thrillhill
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Out of my depth on this one. Don't really know much about Colts at all.
Not even sure which Colt this is.
An older lady a few doors down whose husband passed a few years ago gave me this revolver. They didn't have any kids and the nieces and nephews all live a ways off. She was trying to clean up her husband's old farm truck so she could sell it or get it hauled off.
She knows I am a "gun guy". She called an said she was scared to even move the revolver because she thought it was loaded and might be dangerous. We get these kind of calls all the time at the shop and usually it's just folks that don't know anything about guns and the "gun person" in the family has passed. Happens a lot in the Southern Pines area where I work. Most folks around here know a little better, so I was surprised when she told me that.
Well, she was right to be concerned. This thing was under a seat for no telling how many years in a cab that was no longer "weatherproof". Holes in the floorboard and all that stuff.
There was a bag of granulated fertilizer that was spilled open in the floorboard and some of it was piled around the gun.
The gun IS loaded. In the state it was in I could not get the cylinder release latch to move at all.
Barrel looked to be completely clogged with rust and fertilizer.
I'd like to see if I can save this gun, maybe get it cerakoted. I'm pretty sure there will be the need to replace parts if I can get the darned thing apart.
@BatteryOaksBilly , @Geezer , @CarolinaColtCollector , @Cocked & Locked , heck not even sure who all to tag on this one.
Y'all think it's worth trying?
Also, I am not familiar with this "shroud" that is attached. It has a Colt emblem on the right side. Surely this is an add-on? It didn't come from the factory with that on it right? Kinda like adding a T-grip to a Smith?
It appears to have 3 flathead screws holding it on. One on either side near the cylinder and one in the "back-strap" of the grip.
What happens if I manage to get those out?
Am I gonna need some pin or screws to go back in the frame?
I managed to get the grips off (which are in SURPRISINGLY good condition) and I submerged the entire gun in PB Blaster for six days. Started to scrub some of the rust off. Barrel is no longer obstructed. Managed to tap gently on the cylinder release latch with a brass punch and resin hammer and got it to move a little but no joy on getting the cylinder open.
Scrubbed where I could. Blew out what I could with air hose. Kinda tapped on it all over hoping to create some more new "fissures" inside that the oil could penetrate into and just now dropped it back into the tub of PB Blaster.
Was some of the frame an alloy and that's why a large portion is not rusty?
What model is this?
ANY advice would be appreciated.
I understand it may not be worth it, but it feels like I should at least try to get her back into somewhat serviceable shape.
Not even sure which Colt this is.
An older lady a few doors down whose husband passed a few years ago gave me this revolver. They didn't have any kids and the nieces and nephews all live a ways off. She was trying to clean up her husband's old farm truck so she could sell it or get it hauled off.
She knows I am a "gun guy". She called an said she was scared to even move the revolver because she thought it was loaded and might be dangerous. We get these kind of calls all the time at the shop and usually it's just folks that don't know anything about guns and the "gun person" in the family has passed. Happens a lot in the Southern Pines area where I work. Most folks around here know a little better, so I was surprised when she told me that.
Well, she was right to be concerned. This thing was under a seat for no telling how many years in a cab that was no longer "weatherproof". Holes in the floorboard and all that stuff.
There was a bag of granulated fertilizer that was spilled open in the floorboard and some of it was piled around the gun.
The gun IS loaded. In the state it was in I could not get the cylinder release latch to move at all.
Barrel looked to be completely clogged with rust and fertilizer.
I'd like to see if I can save this gun, maybe get it cerakoted. I'm pretty sure there will be the need to replace parts if I can get the darned thing apart.
@BatteryOaksBilly , @Geezer , @CarolinaColtCollector , @Cocked & Locked , heck not even sure who all to tag on this one.
Y'all think it's worth trying?
Also, I am not familiar with this "shroud" that is attached. It has a Colt emblem on the right side. Surely this is an add-on? It didn't come from the factory with that on it right? Kinda like adding a T-grip to a Smith?
It appears to have 3 flathead screws holding it on. One on either side near the cylinder and one in the "back-strap" of the grip.
What happens if I manage to get those out?
Am I gonna need some pin or screws to go back in the frame?
I managed to get the grips off (which are in SURPRISINGLY good condition) and I submerged the entire gun in PB Blaster for six days. Started to scrub some of the rust off. Barrel is no longer obstructed. Managed to tap gently on the cylinder release latch with a brass punch and resin hammer and got it to move a little but no joy on getting the cylinder open.
Scrubbed where I could. Blew out what I could with air hose. Kinda tapped on it all over hoping to create some more new "fissures" inside that the oil could penetrate into and just now dropped it back into the tub of PB Blaster.
Was some of the frame an alloy and that's why a large portion is not rusty?
What model is this?
ANY advice would be appreciated.
I understand it may not be worth it, but it feels like I should at least try to get her back into somewhat serviceable shape.