joseph12297 Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Hi All, Got this barrel, hope it to be real colt, has number 423 or 428 on it.Any history or info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Edited April 4, 2013 by joseph12297 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
765 21D Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) Hi Joseph, There is not much info on Colt Thompson No 423 in Tracie Hills book American legend. However, the barrel Number looks like 423 from your photos. 423 prior to April 15 1922 Prod Letter. 428 was an Eastside Thompson --- 5/18/21 Amer. Rail Exp. Co., N.Y. G.G Rorke I hope this info helps but perhaps someone else can tell you more. Regards, D Edited March 26, 2013 by 765 21D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1921A Posted March 26, 2013 Report Share Posted March 26, 2013 (edited) The front sight is definitely Colt era. The fin radius looks correct for s/n range. The number stamping looks to be correct. Does it have a witness mark? Pictures are bit out of focus but I'm fairly confident it's a 21 barrel. Edited March 27, 2013 by 1921A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 (edited) It has a mark, I dont know if you can make it out, I only have a camera phone Edited April 14, 2013 by joseph12297 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3BigDaddy Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 For sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThompsonCrazy Posted March 27, 2013 Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 For sale? Looks like he just bought it:http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=333301953.Another recent sale here:http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332346304.I haven't seen two Colt barrels for sale in a long time. Appeared out of no where.TC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2013 HiI'm gonna hold onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThompsonCrazy Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) Joe, Stick it in a gallon zip lock baggy and hose down with some CLP. Forget about it for a while and then wipe it down with a clean cloth. It may take a lot of the surface grime and oxidation off. It looks like it was stored dry for a good while. That barrel is a nice piece to hang onto as you realistically should always be able to get your purchase price, hopefully more, out of it if you need to. Or add to a Colt to help its value if is has a damaged on unoriginal barrel..My .02..TC Edited March 28, 2013 by ThompsonCrazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Thanks TC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) http://www.gunbroker.com/A uction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=332346304Extra pin grove included in the $1000.http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/Polythemus/Colt1921ATSMGbarrelpingrove_zpsd50a49fd.jpg Edited March 28, 2013 by Arthur Fliegenheimer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Colt Thompson NO 423 is/was an interesting gun. No one really knows what became of it. Board members will note that Gordon Herigstad's book, Colt Thompson Serial Numbers, is often cited on this forum. Given its cost and small printing, most members will not acquire it for their library. I thought some may enjoy seeing a picture of the inside information of Gordon's book pertaining to NO 423. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 That's interesting that 11,207 were delivered by 11/15/22. Didn't leave many left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Hello, Does that show that 423 did not leave Colt to ship to AO? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Unfortunately, all that is known about NO 423 is provided. It is anyone's guess as to what actually happened with this Thompson. You may want to reach out to Gordon and see if he has any additional information as I do not have the latest version of his book. He may be interested to know you have the barrel for NO 423. Gordon can be reached at: http://thompsonaccessories.com/ Let us know if you find out any additional information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arthur Fliegenheimer Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 That's interesting that 11,207 were delivered by 11/15/22. Didn't leave many left... If only AOC sold that many by 11/15/22, the company would have ordered another 15,000 from Colt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 I dropped Gordon an email, let you know if I hear anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph12297 Posted March 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Hi All Gordon does not have any additional info, in his opinion the gun never shipped as there is no additional history on it.I am trying to get more info from the seller to see how far we can track it backwards in time..No history is a very interesting history to me !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 There are a lot of possibilities. It could have been a reject gun that was never corrected. Or a test piece that was pulled from the line, tested extensively, and later found its way out the "back door" of the Colt factory. The contract called for 15,000 guns to be manufactured; apparently each gun was billed separately according to serial number. If the production numbers did not equal exactly15,000 at the end, AOC was probably all to glad to take a few less since most of the Thompson production was sitting in storage at the Colt factory with little prospect for a big sale. CAVEAT: This is all just speculation on my part. Let us know what you can find out. Interesting stuff for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Chopper Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 I ended up with the other barrel pictured above with no sight, Prasser included a note with it stating it was one of 10 Colt parts kits that was imported from El Salvador around 10 years ago. I didn't relize that it had an "Extra pin grove", All in all it is in nice shape and the rifling is above average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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