Colt 1878

[SPE33]

Found a Colt 1878 hammer gun yesterday.Unfortunately it’s not in the best shape.Barrels are pitted,top tang is broken and it has a fair size dent in the right barrel.But when I saw the engraving on it I just couldn’t leave it on the table. So what if it cost me a few hundred. Makes an awful pretty wall hanger.

[jolly bill]

At one time, that was a high grade, fine looking gun.

Thanks for showing us.

[grouse_fan]

Cool piece of history anyway.

[SPE33]

Got my letter from Colt yesterday.
Pretty basic information,not what I was hoping for.Grade designation was listed as “Fancy”.Would anyone here know just what kind of embellishments were required to meet that designation? I have yet to see another like it.

[eightbore]

Colt letters usually state the dollar amount of engraving, but not usually the grade. I think the "fancy" designation is unusual, although I have not seen enough Colt letters to know for sure. I am not much for bad wood to metal fit, but I sure would have bought that gun. Can you post a picture of the letter?

[SPE33]

I’ve been in touch with the archives to see if by chance there is possibly any more information available.I’m keeping my fingers crossed but not really getting my hopes too high.

[Foxnut]

At one time, that was a high grade, fine looking gun.

Thanks for showing us.

Would have loved to seen that gun when it was in its prime!

[eightbore]

If that gap looking thing on the left side of the action at the water table is really a shadow, someone might take this gun on as a project. How bad are the barrels?

[SPE33]

It is a shadow.The barrels are in very rough shape tho inside.I plan on taking it to Matthew Begley for about a 50% restoration. Re-cut the checkering,get all the mechanical problems corrected,put back on face,install new ebony fore-end tip.I’m not sure if I want him to put in some kind of Briley tubes or just use chamber inserts to shoot 20 gauge out of it.I would just like to hear it go bang once again.Fortunately for me he’s only a little over an hour away. I’ve had him work on three of my guns and have been very,very satisfied.Also,he’s no longer working out the small shop he had previously but has had a new ,much larger shop constructed nearby.The gentleman I spoke to at the Colt archives gave me the impression that I got a real bargain.

[eightbore]

If you have chamber inserts, use them. You won't blow up those barrels after all the abuse they have suffered. However, I'm not sure that recheckering the stock is going to get you the result you are looking for. Address the metal work and then decide how far you want to go with the wood. We haven't seen pictures of the stock so we can't advise you.

[SPE33]

Metal and mechanical work would be first.I don’t want it to turn into a money pit.Restocking wouldn’t be cheap.It would be a shame to relegate it to a wall hanger.I can’t even imagine how much game fell to this gun.

[Stan Hillis]

If money were no object it would be cool to see what Turnbull could do with that gun. I've always had a fondness for Colt shotguns. They're just great Americana.