Colt Open Top info

tommy F · #1 03-22-2008, 01:15 PM

Looking for fellow SW fan that also collects/knows Colts SA revolvers. Found a old Open Top 44 with no marking except SN. Appears to be old. Help.
Tommy F
[email protected]

tommy F · #2 03-22-2008, 01:15 PM

Looking for fellow SW fan that also collects/knows Colts SA revolvers. Found a old Open Top 44 with no marking except SN. Appears to be old. Help.
Tommy F
[email protected]

m-1911 · #3 03-22-2008, 01:41 PM

Send me more info. I have a 44 OT and know a bit about them. [email protected]

opoefc · #4 03-22-2008, 09:35 PM

Tommy F, Can you post some pics? If the gun is original, and not a replica, it's about 120 to 130 yrs. old. Is the barrel original or has it been cut? Is it a conversion from percussion, or made originally as a cartridge revolver? Type of grips? Serial number?

m-1911 · #5 03-23-2008, 05:31 AM

Open Tops were built from scratch as cartridge guns and should not be confused with the various Richards or Richards-Mason conversions. The Open Tops were all rimfires

tommy F · #6 03-23-2008, 06:30 PM

can't post pics, however the sppecs are as follows;
Barrel cut to 4.25 even with ejector, .427 dia with rear sight on barrel ahead of cylinder
No markings except SN 3077 on barrel, frame, cylinder, and under grips on trigger and backstrap frames.
Nickeled brass frame
1 pc wood grips marked with sn Cylinder appears to be original chamber 44 cal with .429 dia throats

Tommy F
[email protected]

m-1911 · #7 03-24-2008, 07:11 AM

Here are some pics of my Open Top. I believe the engraving is factory. Serial number is 3291

BRush · #8 03-24-2008, 01:03 PM

Tommy F -Did you mean to say a brass trigger guard rather than frame? If so that may be an issue for an original O T.

m-1911 - Very nice O T! Was it a Nickel or a B&C gun? Engraving could well be factory, but it looks typical of Mexican market where I understand most of these were shipped.

m-1911 · #9 03-24-2008, 01:11 PM

Mine was a B&C gun. It could be Mexican engraving except that most guns I have seen that went south, usually got cut and are in a lot worse condition

BRush · #10 03-24-2008, 04:28 PM

m-1911
I see your point. Also Its my limited observation that most that were shipped south were nickled.

tommy F · #11 03-24-2008, 05:05 PM

The trigger guard and backstrap are nickel plated. Planning to review colt collector books. Concern is lack of markings and sn markings on all major parts. This is usually a sign of an old gun, not a replica. Do you agree?

Tommy

BRush · #12 03-24-2008, 08:58 PM

Tommy F - I can't comment with any confidence. In general, however, all Colt open top .44 Cal revolvers will be on an 1860 Army frame and, when they left Colt, had a SN on the Frame, BS, TG, Cylinder and barrel or barrel lug. Most will also have an assembly or conversion number on the gate, frame and cylinder arbor. Also, all, except the Long cylinder conversion, which has a newly made cylinder and was probably not done by the factory, will have a cylinder scene.
So, if your O T doesn't have any of these numbers it has at best been refinished at least once.

m-1911 · #13 03-25-2008, 04:52 AM

Open Tops are NOT conversions and will NOT have conversion numbers. They were built from scratch as cartridge guns

BRush · #14 03-25-2008, 09:33 AM

Gentlemen - I do not suggest That the 1871-72 Open Top is a conversion. My point is that Tommy F is trying to identify an "Open Top 44". Other than that description, and without pictures, I cannot say what he has. Any of 44 Conversions or the Open Top would fit this general description. The SN Tommy F referenced, if it is a SN, could be on an OC Richards Conversion,a Richards-Mason Conversion or an Open Top. Also, an original brass TG would indicate a conversion, not an Open Top.
An R M Conversion and an Open Top would appear very similar to the inexperiensed eye unless you notice the conversion ring, loading gate and ejector on the R M.

Thuer · #15 03-25-2008, 02:54 PM

M-1911 nice revolver. But what have they done with the hammerspur?

m-1911 · #16 03-25-2008, 03:42 PM

I am not sure what they did, I bought it that way in Tulsa about 6 tears ago

tommy F · #17 03-25-2008, 05:30 PM

Thanks for the info. I believe it is an OT due to the one piece cylinder, unlike most conversions I have seen. Also, the rear sight on the barrel ahead of the cylinder.