1873 Colt revolver

M

Mountain Bug

Well-Known Member
I've been given this fine little pistol by my mother in law. Called a Colt Cloverleaf House Pistol, it is the first full-framed revolver that Colt produced. It is a four shot (the cylinder resembles a four leaf clover), chambered in .41 rimfire and engraved by L.D. Nimschke.

IMG_20200507_110017678_HDR.webp IMG_20200507_110050475_HDR~2.webp IMG_20200507_110108918_HDR~2.webp IMG_20200507_110221029_HDR.webp

There is very little known family history on this as it belonged to my wife's grandfather who passed when his daughter (my mother in law) was just twelve. I had only ever heard mention of father's "dueling" pistols.

We found this in a steamer trunk in San Francisco where it has been for the last eighty years. I can only hope that one day we find it's mate in her apartment which is a virtual time capsule from the 40's.

Needs a clean and oil but not before I talk to an expert about the best way to preserve it's character and value.

Just thought you fellas might enjoy having a look.


Scott
 
I was mistaken This pistol is of some of the first full/solid frame revolvers made by Colt, not the first. Sorry for that.

Scott
 
I would imagine quite a rare pistol engraved by Master Engraver L. D. Nimschke, you do need to consult an expert on the matter of conservation don’t do anything to the pistol beforehand.
If you could find the second pistol l would dare say as a pair they have to be extremely valuable, good luck with your search.
 
Lucky man ! We don’t get many finds like that in the uk .
Last find I found out about was the local charity shop had a ww1 webley revolver in a pile of clothes .
Wish I’d have known before the manager phoned the police 😩
 
Yes. Although I think he himself may be no more. Huntington's Die Specialities (which became RCBS) also used to, I think, stock obsolete ammunition? Now with a website also.
 
Another piece of the jigsaw which is all I have.... the second one shown.

Rumoured to be .41rf Remington Long, but if this is also called .41 Colt Long it’s an obsolete calibre under Section 58 (Appx. 5) of our Firearms Act.
That means one of us Brits can legally own it so you could just pop it in the post.:)

41-LONG-RIMFIRE
 

Attachments

When I see pictures like this it reminds me of a time when I was young and had a Smith and Wesson Chrome plated 32 rimfire revolver given to me.
It was among some of the firearms sent over from America to help our Home Guard, so I was told by the ole boy that gave it to me.
I used to wrap a .22 cartridge in a bus ticket and with a match stick push it to one side so that the firing pin hit the rim of the .22 cartridge, it went off but not accurate so a waste of time really. I kept it for a few years chucked in a drawer.
One day, much later, I shared a train carriage with a guy and we started talking about firearms and when I told him about it he said he would give me 10/- for it .
He said he travelled on the same train every week, as did I.
So the following week I took it with me hoping to see him again, the thought of a whole 10/- shilling note all to myself was very exciting.
He saw me first and called out, now I realise he was as anxious to get his hands on the pistol as I was to get my hands on the ten bob note, now I realise why.
I have seen pictures of a very similar pistol, if not the same one, because it was very easily identified by the lack of a trigger guard and the fact that it opened on a hinge pin at the top, very similar to the picture on this post.
 
Fosbery Holster said:
I would imagine quite a rare pistol engraved by Master Engraver L. D. Nimschke, you do need to consult an expert on the matter of conservation don’t do anything to the pistol beforehand.
If you could find the second pistol l would dare say as a pair they have to be extremely valuable, good luck with your search.
Click to expand...
I have begun correspondence with the Cody Firearms Museum in Wyoming as to preservation and am anxiously awaiting direction.

Finding it's mate is probably a long shot but I'm thinking if something nefarious had happened, a person would have likely taken them both. Maybe grandmother kept one in the apartment for protection after her husband passed?

Scott
 
splash said:
Lucky man ! We don’t get many finds like that in the uk .
Last find I found out about was the local charity shop had a ww1 webley revolver in a pile of clothes .
Wish I’d have known before the manager phoned the police 😩
Click to expand...
I am very lucky. For fifteen years my mother in law has given me little more than grief. Now she is giving me Firearms......fair trade imho:lol:.

Scott
 
enfieldspares said:
The "Old Western Scrounger" used to have .41 RF ammunition. But whether he, or his website, still are with us I don't know. Have a look on the internet.
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Thank you for the suggestion, I'll give this a try. I recently found a full box of vintage Navy Arms cartridges on Gun Trader for $500!!.

In the box there are also a couple .32 rimfire cartridges. Makes me wonder if there might be a derringer hidden somewhere (the plot thickens!).

Scott
 
Sinistral said:
Another piece of the jigsaw which is all I have.... the second one shown.

Rumoured to be .41rf Remington Long, but if this is also called .41 Colt Long it’s an obsolete calibre under Section 58 (Appx. 5) of our Firearms Act.
That means one of us Brits can legally own it so you could just pop it in the post.:)

41-LONG-RIMFIRE
Click to expand...
I believe what I have is the .41 short. This pistol will likely not be fired again so, cartridges will just be for display. However, if anyone knows of a vintage cartridge box anywhere I would be eternally grateful.
IMG_20200507_180349897.webp
This is is one of the .41 cartridges next to the .32 rimfire.

Scott
 
There's images on the internet that you can maybe print and make a replica box?



In WWII may late friend Clifford Owen carried his service .380 Enfild in a holster worn "around the back", inside his battledress blouse his .32 ACP Colt Automatic and in a pocket sewn inside the waistband of his battledress trousers a .41 RF Remington Double Deringer.

Whilst looking for box pictures I see that at some stage Navy Arms did ammunition also.

www.riverjunction.com

5288-Z Sold .41 caliber Rim-fire ammo by Navy Arms 1 box of

www.riverjunction.com

There also was an adapter which was a .41 cartridge case with a hole drilled in the base towards the edge to take an offset .22RF blank. That you then loaded as a complete cartridge with suitable bullet. The thing did of course have to be positioned so that the rim of the .22RF was struck by the hammer of the pistol.

This thread below if you persevere shows one of these such adapters albeit for 32RF. A Dixie Gun Works item.

www.ammoland.com

.32 Rimfire: Getting a Long Obsolete Round Back into Action

Someday some ammunition maker will realize that there are scores of these old guns in .32 Rimfire out there, without ammunition to shoot out of them.
www.ammoland.com www.ammoland.com

Here's one for the 38 RF:

KA1203 Brass Rimfire Case - .38RF (.370 Round Ball)

Machined from brass rod stock and designed to use a .22 rimfire blank in a special chamber inside the cartridge. The firing pin hits the .22’s rimfire and ignites the black powder loaded in the main cartridge. Fill this case as full as possible with black powder leaving room for a round ball...
www.dixiegunworks.com
 
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Stalker1962 said:
Fantastic bit of history but dear Lord, that is one ugly firearm.
Click to expand...

Different, perhaps. Ugly? Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I don't think it's too bad (after a few pints maybe). It certainly doesn't have the sleek classic lines of some of Sam Colt's pistols. But it fares well, looks-wise if you put it up against some of those bug ugly French pinfire revolvers.

Definitely worth keeping as an heirloom.
 
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