Colt SAA gunsmiths

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jdad
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Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by jdad »

My Ops Manager just inherited a fairly nice SAA from 1901. It appears that all the springs are broken, so he wants to send it out and have it fixed and retimed.

Are there any competent Colt revolversmiths still in business?
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

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Sixgun
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Sixgun »

Any qualified smith can do that.......for what your talking about there's not much to it. I've done more than a few myself including cap and ball Colts and Remington's....
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

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marlinman93
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by marlinman93 »

It's too bad Gary Erb has lost his eyesight. He's right here local to us, and was one of the finest SAA Colt gunsmiths I've ever met. But sadly he can barely see these days, so had to stop all of his great work.
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Griff »

Sixgun wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:15 pmAny qualified smith can do that.......for what your talking about there's not much to it. I've done more than a few myself including cap and ball Colts and Remington's....
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horsesoldier03
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by horsesoldier03 »

Jeff Ault would be my first choice with the # 1 Option Package. https://bobmunden.com/pricelist-six-gun-magic/

I have no first had experiance with the second guy, but I have heard good things about his work. https://www.longhunt.com/web/index.php? ... olt-clones
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CowboyTutt
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by CowboyTutt »

Jeff Ault at Munden's Sixgun Magic could really slick that thing up.

https://bobmunden.com/custom-gunsmithing/

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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

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jdad
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by jdad »

Sixgun wrote: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:15 pm Any qualified smith can do that.......for what your talking about there's not much to it. I've done more than a few myself including cap and ball Colts and Remington's....
Springs aren't what he's worried about. Heck, I could do that..... it's the last thing I wrote "have it fixed and retimed".
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DennisB
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by DennisB »

Alan Harton. Single Action Service. There may be others as good but I doubt there are any that are better.
Here is a link to information about him.


https://www.gunblast.com/AlanHarton.htm
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by samsi »

Never had any work done by him myself, but Bob James in Phoenix had a good reputation. Not sure if he's still around.
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Sixgun »

Most of the time retiming is nothing more than replacing the hand and fitting/polishing that. Put in a new bolt and fit that to the cylinder notches. Replace the three pronged spring....polish any contact spots, maybe a new cylinder bushing if it has end shake.

If the hammer cam is damaged, that can be tricky...but a good smith can do that too...I lucked out on the ones I worked on, even civil war 1860's, 51's, and 49's...and a '62 Police I now have.

I've retimed a few by using the old hand just by swaging it longer then filing it down...depends on the shape of the old one....

Unless your welding up cylinder or hammer notches/sears , restoration, or a major overhaul, it's not much to get a single action Colt up and running. All bets are off on imported junk....they still haven't learned how to case harden properly. I wasted more time on a somewhat new Uberti than I did on a half dozen real single actions...Colts.

If the gun is really beat to the point where the cylinder window is stretched, out of alignment, etc, hang it on the wall or be prepared to spend the big bucks.----006
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Old Savage
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Old Savage »

Is that all there is to it? :)
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Sixgun
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Sixgun »

Old Savage wrote: Sat Jan 22, 2022 11:29 pm Is that all there is to it? :)
ask yourself that question....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LCRZZC-DH7M


But you did say, "It's fairly nice". :D
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Eddie Southgate
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Re: Colt SAA gunsmiths

Post by Eddie Southgate »

Jim Martin in Arizona would be my choice .
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