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Post by rkcohen on Jan 5, 2018 22:16:40 GMT -5
The attachments are a little back-up behind the story of Elmer K trying to convince Colt to bring out a SAA in .41mag. Please bear with me while I try to upload the pics.
As relayed to me by my former brother-in-law who worked at Colt in those years, management went with a few protoypes and was mulling to idea around for possible release in a New Frontier as a hunting pistol until the old cowboy passed away and then unceremoniously trashed the whole project saying tere would be no market for it...
Oh well, Colt management "is what it is.."
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Post by kings6 on Jan 6, 2018 0:26:43 GMT -5
Sorry I don't see any attachments.
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jt
.30 Stingray
Posts: 113
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Post by jt on Jan 6, 2018 0:46:47 GMT -5
I'm all ears on this one. I've seen pictures of the prototypes and also factory-letters accompanying-them (from Colt) that were posted elsewhere; had 41magnum prototype Single Action Army in ink right there on paper.. think there were five if I recall correct. Not sure. I have never heard it was Elmer Keith driving it though.
Really a shame Colt shelved (so many) of the projects they R&D'd over the years.. guy has to wonder if these lost projects they canned could have been the keys to better & broader markets for the company. (Namely the Hunting & "field" markets vs. just the collector market they've been babying) ...badly missed opportunities I-say
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Post by mike454 on Jan 6, 2018 1:24:54 GMT -5
There was a shooting times article in the 80's about a single action prototype 44 magnum that was a clean sheet design. In they mentioned that colt had chambered a handful of SAAs in the 41 mag. Wish I'd saved a copy.
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Post by rkcohen on Jan 7, 2018 13:02:32 GMT -5
..and i'm still hurting myself tryin to figure out how to attach jpgs to the thread - doh!!
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,424
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Post by JM on Jan 7, 2018 14:17:28 GMT -5
..and i'm still hurting myself tryin to figure out how to attach jpgs to the thread - doh!! It cannot be done through the forum software. Pictures must be hosted off-site & then post the link.
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Post by bullseye on Jan 7, 2018 14:28:54 GMT -5
There was a shooting times article in the 80's about a single action prototype 44 magnum that was a clean sheet design. In they mentioned that colt had chambered a handful of SAAs in the 41 mag. Wish I'd saved a copy. I remember that article. Fortunately, I've never thrown a Gun magazine away in my entire life...I'll have go through my ST back issues from the 80's & look that one up.
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Post by mike454 on Jan 7, 2018 18:39:32 GMT -5
Believe Dick Metcalf was the author and that RL Wilson had possession of the guns on loan from Colts.
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Post by jfs on Jan 7, 2018 18:45:48 GMT -5
This was an auction a few years ago.... Top SAA is 41mag and bottom is 44Spec....These were made by Colt... experimental
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Post by jfs on Jan 7, 2018 18:51:56 GMT -5
Top gun in 256 WM, 357 Bisley and 44 mag..... all prototypes from Colt.....
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cable
.327 Meteor
Posts: 681
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Post by cable on Jan 7, 2018 21:24:23 GMT -5
a while back we had pictures here of a pair of 44 magnum colt new frontier SAAs that were in the robert peterson collection when they went to auction
i bid on them [ online ] at the auction held by LittleJohns but they went far above my limits ! there were supposedly 10 or 12 44 magnums made , maybe. i had never seen the 41 mag examples
maybe there isn't enough of us gun cranks to support the costs.......but why oh why did Colt and USFA let us down ...... i had a list of USFAs two purchase...over time....... and then there were none !
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Post by ddixie884 on Jan 7, 2018 22:37:34 GMT -5
This is a very cool and interesting Thread, Thanx...........
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Post by kings6 on Jan 7, 2018 23:19:31 GMT -5
While not a Colt, I do have a USFA that currently is in line to become a 41 Special down at Mr. Harton’s. We could have done the 41 mag but I am more than pleased with the 41 Special.
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jt
.30 Stingray
Posts: 113
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Post by jt on Jan 7, 2018 23:37:31 GMT -5
While not a Colt, I do have a USFA that currently is in line to become a 41 Special down at Mr. Harton’s. We could have done the 41 mag but I am more than pleased with the 41 Special. Special can be loaded up into 41mag territory if you ever had-to have it king.. 41special is just as versatile power-wise as Elmers 44special ever was, without a doubt. I think Colt would have hit the homerun of 5 lifetimes if they had come out with the 41colt-special the way the story says they had lined up in the late 20's. The SAA is the ideal size for it in many-many ways, likewise on your USFA. I wonder what ever happened to the 41colt-special prototypes way back in the 20's when they had R&D'd that-one.. it be amazing if those-ones would ever show up someplace. Seeing that early lengthened 44special just posted from that same more/less era; guy has to wonder. I bet Colt did the lengthened 44special caliber after Lachuk's 44.. was supposed to have been ballistically doing (then) what the 44mag did alot-of years later. Betcha that 44 in the picture up above was chambered for his* As a prototype idea that never materialized!
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Post by ddixie884 on Jan 7, 2018 23:52:12 GMT -5
Robb, that is so cool. I'm glad folks are chambering to the .41spl..................
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