Family visit bring homes

[warhawk77]

So my son and I drove down to see my dad over the weekend. I has been a few years so I was really looking forward to hanging out doing a lot of nothing. We sit around the lake drinking beers and just talking, I don't think I touched a fishing pole other then to help my son get a hook tied to his pole. He gave up fishing when we told him he could drive the 4 wheeler around. Great weekend "Fishing"

On our last day it rained like crazy so we just hung out at my dads house. He took all his handguns out for a show n tell. He has some nice looking pistols and I got some pics of them. He also told me to pick one to take home with me so I grabbed up one my grandfather used to carry around with him.

This one my grandfather carried. It has 41 cal on the barrel and someone carved colt 41 in the wood handles. It is a double action and everything feels pretty tight and looks like it works. My dad told me he had shot it but didn't say how long ago that was. I'm pretty sure it's a colt because of the way the frame looks but you guys are the experts.





This one my great grandmother carried. (the mother of the grandfather that carried the above pistol) I see no markings on this pistol but my dad told me it's a 32 cal. Looks like it's missing a pin on top that keeps the pistol from folding in half and the hammer spring feels like it's broke. The hammer and trigger work back in forth but the hammer has to be moved by hand.





These I didn't get but I took some pics
double barrel 22lr


matching pair but no markings, both pistols have problems so won't fire. My dad said these are Spanish but he didn't tell me why he thought that.


left is a muzzle loader pistol that I think was 45 cal. I wanted this one but already had the other two.
middle left a double barrel pin fire (again not sure that was just what my dad said)
middle right it looks like a colt frame but the cylinder didn't look colt. My dad didn't have a lot of info on this one other then my grandfather bought it.
right same double barrel 22lr from above


You can see part of a pocket watch that my grandfather carried for years. I wasn't able to get that one but I did get another one. I'm going to get a est on getting it repaired but might just keep it as is in the safe.


I also got a marlin model 60 22lr in great shape dad said it jams a little but that should be a easy fix. And a CVA muzzle loader my dad build as a kit back in the 70s. I remember him shooting it every new years to "chase away the evil spirits for another year". I will get pics of these tonight I ran out of time last night.



If anyone can give info on these please let me know

[Junk Yard Dog]

WOW! Original 1877 Colt Thunderer .41 DA! This is an original black powder Colt revolver, do not use smokeless rounds in it! Great gift! Grandma's piece is a Iver Johnson arms cycle works small revolver, much more common than the Colt. Still nice and with family history.

[warhawk77]

WOW! Original 1877 Colt Thunderer .41 DA! This is an original black powder Colt revolver, do not use smokeless rounds in it! Great gift! Grandma's piece is a Iver Johnson arms cycle works small revolver, much more common than the Colt. Still nice and with family history.

The little bit of looking I have done I was thinking a 1877 colt but I really wish I could know how old it is. But I don't see any info so I would have to find a expert local and him see if he could date it.

I was able to get 3 rounds of 41 cal with the pistol not sure how old they are. I would love to shoot it but I don't know if I ever will it is just so cool I don't want to damage it.

Thanks for the info on the Lver Johnson arms it would take a long time to track down that info. I would like to get it back to working condition but again might not ever shoot it because of the age

[Rongo]

Nice!!!!

[Junk Yard Dog]

The 1877 is 19th century, it should have a number on it and for a fee the Colt company will provide you with some information on it and a nice document. They can tell you when it was sold and to what shop of dealer, this is around a $200 service. These revolvers are valuable, I would not recommend shooting it. They were made until 1909, almost 170,000 of them, lower numbers would be the oldest.

[Brian the Brit]

The 1877 is 19th century, it should have a number on it and for a fee the Colt company will provide you with some information on it and a nice document. They can tell you when it was sold and to what shop of dealer, this is around a $200 service. These revolvers are valuable, I would not recommend shooting it. They were made until 1909, almost 170,000 of them, lower numbers would be the oldest.

