A Pony followed me home today!

[THREEDFLYER]

Well, when your neighbor calls and says "I'm selling a few guns, do you want to take a look?" that's when the trouble starts!!

Although I am don't actively chase down Colt's, the price was right and the gun is cool!

I ended up buying a couple from him including this 1960 production Colt Officers Model Match .38 Special with 6" barrel.

Condition is decent, with handling marks and a chip on the butt of the wood grip....but the coool part is the gun is SAO (Single Action Only)

I have sent off for the Archive Letter and I am hoping it will letter as such, and there's a good chance it will.

I am told there was a limited number of SAO's produced during the early 60's and the only one I have found in a completed auction was this one.
Just a moment...

Oh, the other gun that came home is a pretty decent Remington Model of 03-A3 with barrel date of 8-43 and a good bore. Still has cartouche markings visible on the stock.

Both of these will most likely be put up for sale, but thought I would share some pics of the SAO Colt.

 

[Patrick L]

I'd like to see a picture of the 03A3!

 

[THREEDFLYER]

I'd like to see a picture of the 03A3!

I'll take a few photos in good daylight of the 1903-A3

I was checking on the completed auctions for these and cannot believe how much they have been selling for since the last time I purchased one back in 2011.

But that said, the selling prices of S&W's has gone way up since 2011!!

 

[Patrick L]

I love Springfields I have two.


My 03A3 has been tricked out for NRA Highpower. I shot this gun in competition for about 15 years using cast lead bullets. It's a Smith Carona, it has been retro fitted with all 03 milled parts including the opening floorplate, and is in a glass bedded repro type C stock. I put a Lyman receiver sight and jury rigged my own Lyman 17 front sight.

I don't seem to have a picture of my other one, but it's strictly an "as issued" 03. Springfield Armory, high number, shoots cast as well as the match gun just not as "user friendly" for competition. Ironically, I need to set the slide for 550 yards to have my cast load hit center at 100 yards, which means it does the same with the battle sight. I truly love shooting that gun.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Along with my addiction to S&W's Hand Ejectors, I have a great interest in U.S. Military weapons/gear.

Although I have bought/sold/traded many amazing weapons including original WWI & WWII Trench Guns, Schofields, Johnson Rifles, Reising's, etc. I tend to migrate towards my bolt guns when I drag them out to the range.

Our club in WA state had a Military match every month, but I never participated.

The photos are the H&R Reising, Johnson and WWI Winchester 1897 Trench Gun that I sold and of my S&W 1917 and original Colt WWI 1911 (that I still have in my collection) and my original 1st Model U.S. Schofield that I sold a few years back.

 

[Golddollar]

Along with my addiction to S&W's Hand Ejectors, I have a great interest in U.S. Military weapons/gear.

Although I have bought/sold/traded many amazing weapons including original WWI & WWII Trench Guns, Schofields, Johnson Rifles, Reising's, etc. I tend to migrate towards my bolt guns when I drag them out to the range.

Our club in WA state had a Military match every month, but I never participated.

My club in Maryland has a match for military handguns from World War I through the end of World War II called the Great Wars March. It was for any handgun from any country in the world used by military forces, or replicas or clones thereof. I could use my CMP Government Models, but for fun and tradition I use my Finnish Lahti pistol.

 

[turnerriver]

Here are some photos of a Colt executive showing the inner workings of the single action and double action Officers Models. The top revolver with the cocked hammer all the way back is the double action revolver.

Regards,

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Based on these FANTASTIC photos that you graciously posted, I would say that my SAO looks legit........Still getting the letter to have it documented.

Here is a photo of mine with the hammer fully cocked.

I also sent an email this afternoon to a contact at the Colt Archives asking if he could give me a hint before my letter actually arrives.

 

[Patrick L]

That is SUPER cool!

I only have 1 Colt

It is a late production Colt Trooper 357. I believe it is a 1969 gun, which makes it one of the last ones before they transitioned to the MK III type Trooper.

Since these have the Python action, I used to consider it my "poor man's Python." However, since I shoot it almost exclusively 1 handed single action with .38 wadcutters, I now consider it more of a "poor man's Officer's Model Match."

I even filed the front sight into more of a patridge (after this picture was taken.) I didn't think I harmed any value doing that, and it made for much better sighting . This gun was clearly shooter grade, it even has a slight bore bulge likely from a stuck bullet and then another one fired behind it. Fortunately it doesn't seem to affect accuracy, you can't see it or even feel it running your fingers over the barrel. I also refinished the stocks after repairing two chips, and then pointed up the checkering. They were pretty beat up(actually the photo is when they WERE beat up) when I got it.

I really like it!