That request turned out to be the stuff legends are made of. Army made one further request, a larger caliber and in Centerfire persuasion. The Army wanted a stronger sixgun and the result was the solid frame Colt Single Action Army still in. That turned out to be one of the best requests in firearms history. When the 1871-72 was submitted to the Army for testing and adoption of a new sidearm, the request came back for a stronger gun in a more powerful chambering. While the Thuer, Richards, and Richards-Mason were true conversions on existing cap and ball revolvers or built from parts at the factory, the 1871-72 Open-Top was Colt's first big bore single action cartridge firing revolver, as it was not a conversion but a totally new design with new parts that do not interchange with the percussion models or their conversions.Īll original Open-Tops were made in. As soon as the design was accomplished, Mason set about working on the Open-Top. Mason did not stop with his improvement to the Richards Conversion. Just as a side note, Colt actually has used Turnbull in the past when they offer old-style SAA's.In the last chapter we talked of William Mason and his contribution to the design and manufacturer of Colt Cartridge Conversions. There is a difference between "refinishing" and "restoration." A full restoration from Turnbull would cost a few thousand dollars but it would be done absolutely right, using the right methods. But, a proper restoration - especially by the guy that is well-known as the best in the world - can actually INCREASE the value depending on how badly its been butchered so far. The gun will never be worth what a mint original Colt SAA will bring. Colt does not offer this service, they only offer the current type of CC/blueing.Īssuming it was a blue/CC gun to start with, the frame would have been received bone/charcoal color case hardening and the barrel/cylinder would have been charcoal blued.
The correct way to restore the gun would be to make the metal straight again (bet it's wavy now) with proper edges, remark it with correct dies (NOT engraving, you can tell the difference) and then use the correct finish for 1888. The idea that having the gun put back right is going to reduce the value just doesn't compute.
Do you really think the finish that was applied is correct? The OP has a Colt SAA that somebody buffed the markings off of it.
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