python's shrouded and ribbed barrel, they are otherwise identical. And there were far more Pythons made than 357s or .357 Troopers. There is always the myth about the better finish and fit of the Python, which I think is hogwash. I have a 1960 357 and its fit and finish could not be improved upon. And a .357 Trooper which is not very far behind.

Yep. Same goes for the Colt Officer's Model and Army Special, although both of these (from 1927) are in .38 Special...

Warren Sear · #27 07-08-2018, 10:26 PM

It is noteworthy that Colt fans did not BMW (Complain, Moan, and Whine) when Colt switched from a hammer mounted firing to a frame mounted pin, the way Smith & Wesson fans did when Smith & Wesson did the same.

Hmmmmmmm...

DWalt · #28 07-08-2018, 10:36 PM

I don't know the current situation on .41 LC ammunition availability, but I suspect it is difficult to find and expensive. I suppose some of the custom loaders may still sell it. I have two boxes of the last production lot made by Western back in the 1970s, just in case I happen to run across some Colt revolver chambered in that caliber at a price I can't refuse.

ParadiseRoad · #29 07-08-2018, 10:49 PM

...how could anyone not like a .41 snubby?...

...that ones a beaut...

DWalt · #30 07-08-2018, 11:57 PM

I have understood that the .41 LC was a very popular caliber in Mexico, and that Colt sold a great many .41 revolvers there. It's certainly not in the magnum class, but it was probably more effective than the .38 Special due to its larger and heavier bullet.

Muddyboot · #31 07-09-2018, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWalt

I don't know the current situation on .41 LC ammunition availability, but I suspect it is difficult to find and expensive. I suppose some of the custom loaders may still sell it. I have two boxes of the last production lot made by Western back in the 1970s, just in case I happen to run across some Colt revolver chambered in that caliber at a price I can't refuse.

Reloading is the only way to go of you're a .41LC owner. Fresh brass is available from Starline Brass., bullets are available from a few sources.
Though casting your own is the cheapest way to go. Just don't load them to hot, as I did with this 4" Army Special.

992B · #32 07-09-2018, 08:05 AM

This fine old revolver fits my definition of "a judge and six jurors". gary

bmcgilvray · #33 07-09-2018, 04:10 PM

That's just sad Muddyboot, to have that happen to a good ol' .41 Colt.

I'm heeding your warning in handloading for the .41s here. The Army Special's forcing cone is quite thin, thinner than the older Colt New Navy's.

Colt Army Special .41

Colt New Navy .41

Muddyboot · #34 07-09-2018, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmcgilvray

That's just sad Muddyboot, to have that happen to a good ol' .41 Colt.

I'm heeding your warning in handloading for the .41s here. The Army Special's forcing cone is quite thin, thinner than the older Colt New Navy's.

Colt Army Special .41

Colt New Navy .41

Repeated shots with 5.0 grains of Unique was just to much for the thin Colt forcing cone. This happened several years back, and I still have not been able to replace the 4" barrel; 4" AS barrels in .41 LC are just about impossible to find...The search continues.