Colt SXS

[Dean Romig]

Here are some pictures Tom Will forwarded to me of the beautiful Colt shotgun he recently bought. It looks to be about the equivalent of a DH or CH in engraving and checkering.

Thanks Tom for sending the pictures :smiley7:

[Tom Will]

Dean, thanks for posting. There is a pointer and 2 quail on the side panel. I just got some RST shells and hope to shoot a few raised pheasants possibly this weekend.
Thanks again
Tom

[Dean Romig]

One more from Tom.


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[Richard Flanders]

I think the old Colt shotguns are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for posting. I want one!

[Bill Murphy]

I this the Colt that was sold a couple of weeks ago on an internet auction? What a nice gun. Best Colt I've seen in years.

[Tom Will]

Bill, yes, that auction is close to where I live, so I like to go and look at what he has from time to time. It really was the first Colt double I ever saw and handled and thought it would be a nice one to have. Thanks for the kind words. Since there didn't seem to be any responces after 100 looks I was wondering if nobody really likes the Colt doubles. I'm very happy with it, so I guess that's all that matters, right? Thanks again

[Bill Murphy]

Tom, by the time the Colt came up for bids, I was in serious trouble, so had to let it go. It was my first chance in years to actually buy a high condition, high grade Colt. I know Colt letters are expensive, but you might try to document this gun. Colt historians are pretty good at ferreting out information. A friend invested in a letter on a graded Colt 1883 and ended up with information that the gun was built for a Colt attorney, a gift from the company.

[Tom Will]

Bill, I saw someone place a single bid earlier on. Was that you? I think I lucked out because that 8 gauge Parker was being auctioned about that same time.
2 weeks after I got the gun I got a call that a Colt letter from 1972 was found for my gun. I had already ordered a letter so I called to see if there might be any new information other than what I had and was told probably not, so I cancelled the new letter.
I was hoping for for the gun to be made for someone cool like your friends, but not to be. It was shipped to Montgomery Wards Company, April 24 1890. It was the only gun in the shipment. Oh well.

[Marc Retallack]

Tom.

That's a gorgeous Colt. There's no mention of gauge. Looks as though it's a 12?

Cheers
Marcus

[Bill Murphy]

A single bid at the beginning is usually the auctioneer. There must have been more bids than the first bidder. No, I did not bid on the gun. I got in trouble early on and quit bidding on anything. Congratulations on saving the Colt letter fee. What is that fee today?

[Dean Romig]

Bill, we wouldn't mind learning what kind of "trouble" you cast the winning bid on.

[Tom Will]

They told me me a minimum of 150 and max 300. They said engraved guns are more. It didn't make sense because when I asked if they could tell me who the engraver was they said probably not. ??? So why the extra fee? I really was hoping for something special other than the specs on the gun which are correct. But it was not to be. I'm checking on the former letter holder which might be neat. Could be a major car manufacturer heir from Mich. (Ford). It's nice to already have the letter though.

[Tom Will]

Dean, you are a little too funny. You know a mans problems are GENERALLY his own. Unless he is buying a gun we all would like to have.

[Dean Romig]

Bill GENERALLY plays his cards close to his br-r-reast but not always - let's see if he cares to share...

[Tom Will]

Marc, yes it's a 12 gauge with 30 inch barrels. I'm trying to figure out where I can get the barrel walls measured. I think they are fine but would like to make sure. There is a very good thread about it on here in another section. It would be nice to go to a SxS shoot(I've never been to one) and meet some of you nice folks and I would assume someone there could do it , but it does not look good for that happening.

[Tom Will]

Well, I finally took her out today and shot a round of skeet. I wanted to wait till the 24th which was the 120th anniversary from the day it left the factory but they are calling for possible heavy rains. So today had to do. She worked like new, crushed the birds that I was on which was only 19 but I had a great time. I can see why you guys love shooting these old guns. I now wish I had a few of those old ones back that I sold .
I hope you guys do well at the Southern.

[Rich Anderson]

I saw one Colt double while I was at Cabelas and it's the only one I've ever seen. It was a nice high condition gun and the owner was just looking to determine a value. We had nothing in our computer that would even come close. i just don't recall if it was a damascuss gun or not, I do remember it was very nice.

One of the dealers (possibly Steve Barnett) has a Colt SXS on their site.

[paul driscoll]

Here is a Grade 2 two barrel set. It letter's from Colt.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/IMG_0665.jpg

[Richard Flanders]

I was hoping Paul would post pics of that Colt. Tell the story of how you found it Paul. I still have the pics of that you sent me a couple of years back. Gorgeous gun.

[Tom Will]

Paul, I'm pretty sure I saw pictures of your gun somewhere else on the web when I was looking for information on my gun.
Wow, what a nice gun, and with 2 sets of barrels to boot. And, it looks to be in fabulous condition.
I would love to hear how you found it if you would like to share it. Do you shoot it? When was it made? What is the engraving on the sides of the gun? I know they can vary a good bit.
Very nice gun, wish I could see it in person.

[paul driscoll]

Tom, this gun is a grade 2, it has a single dog engraved on one side and a pair on the other, with quite alot of scroll. A single bird on the guard. It was shipped from Colt on Sept, 1892 to Charles A Johnson. Both barrels are 30" and are stamped with a #2. As on the forend steel & wood. The letter also states the grade. All #'s match. And it still has the Colt butt plate. I was buying American double about 15-20 years ago and found it in a shop in Wiliston Vt., behind the counter in an old leather box. It caught my eye as I was leaving as one set of barrels was laying on top. Back then I found & bought some fantastic guns mainly because going shop to shop was the best way to go. Now the internet gets there first. I've never shot it. You are lucky to own yours . The workmanship is beautiful. Notice how the hinge pin rotates with the barrels.
If its OK to post some pics of other doubles on this forem, I'll put a couple up. I do not want to get any one mad.

