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January 26, 2011
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For something different to ponder on ….
Here’s a Colt Single Action Army 7 1/2″ in 38-40 that I picked up while back. It’s not exactly the condition I would like to have, but I bought it because of the Winchester & Browning Bros. connections. The caliber helps too, since it goes with my Winchester collection.
This 1902 vintage pistol was sold to Winchester but shows shipped to Browning Bros. Seems to me it could be a patent trade payment, but no way to be certain. Any other reasons for Winchester to purchase a Colt and have it sent to the Brownings in UT?
Anyway, here’s an ol’ beater Colt for a change of scenery around here.
~Gary~
November 7, 2015
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I like it but must admit you had me at “Winchester” “Browning Bros” and “38-40”. That Colt would feel right at home with a couple of my Winchesters.
Mike
January 26, 2011
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TXGunNut said
I like it but must admit you had me at “Winchester” “Browning Bros” and “38-40”. That Colt would feel right at home with a couple of my Winchesters.
Mike
I didn’t really plan on being a Single Action collector, but I really get pulled in by the cool letters you can get from Colt. No that all of them are like this one. Seems a boat load of them are to the same old hardware stores but I’ve been lucky enough to purchase two SAA’s shipped to Browning Bros and only a couple months apart. I like the Winchester calibers as well. Seems like it all connects then.
~Gary~
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Gary,
Very COOL gun!! Does it have the Browning Bros. stamped marking on it somewhere?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 26, 2011
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Bert H. said
Gary,Very COOL gun!! Does it have the Browning Bros. stamped marking on it somewhere?
Bert
No, I wish it did but neither of the ones I have are marked like we sometimes see the rifles.
~Gary~
January 26, 2011
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Here’s the other one I have, also shipped to Browning about 2 months later. Same configuration except in 5 1/2″. This one’s a got a little more condition and was the first one I found. No Winchester reference on this single gun shipment.
~Gary~
Gary:
I also have a soft spot in my collection for these old Colts albeit for a different reason. My interest is in the military history and use. Pictured here are my two 1878 built single action army .45s. The 7 1/2″ specimen is a 100% original and correct U.S. Cavalry model and the 5 1/2″ example is a cut-down artillery model rebuilt by Colt after the Spanish American War in 1902. Both pistols have Colt and Kopec letters:
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
Rick,
I like your Colts, if they could talk imagine the story. Every Winchester collector should have a few. T/R
I can’t image that any collector of that period doesn’t have at least 1 pistol to go with his rifles. I have a few. I like the Remington Model 1875 and S&W Schofield too. I don’t own a Schofield but I did have a Remington for awhile. I have a Military issued 1860 Army, Military 1873, Military 1900, and a Military 1911. I display these with the Winchesters of each period.
I think both those Colts look wonderful. I’m not seeing an old beater or a lack of condition. Thanks for sharing.
I think I’ve asked this question here before, and I’ve been schooled but forgot the answer: Is there a difference between 38-40 rifle and revolver rounds? I had an old Colt in 38-40 and people told me to make sure I didn’t buy or shoot rifle rounds in it. The rounds I had would not penetrate a Model A pick up truck tail gate; and would barely dent it.
I bought mine for about $350.00 (?) when I was a kid and some years later the guy who sold it to me wanted to buy it back for over a grand. Like a dummy I had traded it for a Hawes Western Marshal in 44 mag. On the positive side, that Hawes was an accurate shooter.
I wonder if a Winchester client ordered a rifle and wanted a matching Colt so Winchester bought them to go with a rifle?
Huck,
The original Winchester (W.R.A.Co.) 38 W.C.F. factory loads are safe to shoot in anything chambered for the cartridge. Winchester did factory load 38 W.C.F. WHV (Winchester High Velocity) ammo, but specifically marked it for use in the “Model 1892” only. Your best bet for an old Colt revolver is to find & purchase the “Cowboy” loads made by Winchester or Buffalo Arms, as it is very mild stuff.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Huck,
The original Winchester (W.R.A.Co.) 38 W.C.F. factory loads are safe to shoot in anything chambered for the cartridge. Winchester did factory load 38 W.C.F. WHV (Winchester High Velocity) ammo, but specifically marked it for use in the “Model 1892” only. Your best bet for an old Colt revolver is to find & purchase the “Cowboy” loads made by Winchester or Buffalo Arms, as it is very mild stuff.
Bert
Thanks Bert.
