Restoring a 1865 Colt Revolver

[Adaekor]

Hey everyone,

So I just inherited an 1865 Colt Revolver. We have paper work on it verifying it being commisioned to an officer in the Army, it's all pretty awesome, wish I had pictures of it all to show you guys!

The only issue is that it has some rust on it, and hasn't been touched, well, really since 1865. Does anyone have any recommendations in the Groton/Dunstable/Pepperell/Townsend area of places that do restorations? It even has ivory grips as well. I want to restore it so that some day I can pass it down to my future kids.

Any and all recommendations are appreciated!
Mike

 

[OffshoreJ]

no expert but you might want to just leave it the way it is.

 

[jasons]

To properly restore it you should weld a picatinny rail to it, durakote it burnt bronze, and mount a laser to it. Or just leave it alone.

 

[Adaekor]

It's got some rust on it, but the barrel and most of it has some very nice engravings on it. Thought restoring it would be the way to go, help make it last.

 

[jasons]

It's got some rust on it, but the barrel and most of it has some very nice engravings on it. Thought restoring it would be the way to go, help make it last.

Leave it alone. "Restoring" it will ruin it.

 

[Rob G]

Leave it alone +100 !

 

[Adaekor]

Alright. It's all the sentimental value anyways, right? Thank you everyone.

 

[jasons]

Alright. It's all the sentimental value anyways, right? Thank you everyone.

Probably.... What caliber is it? What barrel length? Smooth or fluted cylinder? What are the engravings of? What do the sights look like?

 

[Big Daddy 45acp]

All I would do is oil and rub lightly with a soft cloth. Pictures would help. One man's rust is another's patina.

 

[terraformer]

Restoration is only appropriate when the condition is poor to begin with. I restored a 1917 mfg 1911 but it was in really bad shape. A little rust is not per se in "really bad shape". Post pics and we can give you more informed opinions.

 

[Business]

no expert but you might want to just leave it the way it is.

DING DING DING this The only thing i would do to this gun is build a glass case to put in on my coffee table.

 

[Fixxah]

DING DING DING this The only thing i would do to this gun is build a glass case to put in on my coffee table.

Just make sure there's a trigger lock on it if in Mass.

 

[jhrosier]

Alright. It's all the sentimental value anyways, right?....

Wrong....
The 1865 Colt is a rare and very collectable gun, in its' original condition, even with a bit of rust and a few gouges.
Five minutes with some steel wool will change it from several thousand dollars of value to a hundred dollar parts gun.

Jack

 

[Business]

Just make sure there's a trigger lock on it if in Mass.

If the glass case has a lock its mass legal

 

[Sir_Macadoo]

you could try to stop the rust, but for the love of good do not take steel wool, bronze wool or even scotch brite to it. Soak it in kroil and leave it alone.

 

[hankster]

you could try to stop the rust, but for the love of good do not take steel wool, bronze wool or even scotch brite to it. Soak it in kroil and leave it alone.

+1 !!!