Z3BigDaddy Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) Not a what is it really but more of a have you seen one. I figger this board has combined years in the thousands when it comes to guns and gun collecting so why not tap into it. This poor thing sat in a holster for way too long and is pretty dang ugly but like many holster damaged guns the bore is pristine. It in fact shoots excellent in single action mode with the 48 pound trigger pull just a bit more than this old man can handle. I have perused the internets with a fine tooth mouse and come up with no info on this thing. I do find many long guns with the Belknap Hardware and Essex logo but nothing like this. So has anyone here seen such a beast as this? I would like to scan some of the old catalogs but at a hundred bucks a pop to buy em, that is a bit cost prohibitive. http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20a_zpsxcayxc5o.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20b_zpsspajtavz.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20c_zpszbre1ucz.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20d_zps3he39zhm.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20e_zpsl0p5ys7e.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20f_zpsps3u5tlv.jpg http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/z3bigdaddy/Gun%20Stuff/Colt%20New%20Service%20Conversion%2010.19.2016%20g_zps3al3lt74.jpg Edited October 20, 2016 by Z3BigDaddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M17ap Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Looks to be a converted WWI 45 acp revolver. Converted to 22 cal looks like to me. You don't show pics of muzzle end so I would guess barrel was either changed to a 22 cal barrel or sleeved to 22 cal like the cartridge cylinder. look at the cylinder the caliber chambers areInserts pressed into the original 45 chambers. Back in the 50's and 60's lots of surplus guns around. Some did not sell as well as they would today so many surplus companies that sold surplus guns converted them to more popular caliber to make them more attractive to buyers so they ( the guns ) would not sit around and sell. No profit if your guns don't sell. Today that revolver if it was in original condition 45 cal would be worth $400 or more depending on condition. Same with German K98 rifles back then. Thousands sitting around. Most were converted to hunting style rifles. And they sold because they were cheaper than factory bolt guns like Remington or Winchester. Today collectors would rather have those original Condition K 98 rifles not the ones that were Sporterized for hunting. Bring back the good old days ! Hope this gives you some info on your piece. You could probably do a search on the company whose name is on the barrel and find out when they were in business. Good luck ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M17ap Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Two things I forgot to mention. First cost of ammo 22 a lot cheaper than 45 acp. Also might not have been a lot of surplus ammo in that caliber for sale at that time. Second was condition of gun. They had different grades available . Fair , good , very good , exc to new. Your gun was probably in fair condition with a bad bore ( rust or pitting ) or bad cylinder also with rust or pitting or both were equally bad.Not very desireable gun back then kind of like a klunker . Slow mover in the sales department so converting them made them desireable now because of new barrel bore and cylinder caliber chambers new also. Plus 22 always popular and affordable. That's it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Cornell Publications has reprints of catalogs. I didn't check to see if they had this hardware company, but check their site and they may. It's a good way to get the info without paying the high price for originals. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wwiifirearms Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 I don't know anything about it, but it is just weird enough that I'd be proud to own it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorDoc Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 It is a Colt frame with a manufacture date of 1918. Fairly early date and quite desirable in its original configuration. If the .22 cal. inserts in the cylinder can be removed easily, you may be suprised how easy it would be to return to USGI condition. 1917 Colt .45 barrels, both new and used, can be picked up fairly cheaply on Ebay,Gunbroker.... Even Sarco had them for years, still may. If the inserts will not press out, cylinders can be had fairly easily as well. It appears most of the rust of any significance is on the barrel anyway, likely the only portion that did not have a GI finish. Do yourself a favor, remove the rusty junk barrel and breathe a little fire back into that old warhorse. You will end up with a collectible that you will be proud to pass on one day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paladin601 Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) That is nice one. No ejector, the cylinder looks like the 22 inserts were swaged in and rifled towards the barrel end. quite a conversation piece https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belknap_Hardware_and_Manufacturing_Company Edited October 20, 2016 by Paladin601 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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