Colt collectors, I have a question

[GymB]

No, I don’t belong to any Colt forums, and I’d rather not join just to ask a couple questions, so hopefully someone here can help.

Just got off the phone with my brother, he has two old guns about which he knows nothing. Got them at auctions decades ago and I get the sense that they were in boxes of “who will give me $1 for this box of stuff” at the end of the day.

The first he described as a “WW 1 cavalry pistol”. A little Q&A shows it to be marked Colt DA45, US Property and also M1917 making it easy to identify the model. It has 3 patent dates (1894, 1900, and 1905). Serial number is 38238. Questions are, what year was it manufactured and are they straightforward to work on as his has some function problems. If it’s straightforward I’ll have him send it to me, otherwise can anyone recommend a gunsmith in southern MI or northern IN?

The second he described as a Colt Civil War Navy ball and cap revolver in 38 cal. It’s all matching, serial number is marked on the butt, 121089. I think it’s a model 1851, but not sure. I told him that I think it should be 36 cal, but he can’t find the caliber marked anywhere on it. The cylinder is engraved, but he says it is very worn. I sent him to youtube to look for a disassembly video for a model 1851, that should confirm what it is. Questions are, where is the caliber marked on these guns, and what year was it manufactured?

Sorry, no pictures at this time.

If there is anything else interesting about these I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks!

 

[Charlie]

How much does he want for them? I will double his money and give him $2.00 for the whole box. Sounds as if he made a good deal buying that box of the revolvers if they are in any kind of decent condition. I have my Great Grandfather's 1851 Navy Colt that he used to shoot Yankees a while back when that was the fashionable thing to do. It shoots great. The 1917 could be any one of several chamberings in 45 caliber. The one I shoot is now 45 Colt although I feel certain that it was originally made in one of those strange British chamberings. He has some interesting revolvers.

 

[GymB]

How much does he want for them? I will double his money and give him $2.00 for the whole box. Sounds as if he made a good deal buying that box of the revolvers if they are in any kind of decent condition. I have my Great Grandfather's 1851 Navy Colt that he used to shoot Yankees a while back when that was the fashionable thing to do. It shoots great. The 1917 could be any one of several chamberings in 45 caliber. The one I shoot is now 45 Colt although I feel certain that it was originally made in one of those strange British chamberings. He has some interesting revolvers.

So for each do I need to cast the chambers and slug the barrel to figure out the caliber? I’m surprised that they aren’t marked.

 

[Charlie]

The 1851 should be easy to measure. It is called 36, but I forget the exact diameter of the correct bullet. I think I just used slightly oversized round balls and pressed them into the cylinder. For the 1917, see if it is cut for moon clips for use with 45 Auto rounds. Try 45 Colt rounds to see if they fit.