[E Robert Fabian]

Paul,this category is for other doubles post away please.

[paul driscoll]

Thank you Robert, I'll start a new topic as not to interupt this one. It may take a little time

[Dave Suponski]

Great pictures and great guns.Thanks for posting them Paul...

[Tom Will]

Paul, you can make another post or posting on this one is perfectly fine, it doesn't matter. I also would love to see more pictures of your gun. Your barrels really look like have great pattern left. Great story too.
You may want to consider shooting it. I don't think I'll shoot mine alot, but it was really neat to shoot a 120 year old gun. If they could only talk.

[paul driscoll]

Tom, I will take some more pics for you of the Colt for you. I'll try to post them today or I can Email them to you.

[paul driscoll]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/IMG_0139.jpg

vhttp://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/IMG_0141.jpg

[Dave Suponski]

Paul,Beautiful work.Is it Joseph Loy's work?

[Dean Romig]

Dave, it looks like Loy's work. I've also seen his dogs on a few Elsies and Foxes too.

[Dave Suponski]

I seen his work on Remingtons also.

[Tom Will]

I love that double point. I wonder how many different variations there are on the grade 2 guns? Very nice. Although I think the engraving on your Remington is better than the engravings on these guns. At much more detailed. That is one beautiful Remington. I want one.

[paul driscoll]

I thought this Ithaca Crass of mine was done by Loy, however I am not 100% sure.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/IMG_0190.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/388ba84f.jpg

[Tom Will]

What's the best way to clean drool off a computer screen?????

[Jack Cronkhite]

I don't think I'll shoot mine alot, but it was really neat to shoot a 120 year old gun. If they could only talk.

Our rational, logical mind knows better but... IF they could talk, those in shootable or restoreable condition may say something like yours may be thinking (of course they can't think either - right ??)


Sure do miss Great Grandpa. He took me out a lot and we had such great fun. Then, he was gone and I got hung on a wall. Not much fun but a reasonable view. Still felt like part of the family. Then I was locked in a steel tomb - no fun, no view but I could feel the presence of others like me all wondering - what did we do to deserve this? Then along came Tom. Hallelujah !!! Haven't felt this good in a long time. I know it was just to bust clay but surely that is only to get his eye in for autumn when we will do some serious bird huntin'. Please, Tom, shoot me a lot, that's what I was built for. All I ask is feed me light loads. You can ride me hard but don't put me away wet. Treat me right and I can still do this with my eyes closed for another 120 years. Now let's shoot 'em up

....... or words to that effect.......

Cheers,
Jack

[paul driscoll]

Tom, this is one of my favorites.
vhttp://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/pauld5/IMG_0034.jpg

[Tom Will]

is that from a Parker? You have some beautiful guns. Thank you for sharing them

[Larry Frey]

is that from a Parker? You have some beautiful guns. Thank you for sharing them

Looks like an AH Damascus Parker to me. Very nice gun. Can we see more?:bowdown:

[Ken Descovich]

Beautiful shotguns I am envious. Here is my Colt 1883 in 12ga that is lacking the case colors but I am a proud owner.

Ken

[Tom Will]

Looks like it could be the same engraver. The dogs and birds look very similar. A little different scroll and border engraving. Very nice gun. When was it made? Do you shoot it?

[Ken Descovich]

Tom,
It was made around 1890 and 1891 serial number 50xx. I have not shot it.

Ken

[Frank Srebro]

I just spotted this thread and would like to share some pics of a Colt 1883. It's a 12 gauge, 30 incher with s/n 643x. Gun weight is 7-7 and the barrels weigh 3-13. Bores are perfect, with .734/.735 diameters and chokes are both .030". Chambers 2-5/8". I'm starting to get interested in damascus and Rev Doc Drew House has helped me with the ID; he thinks these tubes are "3 Iron Turkish". I shot her for the first time at trap a few weeks ago. What a blast! Frank

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5382-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5353-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5364-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5357-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5356-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5371-1.jpg

http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b450/silvers897/IMG_5367-1.jpg

[Dean Romig]

Yup, looks like 3-iron to me. What a sweet gun! Incredible condition...

It was good to meet you 'formally' on Saturday and shoot a few at those loooong Bo-Whoop targets. Congratulations on the team scores too! Will we ever see your face at Addieville? ;)

[Tom Will]

I agree, very nice gun and in really nice condition. I like the way you can see the damascus design through the lines of the rib.

[Frank Srebro]

Thanks Gents for your feedback on the Colt. Dean, it was a pleasure meeting you at Hausmann's. Regarding Addieville, I'd planned to participate this year but a family medical situation came up. I expect to be there next time. Frank

[Bill Murphy]

Frank, that gun does not seem to have had a hard life. Have you requested a Colt letter on it? Maybe some interesting person ordered it.

[Frank Srebro]

Bill, I just got the Colt a few weeks ago and haven't had time to order a letter. It's on the to-do list. Frank

EDITED 6/10/10 - I ordered a Colt letter today. $100.00 and a 120 day wait.