Gary’s gun is a later smokeless Colt in 38WCF, notice the cross pin to release the cly pin. Rick’s are the older black powder Colts in 45LC, notice no cross pin. Rick’s guns were a big powerful handgun in their day, but today if you shoot them use “cowboy” loads. Guys these SAA are great guns and getting harder to find everyday. T/R
November 7, 2015
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Chuck said
I can’t image that any collector of that period doesn’t have at least 1 pistol to go with his rifles. I have a few. I like the Remington Model 1875 and S&W Schofield too. I don’t own a Schofield but I did have a Remington for awhile. I have a Military issued 1860 Army, Military 1873, Military 1900, and a Military 1911. I display these with the Winchesters of each period.
Where’s the “Hide This Thread” button? I was pretty proud to sell the last of my few collectible Colts earlier this year but now thanks to you guys my Winchester collection seems incomplete without a Colt SAA. 
38WCF looking pretty good, I shoot my Uberti 1873’s in 45 Colt now and then and they can be a handful with just normal BP loads. I even sold most of my Uberti’s to focus on collectible Winchesters.
I reckon I’ll have a lump of coal in a few days for trading material, pretty sure that won’t go far.
Mike
Mike I have sold a few guns over the years to support my Winchester collection. Three of which I wish I wouldn’t have. Recently I have bought 2 of the 3 back. I still would love to find a Remington 1875 in 44 WCF. These are hard to find with condition and not costing a ton of money. What I want is what we call a tweener. Any better condition will cause the price to double.
Maybe Gus would sell me his?
I shot some cowboy loads once in my 73 Winchester and they chronographed at around 400 FPS. Obviously some are way under powered.
January 26, 2011
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Great discussion guys, but still wondering about the Winchester purchase, yet shipped to Browning. The companion gun theory to go with a Winchester repeater is understandable, but why would it show sold to Winchester? If these pistols were ordered for a customer, wouldn’t Browning just order straight from Colt?
I keep going back to a patent payment. Maybe the Browning shop had a demand for some SAA’s and requested this order of 8 of them, using some of Winchester’s debt to pay for them. Winchester may have been able to get them at a better price due to a relationship with Colt?
We may never know but it’s fun to ponder on the possibilities.
~Gary~
November 7, 2015
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Chuck said
Mike I have sold a few guns over the years to support my Winchester collection. Three of which I wish I wouldn’t have. Recently I have bought 2 of the 3 back.
The Colts I sold were not something I’ll miss, Chuck. One was a nice Woodsman that no one at the auction seemed to notice. The other was a 3rd Generation SAA .45 that I bought NIB and lost interest in after I got it in good shooting condition. Too many Colts are not what they appear to be and I’m pretty sure I’ll make a poor buying decision if I ever decide to scratch the itch to add a nice SAA to my stable. I simply don’t know enough about Colts to risk the purchase of a collectible example for the prices they bring these days. I kept a few Uberti’s for eye candy, they look good enough for me.
Mike
TXGunNut said
Chuck said
Mike I have sold a few guns over the years to support my Winchester collection. Three of which I wish I wouldn’t have. Recently I have bought 2 of the 3 back.The Colts I sold were not something I’ll miss, Chuck. One was a nice Woodsman that no one at the auction seemed to notice. The other was a 3rd Generation SAA .45 that I bought NIB and lost interest in after I got it in good shooting condition. Too many Colts are not what they appear to be and I’m pretty sure I’ll make a poor buying decision if I ever decide to scratch the itch to add a nice SAA to my stable. I simply don’t know enough about Colts to risk the purchase of a collectible example for the prices they bring these days. I kept a few Uberti’s for eye candy, they look good enough for me.
Mike
I agree 100%.
I’ve always loved old Colts as much as Winchesters, but I could never afford what I wanted. With the exception of an old 38-40 that I lucked out on (right place at the right time), they’ve all be out of my reach. When I got older and had more disposable income, I decided to buy a brand new 3rd Generation. I was hoping to start the family tradition with it, 100 years late.
I sent it back three times. Each time they fixed my previous complaint, but sent it back with a new problem that was not there before. The final result was trash too. The recoil shield on the right is about an 1/8th of an inch shy of the cylinder in circumference. Looks pretty stupid. It shoots but, like my Harley Davidson, I just took my lumps. I could have returned them but sometimes it’s best to have an expensive reminder laying around to keep one from stepping on his dick again.
I’ve got some Italian guns that I am very satisfied with. And I like their western movies, too, so there’s that. 
Squint with Clint.
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