Tweet
Hallo!
I thought I would get double mileage out of this post. I had posted it in the Cavalry COI, but there may be interest elsewhere.
Colt "Generations..."
Colt "Generations" are confusing because they are NUG a Colt M1873 "Peacemaker" evolution or history, but the blackpowder line has its own evolutionary path. Easy part first: "1st Generations" are the original production Colt Hartford usually always the "M1873." (1st Generation 1873-1941, 2nd Generation 1956-1974, 3rd Generation 1976 to present. With the odd ball Czech "Colt Cowboy' M1873 1999-2003).
But, I will talk about the blackpowder line with its own generations- and yes original production arms are the "1st Generation." So, from here on, I will be talking about the BP line only.
In 1971 Colt decided to reintroduce the M1851 Navy which was last made in 1873. Part of that was based on the success of pioneer Val Forgett of Navy Arms with his work in the mid to late 1950's, and partly due to the explosion of interest with the Civil War Centennial and the Uberti made revolvers appearing in the Italian "Spaghetti Westerns."
But here is where a relatively unknown pioneer named Lou Imperato comes in. Between 1971 and 1973, Forgett sold Colt the rough castings used to make the new “2nd Generation." But in 1973 Colt was looking for a new supplier, and in stepped Imperato who had been Colt's biggest US distributor. That lasted until Colt decided to end the first series of percussion revolvers in 1976. In 1973. Imperato had purchased the Iver Johnson factory in Fitchburg, MASS and moved it to Middlesex, NJ. He approached Colt with the idea to produce the entire "line" of black powder revolvers arguing that the Italians had been doing it well since the late 1950's. Colt was interested, but still lacked production capability. With the Iver Johnson works, Imperato was in the right place at the right time with the right idea, and Colt signed on to launch the new "F Series" of the 2nd Generations with Lou Imperato as a subcontractor.
Imperato had the hand-fitted/assembled stuff, but could not mass production. He had the barrels, cylinders, and back straps cas tin Italy (as Forgett had done). Imperato made the frames, center pins, cones, screws, springs, and built every one at the Middlesex facility to Colt standards. The finished revolvers were shipped to Colt at Hartford for final inspection and distribution.
Next, Colt added the 3rd Model Dragoon, and brought out the M1860 Army in November 1978. (Colt would add the 1st and 2nd Model Dragoons in 1980.) The '60 Army remained in production until 1982 in various versions. The first though was the rebated cylinder version made November 1978 through November 1982; and with the fluted cylinder from July 1980 through October 1981. There were also a number of commemoratives and cased sets.
In December of 1979 Colt introduced the M1862 Pocket Navy, and in January 1980 the M1862 Pocket Police. Also in September 1980, they introduced the M1861 Navy revolver, making them through October 1981.
A new line of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Model Dragoons was added in 1980 as well- all three coming out in January. In June of 1980 came the M1847 Walker released as a limited cased set with R.L. Wilson's book.
In 1979 a special edition of the M1848 Baby Dragoon was released, and between February 1981 and April 1982 it was made for general sale.
Roughly around 1980/1981, while Imperato was churning out the 2nd Generations. a small number were diverted to the Colt Custom Shop "in the white" to be engraved by some of the masters working at Colt at that time (or shipped to American Master Engravers, Inc), and completed as finely engraved customs.
Anyways, the "2nd Generation" (C Series and F Series) were introduction by Imperato at Iver Johnson for a little over a decade before coming to an end in 1982. So, that makes the Colt M1851 Navy, M1847 Walker, M1848 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Model Dragoon, M1860 Army rebated and fluted, M1861 Navy, M1862 Pocket/Police, and the M1862 Pocket Navy.
Yes, they are NUG generally held to be "superb." And they have developed a culture and mythos all their own as to the " real Colt Colt" or more factually just Italian/Iver Johnson built and finished to Colt standards and with Colt only doing the marketing, selling, and distributing.
But then that gets Modern Political as Colt went tout of business and into bankruptcy, and was bought out by foreign concerns who still run it as "Colt."
So, the "2nd Generations" are collectable and controversial, but are "the best" revolvers out there- so one does pay extra when one shows up.
