Back from Ford's

Muddyboot · #1 10-15-2011, 11:20 AM

This Army Special serial # 517xxx started life as a blued .38 special with a 5" barrel according to the Colt letter. Shipped to the York-Ambrose Arms Company on April 3, 1925 in a 1 gun shipment. Sometime in the past it was converted to a cut down .41 Long Colt and nickeled.. I got it from a Gander Mountain in Wisconsin via Gunbroker. The nickel was OK when I got the revolver but not great, so six months back I sent it down to Ford's for some fresh plate..... Here is the result.

G-Mac · #2 10-15-2011, 11:31 AM

Absolutely beautiful!

Somethin' about a Colt snubby....

Congrats...it turned out great!

jimmyj · #3 10-15-2011, 11:44 AM

Beautiful revolver.
Is ammo available for it?
Jimmy

GF · #4 10-15-2011, 11:44 AM

Very Nice!

That in a vintage shoulder holster or old Heiser leather would make one heck of a CCW.

Customized ol' revolvers are the coolest.

GF

Bell Charter Oak Holsters · #5 10-15-2011, 11:45 AM

Me likey! A couple years back Ford's was having issues with the plating, I seem to remember one or two of the guys on the Forum mentioning that. I'm glad to see yours came out so well. I think you need some elephant ivory for that baby. Looks great!

Cheers;
Lefty

Bat Guano · #6 10-15-2011, 11:46 AM

Thinking about sending a 19-3 in to them for a nickel job. Guess I'd better start looking for a box. VERY nice!

Muddyboot · #7 10-15-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyj

Beautiful revolver.
Is ammo available for it?
Jimmy

Yes, you can still find ammo for it at gun show's and on Gunbroker and Auction Arms. I've been buying old ammo for the .41 Long Colt for years and have over 3000 rounds of old factory ammo. I reload it now, started that within the last 6 months. I own 9 Army Specials in .41 LC., 4 of which have been snubbed.

ACP230 · #8 10-15-2011, 12:09 PM

What kind of ballistics does that cartridge generate?

Muddyboot · #9 10-15-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACP230

What kind of ballistics does that cartridge generate?

Depending on the load you can get 750-800 FPS at around 230 Foot Pounds with a 200 grain bullet. It's a heavy slow moving bullet. I
use 3.5 grains of Unique in my loads.

gaucho1 · #10 10-15-2011, 01:54 PM

Fine Colt.

Please share a group shot of you snubby .41s.

I am sure many here will be interested.

williamlayton · #11 10-15-2011, 02:57 PM

IF'N it has to be painted and silver--HC is the absolute perfection. Like it better tha stainless--for color.
Nickel is for pimps, I hate its high yeller coloring.
Ford's is good--they did my 9x23.
Blessings

Muddyboot · #12 10-15-2011, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaucho1

Fine Colt.

Please share a group shot of you snubby .41s.

I am sure many here will be interested.

gaucho
Here are 8 of them, #9 is a Fitz job that's in Oregon being ingraved.

Raider · #13 10-15-2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muddyboot

Depending on the load you can get 750-800 FPS at around 230 Foot Pounds with a 200 grain bullet. It's a heavy slow moving bullet. I
use 3.5 grains of Unique in my loads.

I believe that the .41 Colt used heel type bullets. What kind of bullets do you use in your .41 loads? I have an old .41 Colt SAA that I'd like to shoot once in a while. I've got the cases but bullets and proper reloading dies always stumped me. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

Muddyboot · #14 10-15-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raider

I believe that the .41 Colt used heel type bullets. What kind of bullets do you use in your .41 loads? I have an old .41 Colt SAA that I'd like to shoot once in a while. I've got the cases but bullets and proper reloading dies always stumped me. Any help appreciated.

Thanks,

Charlie

Try Huntington's cast lead 200 grain hollow base bullets. Thats what I use. As for dies, I use a Redding .41 LC 3 Die set # 80370

amazingflapjack · #15 10-15-2011, 11:32 PM

Thank you for my newest screen saver-beautiful.

klondike · #16 10-16-2011, 03:23 PM

Muddyboot, I may start reloading .41LC for my Army Special. So how is that bullet/case/charge combination working out for accuracy? I realize that it is not a target round and needs a fast powder to expand the hollow base.

Muddyboot · #17 10-16-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klondike

Muddyboot, I may start reloading .41LC for my Army Special. So how is that bullet/case/charge combination working out for accuracy? I realize that it is not a target round and needs a fast powder to expand the hollow base.

Unique or Bullseye have worked fine for me. Accuracy is good as long as you don't try to shoot at distance. Google .41 Colt and you can find some excellent reloading advice.

mm6mm6 · #18 10-17-2011, 11:49 AM

Muddyboot, I love it! It looks fantastic! I am excited to see your engraved one when it's done too!

My Fitz'ed Colt says hello!

Muddyboot · #19 10-17-2011, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mm6mm6

Muddyboot, I love it! It looks fantastic! I am excited to see your engraved one when it's done too!

My Fitz'ed Colt says hello!

Thanks, your Colt is the inspiration for my Fitz Army Special. I'm also having a chopped 1917 engraved at the same time. Here are picks of both prior to being sent to the engraver.

pawncop · #20 10-17-2011, 05:53 PM

Simply beautiful. Nuff said.

WC145 · #21 03-03-2012, 09:20 AM

I'm not usually one to dredge up older threads but somehow I missed this one the first time around. I have to say, that nickeled Colt is just beautiful, it couldn't be nicer if Colt had done it themselves. Ford's does fantastic work. I have a 1952 Colt/Clark Hard Ball 1911 that has some finish issues/minor pitting thanks to poor storage for 30 years. I'm going to send it to Ford's to see what they can do wth it.

mm6mm6 - your gun still astounds me, the finished product is just incredible.

Muddyboot · #22 03-03-2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOONDAWG

...a gaggle of .41 Colts...now THAT's something you don't see every day.

Thanks fore sharing!

MOONDAWG
Thank you, since this post my collection of .41 Army Specials has increased to 14, always looking for more.

Muddyboot · #23 03-03-2012, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WC145

I'm not usually one to dredge up older threads but somehow I missed this one the first time around. I have to say, that nickeled Colt is just beautiful, it couldn't be nicer if Colt had done it themselves. Ford's does fantastic work. I have a 1952 Colt/Clark Hard Ball 1911 that has some finish issues/minor pitting thanks to poor storage for 30 years. I'm going to send it to Ford's to see what they can do wth it.

mm6mm6 - your gun still astounds me, the finished product is just incredible.

I would have loved for Colt to do it, however they would not due to the revolvers age. Yes, I did ask.

Mickey D · #24 03-03-2012, 11:38 AM

Sweet Colt. Ford's does great work.

Like to see the finished Fitz sometime.

Muddyboot · #25 03-03-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey D

Sweet Colt. Ford's does great work.

Like to see the finished Fitz sometime.

It's still at the engravers, when it's done I'll be sending it to Dave Chicoine for the finish and mechanical work. Should be done by late 2013 or early 2014. Good things come to those who wait.

ladder13 · #26 03-03-2012, 05:05 PM

Great job done by Fords, stunning. I was looking at a beat up DS the other day.......you've given me ideas, this could be costly.