[warhawk77]

I don't plan on ever selling the pistols but I also don't want to allow them to lose value any more. The colt doesn't have any rust but it is tarnished or something. The Iver is about the same with just a little surface rust.

I would guess oil and a rage rub down inside and out would keep them from getting any worse. Any other ideas or things I should watch out for?

[warhawk77]

Just thinking maybe I can find a reproduction of the colt and just shoot it. I see some 1873 repros that looks kinda close.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Touch nothing on that Colt's finish, leave it alone very important as it takes a century to get that kind of patina on one of these.

[warhawk77]

Touch nothing on that Colt's finish, leave it alone very important as it takes a century to get that kind of patina on one of these.

Remoil and rage hurt it? I'm talking light rubbing mostly to oil not rub clean

[racerguy00]

Warhawk, PM sent

[Dan4good]

very nice too see and family history cool

[Junk Yard Dog]

Touch nothing on that Colt's finish, leave it alone very important as it takes a century to get that kind of patina on one of these.

Remoil and rage hurt it? I'm talking light rubbing mostly to oil not rub clean

Oil is a nessesity to preserve it, I mean no cleaning like with brushes, or other chemicals that can alter it's patina.

[Bingo]

If at all possible refrain from cocking the Colt 41. It has a very fragile three fingered spring . It is almost impossible to find one. Every one of those I had in for repairs had this spring broken.There is a place in Tenn who has parts for it but I can't remember their name. For the limited number made you would be amazed at the finish's and grips that were made. Oh the parts place was located on Gunpowder Lane if anyone can find it. If possible to contact them a spring or two are/should be on your list.
The parts for the IJ are generally available from Numrich.
Bingo

[Junk Yard Dog]

Dixie Gun Works in Union City?

[warhawk77]

If at all possible refrain from cocking the Colt 41. It has a very fragile three fingered spring . It is almost impossible to find one. Every one of those I had in for repairs had this spring broken.There is a place in Tenn who has parts for it but I can't remember their name. For the limited number made you would be amazed at the finish's and grips that were made. Oh the parts place was located on Gunpowder Lane if anyone can find it. If possible to contact them a spring or two are/should be on your list.
The parts for the IJ are generally available from Numrich.
Bingo

Thanks for that info. I'm looking for a safe place to store the pistols. I want to keep them separate so I don't bang them or anything while getting my other firearms out. Might go buy another small pistol safe to keep in a different room.

I oiled both pistols down with Rem oil and a rag. I don't see any rust just some discoloration on the metal but leaving that alone.

The Iver Johnson pistol does have a broken hammer spring. I removed the hand guard and the spring was there just broken into two pieces. So I have the original if I can find another to compare it to. Even thought about welding it back but I think the metal wouldn't hold up to that.


I know the pics are not great but does anyone see any others I should grab up? I would love to get them all but I don't think I can get them all might be able to pic up one more on my next trip.

[Gsragtop]

The iver Johnson should look like this.



You may find parts at

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

What a great story, and a great history !!!

[Junk Yard Dog]

You would have a welded bit of metal with no temper in it, try Dixie Gun Works in Union City Tennessee, they have a large assortment of old parts, or Numrich arms. A simple plastic pistol case will protect the revolver in the safe, just make sure the foam insert is closed cell, wrap the revolver in a plastic bag after oiling it and put it in the case like that. You can also remove all the oils from the metal, and then wax it as you would your car, takes time, many museums do this to preserve the arms and armor they keep on display.

[Junk Yard Dog]

The iver Johnson should look like this.



You may find parts at

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

What a great story, and a great history !!!

Nice, I have the same one, in the same condition, it was a gift from a gun dealer I was doing a lot of business with some years back.

[warhawk77]

The iver Johnson should look like this.



You may find parts at

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/

What a great story, and a great history !!!

That is a pretty looking revolver. I don't think mine will ever look like that again. But I'm okay with that, it has "character"