Curt
I thought I would get double mileage out of this post. I had posted it in the Cavalry COI, but there may be interest elsewhere.
Colt "Generations..."
Colt "Generations" are confusing because they are NUG a Colt M1873 "Peacemaker" evolution or history, but the blackpowder line has its own evolutionary path. Easy part first: "1st Generations" are the original production Colt Hartford usually always the "M1873." (1st Generation 1873-1941, 2nd Generation 1956-1974, 3rd Generation 1976 to present. With the odd ball Czech "Colt Cowboy' M1873 1999-2003).
But, I will talk about the blackpowder line with its own generations- and yes original production arms are the "1st Generation." So, from here on, I will be talking about the BP line only.
In 1971 Colt decided to reintroduce the M1851 Navy which was last made in 1873. Part of that was based on the success of pioneer Val Forgett of Navy Arms with his work in the mid to late 1950's, and partly due to the explosion of interest with the Civil War Centennial and the Uberti made revolvers appearing in the Italian "Spaghetti Westerns."
But here is where a relatively unknown pioneer named Lou Imperato comes in. Between 1971 and 1973, Forgett sold Colt the rough castings used to make the new “2nd Generation." But in 1973 Colt was looking for a new supplier, and in stepped Imperato who had been Colt's biggest US distributor. That lasted until Colt decided to end the first series of percussion revolvers in 1976. In 1973. Imperato had purchased the Iver Johnson factory in Fitchburg, MASS and moved it to Middlesex, NJ. He approached Colt with the idea to produce the entire "line" of black powder revolvers arguing that the Italians had been doing it well since the late 1950's. Colt was interested, but still lacked production capability. With the Iver Johnson works, Imperato was in the right place at the right time with the right idea, and Colt signed on to launch the new "F Series" of the 2nd Generations with Lou Imperato as a subcontractor.
Imperato had the hand-fitted/assembled stuff, but could not mass production. He had the barrels, cylinders, and back straps cas tin Italy (as Forgett had done). Imperato made the frames, center pins, cones, screws, springs, and built every one at the Middlesex facility to Colt standards. The finished revolvers were shipped to Colt at Hartford for final inspection and distribution.
Next, Colt added the 3rd Model Dragoon, and brought out the M1860 Army in November 1978. (Colt would add the 1st and 2nd Model Dragoons in 1980.) The '60 Army remained in production until 1982 in various versions. The first though was the rebated cylinder version made November 1978 through November 1982; and with the fluted cylinder from July 1980 through October 1981. There were also a number of commemoratives and cased sets.
In December of 1979 Colt introduced the M1862 Pocket Navy, and in January 1980 the M1862 Pocket Police. Also in September 1980, they introduced the M1861 Navy revolver, making them through October 1981.
A new line of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Model Dragoons was added in 1980 as well- all three coming out in January. In June of 1980 came the M1847 Walker released as a limited cased set with R.L. Wilson's book.
In 1979 a special edition of the M1848 Baby Dragoon was released, and between February 1981 and April 1982 it was made for general sale.
Roughly around 1980/1981, while Imperato was churning out the 2nd Generations. a small number were diverted to the Colt Custom Shop "in the white" to be engraved by some of the masters working at Colt at that time (or shipped to American Master Engravers, Inc), and completed as finely engraved customs.
Anyways, the "2nd Generation" (C Series and F Series) were introduction by Imperato at Iver Johnson for a little over a decade before coming to an end in 1982. So, that makes the Colt M1851 Navy, M1847 Walker, M1848 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Model Dragoon, M1860 Army rebated and fluted, M1861 Navy, M1862 Pocket/Police, and the M1862 Pocket Navy.
Yes, they are NUG generally held to be "superb." And they have developed a culture and mythos all their own as to the " real Colt Colt" or more factually just Italian/Iver Johnson built and finished to Colt standards and with Colt only doing the marketing, selling, and distributing.
But then that gets Modern Political as Colt went tout of business and into bankruptcy, and was bought out by foreign concerns who still run it as "Colt."
So, the "2nd Generations" are collectable and controversial, but are "the best" revolvers out there- so one does pay extra when one shows up.
Curt
Comment