1878 Colt 45 Tools of the Trade

[DocB]

Since I was waxing this old gun, I figured I'd put some pictures up on the Forum. It sure isn't very pretty, but then it is a Colt so what can you expect. It's an 1878 Double Action Army New Frontier that dates to the late 1880's. I got it from the family. Story goes, Uncle Ben bought it new to do some killing. Since it was a double action, it was like an auto to him in those days. He took it apart and eliminated the single action function. Then he put it back together and ground several of the screws to make sure nobody could mess with the insides of his gun. You can see some of this in one of the pictures. He proceeded to get into a fight and killed a man. . .self defense and he got away with it. Took the gun to the local blacksmith, borrowed a file, and cut a notch in the backside of the grip. You can see the old notch in one of the pictures too. Within a week he had killed two more men. Not so lucky this time and not enough time to notch the gun, he was arrested and hung. The gun was returned to the family after the hanging. I assume this took place in Georgia, but don't know for sure. The gun came to me from a friend (who has since passed) who got it from his father (who died a long time ago) who got it from his great aunt (who died a really long time ago) who took possession of the gun after the hanging. Embarrassed by the gun but not wanting to throw it away, she stowed it in her house. I've only shot primers in it since it would likely blow up firing anything else. Interesting gun. I've had it about 10 years. These old guns were just tools back in the day.

 

[SAFireman]

Doc,

Thanks for sharing your guns story. I find worn and used guns so much more fascinating than NIB untouched examples.

 

[30-30remchester]

I am not sure why you think it is not pretty. There is a quiet beauty in a well worn knife or gun. Do you know when the killings took place? The gun appears to have been carried a lot.

 

[Watchdog]

I like that gun a lot. Looks fine to me. And belonged to a Southerner, too! It'd be displayed in a place of honor in my house, that's for sure.

 

[Watchdog]

I find worn and used guns so much more fascinating than NIB untouched examples.

Me, too. I can look at an old gun like that, and I'm a kid again, daydreaming about cowboys or dangerous men from a long time ago.

 

[DocB]

It's definitely a gun that he adapted to his own purpose. . .not a gun you attempt to return to original condition. Just kind of leave it the way he wanted it.

 

[mjr]

If your relative deliberately made that revolver double action only, I'm wondering why he didn't go ahead and cut or grind off the hammer spur. (Possibly he thought it then might not have had enough mass to pop the primer.)

Any family stories (that you can share) about why those men needed killin'?

 

[DocB]

Not my family. The ancestors of a good friend of mine. When he brought me the gun out of his truck years ago, I told him it was likely worth more than I could pay. He wanted $235 for it to pay his electric bill. His father died back in the late 1980's and left it to him. It was a good bit of money for me ten years ago, but I paid it. The great aunt was the sister of the man who originally bought the gun. I figure she died before WWII, but who knows. I would imagine that lots of men needed killing back in the 1880's, but who knows who or why.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I would imagine that lots of men needed killing back in the 1880's, but who knows who or why.

Back in the day, many a defense attorney addressed a judge and jury with that opening statement..."Your Honor, he needed killing!"

 

[model70hunter]

Not my family. The ancestors of a good friend of mine. When he brought me the gun out of his truck years ago, I told him it was likely worth more than I could pay. He wanted $235 for it to pay his electric bill. His father died back in the late 1980's and left it to him. It was a good bit of money for me ten years ago, but I paid it. The great aunt was the sister of the man who originally bought the gun. I figure she died before WWII, but who knows. I would imagine that lots of men needed killing back in the 1880's, but who knows who or why.

By 1880 there was limited season on carpet baggers, only one per tag. The last 2 put him over limit.