Manhattan pistol age?

[Steven Worden]

Has stagecoach scene on the cylinder. Is it crazy to want to shoot this? The cylinder lock up, but doesn't advance on its own. I see no serial numbers. It does have Dec. 27, 1859 patent date.

 

[Steven Worden]

I did find serial number 2504 on the edge and the barrel.

 

[Sam squanch]

I would really do your homework on when it was made and potential value before I would shoot it. That said, I know little about Manhattans… there must be an expert on here somewhere…

 

[Steven Worden]

I would really do your homework on when it was made and potential value before I would shoot it. That said, I know little about Manhattans… there must be an expert on here somewhere…

That's why I'm here Sam. I have found so far that it's a Pocket Model Series II made between Feb1860 to Dec 1862.

 

[Phil Coffins]

With antique fire arms in general for me there a few things to consider. Number one is it mechanically sound, next is there parts to repair it, then value as a piece of history. That is completely subjective and isn’t based on dollars. Would shooting it be that important to risk losing it. With tens of thousands of good replicas of many different types on the market but a declining number of original guns how necessary is taking the chance ? I’d keep it to enjoy for its historic value then when that is satisfied sell it and buy two or three replicas to shoot.

 

[poker]

I think Andy52 has one of those, and he generally shoots what he has. Hopefully he checks in here.
Nice piece btw…

 

[andy52]

I think Andy52 has one of those, and he generally shoots what he has. Hopefully he checks in here.
Nice piece btw…

what I had was an 1862 Metropolitan, which was a clone of the colt of the same year. I didn't shoot it however it just too nice to that too.
I also considered selling it but again it was just too pristine to put in the wild. so, in the end I donated it to the Civil war museum at Jefferson Barracks. any of you can see it there with my name tag as the donor.

 

[Sam squanch]

Did they have a big theft of pistols a long time ago there? Something about someone left a door unlocked, and several pistols were gone the next day. I know someone pretending to be a E-7 drove off with a hum- vee years ago. Used to be able to drive the deuce and a half straight to where we needed to go, then we had to dismount and show ID’s….

 

[Rudyard]

I Have a Manhattan Pocket very nicely made they are if sans trigger guard evidently broken off its brass . looks copy of the Colt just minor features differ , better 'at rest' plan for one . 6329 number on frame 38623 on the short barrel .cylinder seems burnt a ovel like scene hard to discern. I think I have a long loading lever would swop for a shorter one that fits the shorter barrel rough old ' brown gun' but still crisp & nicely made came out of Darke County Ohio not that it adds much to it . I had friend's in Darke County .
Rudyard

 

[andy52]

Did they have a big theft of pistols a long time ago there? Something about someone left a door unlocked, and several pistols were gone the next day. I know someone pretending to be a E-7 drove off with a hum- vee years ago. Used to be able to drive the deuce and a half straight to where we needed to go, then we had to dismount and show ID’s….

Haven't heard that one.

 

[nhmoose]

Around 160 years old

 

[poker]

Hey Mark, what you did, that was a class act..

 

[andy52]

Hey Mark, what you did, that was a class act..

Thank you, sir, Money isn't the only thing in life. hopefully, that revolver will still be in the same condition in another 100 years for people to look at.

 

[Mikekj]

Of course I’d shoot it.
It’s not any less strong now than it was 150 years ago.
Small parts break, but can be replaced or remade by any competent gunsmith.

 

[Tanglefoot]

I had a Manhattan .31 that looked just like that when I was in college. Got it from a friend of my Dad's who had it hanging on a hook over the fireplace in his hunting camp. When I first saw it, it was a revolver-shaped lump of rust with Rosewood grips and the cylinder hadn't been turned in many years. I put penetrating oil on the grip screw and after a while was able to remove the screw and then the grips. Two pieces of the mainspring fell out. Huh! I put the rest of the gun in a flat surgical pan and covered it with Coca-Cola. Let that stand overnight then poured it off and put fresh Coca=Cola on it.
Did that for a couple of days, checking from time to time. After a while, I was able to carefully brush away rust with an old toothbrush. Did that for a while, continuing the Coke Bath. Finally discovered there was an engraved revolver under all the corrosion and some of the finish was still left. When there was no more rust, I was able to disassemble the gun, scrub the bore, clean and oil the parts, and take stock. I got a replacement mainspring from Dixie Gun Works and installed it, then put the whole thing back together. It was functional, but I never did try to shoot it. Kept it in a gun case at my parent's house while I was in school and then when I was in the Army my Dad gave it to one of my cousins.

 

[Trinidad Bill]

Has stagecoach scene on the cylinder. Is it crazy to want to shoot this? The cylinder lock up, but doesn't advance on its own. I see no serial numbers. It does have Dec. 27, 1859 patent date.

Wow, what a great piece of history! You did not say how you came to own it?

 

[Steven Worden]

Wow, what a great piece of history! You did not say how you came to own it?

I inherited it from my Dad. He kept it in an old secretary. I think he had it before I was born in 1960. As you might be able to see, it has been dry fired hundreds of times when he wasn't around.

 

[Steven Worden]

Of course I’d shoot it.
It’s not any less strong now than it was 150 years ago.
Small parts break, but can be replaced or remade by any competent gunsmith.

I agree. Do you know a source for parts? The teeth on the cylinder are badly worn. I am real leery about trying to take it apart to see what's up inside.

 

[J-Bar]

I suspect it won't cycle because the hand spring is broken, if the internals resemble a Colt. Just a guess, I know nothing about Manhattans.

Added: If it were mine, I would clean it and oil it to prevent deterioration, then make it the centerpiece in a shadow box about Dad. Shooting it means you trust 160 years of cleaning procedures to preserve the chamber walls from rust, etc. It's earned a rest.

 

[Steven Worden]

I suspect it won't cycle because the hand spring is broken, if the internals resemble a Colt. Just a guess, I know nothing about Manhattans.

Added: If it were mine, I would clean it and oil it to prevent deterioration, then make it the centerpiece in a shadow box about Dad. Shooting it means you trust 160 years of cleaning procedures to preserve the chamber walls from rust, etc. It's earned a rest.

Yeah, but as Neil Young says, "Rust Never Sleeps."