Old Colt rifle?

snal · Post by **snal** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:45 pm

Sorry to be off topic...but as I was wiping down my own guns...my son got his out of the cabinet...he inherited an old Colt .22 magnum from his grand-dad...it's stamped "The Colteer I .22 Mag."...I can't find a serial number anywhere. It has a chrome bolt, walnut stock, and it's a single shot. The bore looks great...surface rust on the barrel. Anybody know anything about these?

Sure-Shot · Post by **Sure-Shot** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:07 pm

Colt Colteer 1 was manufactured from 1957-1966, in either 22lr or 22mag. My current Standard Catalog of Firearms (2004 Edition) list them from $90 for poor condition to $400 for excellent.

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:21 pm

A unique feature of these is an experimental rifling called 'buttress rifling'. While I have never owned one, I've heard they have good accuracy potential. I agree with Sure Shot that they are not getting any cheaper.

To deal with the slight rust on the barrel, wally - or regular groc stores for that matter - sell curly copper dish scouring pads. Use one of these with some Hoppes or any other gun cleaning solution to scrub it away. The copper pad will not harm the finish or metal. SW

snal · Post by **snal** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 7:42 pm

Thanks Steve...I'll try that. I wondered if it was worth re-blueing...the "Colt Mfg........" is very lightly stamped. Any idea if there should be a serial number?

Four-Eyed Buck · Post by **Four-Eyed Buck** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 8:13 pm

Don't reblue it! If you do, it'll lose a lot of it's value...........Buck

Sure-Shot · Post by **Sure-Shot** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:40 pm

Prior to 1968 gun control act a lot of 22's did not have serial no.s If you don't see one try pulling the butt stock and check the side of the upper tang see if they put it there. If not may not have one.

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 6:27 am

I'm with Buck - don't re-blue it!! That's the surest way in the world to pull the plug on the value!! SW

Stillwater · Post by **Stillwater** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 11:02 pm

There is a way to reblue a firearm, without telling if it has been reblued or not. But, you can't polish the metal, because that will always show.

I used to work with a great gunsmith. One day I walked by a bench in the shop, and I smelled vinegar. Looking at the bench, I saw a disassembled S&W K22 pistol, soaking in the vinegar, with the blueing coming off in sheets. I asked the smith what was going on.

With a laugh, he told me that vinegar strips off the old blue completely, and the owner did not want to polish the pistol, all he was going to do was dip blue it. All the pistol had was holster wear, no nicks and dents.

It came out looking really new, nearly factory new, in fact.

This is just FYI, I am not recommending that anybody do this, with any firearm that has value attached to it.

Bill

SteveW · Post by **SteveW** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:02 am

Since vinegar is essentially diluted acetic acid, that plan might have more merit than you would think at 1st glance. I use the stuff in the darkroom & will try it one of these days. SW

Stillwater · Post by **Stillwater** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:40 pm

SteveW wrote:Since vinegar is essentially diluted acetic acid, that plan might have more merit than you would think at 1st glance. I use the stuff in the darkroom & will try it one of these days. SW

If you have the opportunity to do this, please post your results. I am interested ...

Bill

oldwolf · Post by **oldwolf** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:25 am

Me too.