Grease Gunner Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 (edited) Hello All: I recently acquired a C Drum,Excellent condition, numbered 588 front and back, inside is perfect. I did not buy this specifically, but rather as part of a package It does have a tan pouch marked Rusco I will post pictures in a day or two my guess is 7500-8000 range Thanks as always Edited December 31, 2024 by Grease Gunner pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 (edited) Pictures? Is it original colt? Sounds like a west Hurley they are about $6-650.Springs are terrible on them not very desirable.If colt it really depends on condition.,does the case have a strap ect? Edited December 27, 2024 by Countryboy77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorcar Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 You have a bunch of variables and not much information, it would help to see pictures. There is tons of research already published on the subject that would identify what you have, then a market value could be estimated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 12 minutes ago, Motorcar said: You have a bunch of variables and not much information, it would help to see pictures. There is tons of research already published on the subject that would identify what you have, then a market value could be estimated. Exactly what he said ☝️. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD. Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 I don't think a West Hurley C drum is worth anywhere near $600/$650 other than to an uniformed buyer. Most do not work unless overhauled by the Drum Doctor years ago. I would consider most West Hurley C drums as display pieces. A much better deal is a Thompson C drum from Numrich Arms or the Gun Parts Corporation. For the most part, these C drums work. The price has risen some of late but there is a return policy if the buyer is not completely satisfied. There is also a discount for dealers. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1478210b 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 3 hours ago, TD. said: I don't think a West Hurley C drum is worth anywhere near $600/$650 other than to an uniformed buyer. Most do not work unless overhauled by the Drum Doctor years ago. I would consider most West Hurley C drums as display pieces. A much better deal is a Thompson C drum from Numrich Arms or the Gun Parts Corporation. For the most part, these C drums work. The price has risen some of late but there is a return policy if the buyer is not completely satisfied. There is also a discount for dealers. https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/1478210b That's the prices I've seen between gun shows and gunjoker not that I think they are worth it. I wouldn't buy a west Hurley drum of any personally,but people charge ridiculous prices.The new drums out of China I might swap covers with a west Hurley as at least they have the 'Thompson' logo bit aside from the cover west Hurley drums are only a 'display' piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappy Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 The resident experts have spoken. Time to move on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hammer Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 (edited) Edited December 28, 2024 by Mike Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 (edited) Mike Hammer, at your request: Edited December 27, 2024 by rpbcps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease Gunner Posted December 27, 2024 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 Look at my pictures,look at the fonts this is a correct 100 year old C drum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease Gunner Posted December 27, 2024 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 27 minutes ago, Chappy said: The resident experts have spoken. Time to move on. Its not time to move on, look at my pictures-i never said it was modern junk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chappy Posted December 27, 2024 Report Share Posted December 27, 2024 (edited) Not you, Grease Gunner. I was speaking about the WH dead horse that the "experts" were beating ad nauseum about WH drums. Say it once and move on. You have a nice drum there. Edited December 27, 2024 by Chappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted December 28, 2024 Report Share Posted December 28, 2024 Looks refinished to me. The numbers should be much deeper? I don't see the sandblast marks on the cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 28, 2024 Report Share Posted December 28, 2024 (edited) That's a very Nice C drum,very hart to tell if it's refinished.But it looks good to me.I couldn't comment on current price of one of these bad boys(out of my leauge due to market prices so I dont watch them ),very cool item you got. Edited December 28, 2024 by Countryboy77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shotmag45 Posted December 28, 2024 Report Share Posted December 28, 2024 it looks like an orig.Colt era. C Drum it may or may not be refinished my old eyes would have too see it in person I own several orig. C Drums looks like the real deal too me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gijive Posted December 28, 2024 Report Share Posted December 28, 2024 17 hours ago, johnsonlmg41 said: Looks refinished to me. The numbers should be much deeper? I don't see the sandblast marks on the cover? I agree with johnsonimg41, I don’t see the sandblast marks on the cover, either. The inside looks too perfect, as well. It is a genuine Colt’s (John’s Machine Works) drum, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpbcps Posted December 28, 2024 Report Share Posted December 28, 2024 1 hour ago, gijive said: I agree with johnsonimg41, I don’t see the sandblast marks on the cover, either. The inside looks too perfect, as well. It is a genuine Colt’s (John’s Machine Works) drum, however. A few years ago, i was lucky enough to become the 'custodian' of a Johns Machine Works C-Drum, #157. It's journey from the USA passed via Ireland, maybe part of the SS East side cargo. From the inside, my opinion is that it also had not seen much use, but maybe due to it spending too much time 'under the ground', the outside is not perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted December 29, 2024 Report Share Posted December 29, 2024 Grease Gunner, Your drum has correctly been confirmed as a Colt-era C drum. It is hard to confirm condition with pics, but it does appear the drum has been refinished. The tells are the finish filling all of the markings, especially the serial numbers, and the uniformity of the overall finish. As noted by others, the insides appear to have been polished to some degree. The rotor appears to be in nice shape Original finish nice Colt C drums have gone for $7000-8000, but I am guessing yours will be less due to the refinish. Actual value will depend on the buyer and how much they want a Colt-era C drum. Good luck. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease Gunner Posted December 30, 2024 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2024 23 hours ago, TSMG28 said: Grease Gunner, Your drum has correctly been confirmed as a Colt-era C drum. It is hard to confirm condition with pics, but it does appear the drum has been refinished. Good luck. Thanks a lot TSMG1928 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anjong-ni Posted December 31, 2024 Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 The two drums pictured differ in details. In addition to the manner in which the S/N is stamped, The rivets are crushed differently. The space afer "Dec. 7, 1920" is different. Very nice drums! ...Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 31, 2024 Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 2 hours ago, anjong-ni said: The two drums pictured differ in details. In addition to the manner in which the S/N is stamped, The rivets are crushed differently. The space afer "Dec. 7, 1920" is different. Very nice drums! ...Phil You're right! So which is earlier,Greas Gunners looks better.A later original!? How many companies made these 'C' drums( I know somone with a book has the answer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted December 31, 2024 Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 Grease Gunner, I am changing my opinion about the finish on your drum. I inspected two early numbered L drums that are NIB, and their finish is essentially identical to that of yours in the pics. Please take a look at the edge of the body under where the cover overlaps. If that area is blued, smooth, and not grit blasted, it is very likely that your drum is 100% original. Thank you for sharing it with us. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMG28 Posted December 31, 2024 Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 Counrtyboy77, All of the Colt-era numbered drums, both C and L, were made by John’s Machine and Stamping Works Company in Cleveland, and finished and assembled by Colt’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countryboy77 Posted December 31, 2024 Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 I will bite. Ok why are the rivets looking so different? 38 minutes ago, TSMG28 said: Counrtyboy77, All of the Colt-era numbered drums, both C and L, were made by John’s Machine and Stamping Works Company in Cleveland, and finished and assembled by Colt’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grease Gunner Posted December 31, 2024 Author Report Share Posted December 31, 2024 New Pics Posted showing the cover off. There is definitely a band of blue(not so shiny-its 100 years old) but not sandblasted which indicated refinish. I suspect the pouch is original as well I also received 2 l drums one is a United and the other is from the Colt ere(not numbered) and with pouches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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