Colt Signature Series

[khill]

I just bought a new Colt Signature Series 1861 Springfield musket. I heard that this type of weapon is actually an Armi-Sport. Does anyone know if this is true?
Also, does anyone know what the minimum and maximum charge is with this weapon. What type of minie balls is best and can I use maxi balls?
I did not get an owners manual with this weapon, so any information would be very helpful.

[RaiderANV]

Your Colt firearm was made in the Bronx New York and not Italy. You'd have to get your bore mic'd to see the exact bore dia. then get a round sized to 1,000th less for you best accuracy. I used 38 grains of 3F Goex in mine and it one shoot one ragged hole at 50 yards. They were well made for the most part and bring a better price then the Italian made guns.

[efritz]

Pat,

Is yours a 2 or 3 bander? I bought one of those 2 banders way back when. When I bought it and took It apart the barrel looked like the rifling cutter had broke down by the breach. There was a gouge out of it. Brought it to the attention of those I bought it from and they gave me a new barrel. I never could get anything in my mold arsenal to shoot out of it. Oh I'd get one good target off the bench but it wouldn't replicate. Finally had to have Hoyt reline it. Now it shoots and it's the one I use now.

Regards.
Eric Fritz

[Dave Fox]

I believe, but do not swear, Colt merely assembled Italian parts (Armisport?) and marked the result to create the replica Colt Special Model.

[R. McAuley 3014V]

The Colt Signature Series were not actually produced by Colt, but were made under licensing from Colt Firearms. The Colt Signature Series were produced 1993-2002 by the same person who had also produced the 2nd Generation Colt replicas of 1973-76, Lou Imperato, and like those made then, the Colt Signature Series were made from Italian-made parts but were entirely assembled in the US by the Colt Blackpowder Arms Company of Brooklyn, NY (like the 2nd Generation Colt replicas were assembled by the Iver Johnson Arms Company in Fitchburg, MA). From what I understand all of the Italian-made parts were obtained from Uberti (not ArmiSport).

Several models not made as part of the 2nd Generation series were latterly produced as part of the Colt Signature Series, such as the 1849 Pocket Dragoon and 1862 Trapper, and by 1996 Lou and Anthony Imperato had recreated all the original models. Unlike the earlier 2nd Generation series, Colt had only a very minor role in their recreation compared to the earlier effort in that while Imperato was producing hundreds of 2nd Generation replicas, a handful were diverted to the Colt Custom Shop for the limited factory engraved pieces, and which continued in producing such pieces into the early 1990s from 2nd Generation inventory.

[khill]

Thanks for the information. Im going to the range this weekend, we'll see what happens at 100-200 yards!!!

[RaiderANV]

Eric,
Mine was a 3 bander. I don't know if they actually made a 2 bander or if that was Chat-ah-whatever that did those as I don't remember them being marking with the Colt Sig.

Colt BP found me through someone else and Anthony had Terry Rush contact me about testing their new guns when they had just started making them. They sent me one and I tried over 20 different projectiles & many more loads. Wrote a nice 4 page article for them with test results and sent it off. I found out months later they opted for a one paragraph deal from someone who was going to be one of their main dealers. Money talks I reckon. As a consolation they told me to keep the musket, sent me a dozen custom Colt coffeee mugs, a sling, bayonet and walnut display case for the musket.

I can't remember Terry Rush's actual position but thinking it was over manufacturing. He had told me they were gearing up over time to produce the guns in the Bronx and that in the meanwhile most of the parts came from Uberti unmarked. All parts were select grade and hand assembled in New York he said. They had also told me they had bought the rights from Colt and not just leased them. If I remember correctly Terry Rush came from Colt with the deal. Don't know whatever happened to them after that. Guns were nice and bring a better price then Armi, Euro or Uberti

[efritz]

Pat,
You're right. It is a Chat-ah-hooch but it does have the Colt signiture on the trigger guard.

[RaiderANV]

Pat,
You're right. It is a Chat-ah-hooch but it does have the Colt signiture on the trigger guard.


Yeppers,,,,it's was their one paragraph deal that Colt went with because they were buying a boat lo ad of guns. They were cutting them down to two banders and the Amoskeg rode again.

[dml1296]

I saw one of these at a local gun shop a few weeks ago. It was unfired and had a bayonet. It looked nice,
but at $899 it seemed a bit high without checking into it. I found info on the net that mentioned that they were
assembled from Italian parts.

[RaiderANV]

That.s right about the going price on them.

[William H. Shuey]

Pat,
You're right. It is a Chat-ah-hooch but it does have the Colt signiture on the trigger guard.

Warning on the Chattahoochie arm, many of the breechess were drilled and threaded way too deeply and after the breech plugs were inserted there was 5 or 6 threads exposed above the plug. I bought an Amoskeag 2 bander and it was constantly pulling cleaning patches off in the breech and I even had a few cook offs due to residue collecting in the exposed threads. Ended up having Bobby Hoyt do his majic on the gun, but one shouldn't have to resort to such things on a new weapon.

Bill Shuey

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Eric,
Mine was a 3 bander. I don't know if they actually made a 2 bander or if that was Chat-ah-whatever that did those as I don't remember them being marking with the Colt Sig.

Colt BP found me through someone else and Anthony had Terry Rush contact me about testing their new guns when they had just started making them. They sent me one and I tried over 20 different projectiles & many more loads. Wrote a nice 4 page article for them with test results and sent it off. I found out months later they opted for a one paragraph deal from someone who was going to be one of their main dealers. Money talks I reckon. As a consolation they told me to keep the musket, sent me a dozen custom Colt coffeee mugs, a sling, bayonet and walnut display case for the musket.

Here's the one from the Colt Factory Archive Collection, and obviously this says what they thought of it... they sold it, crate and all:

http://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.a ... id=6257579 (http://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=1290&aid=22587&lid=6257579)

[RaiderANV]

Bill Shuey,

I had the same problem and was the FIRST person to bring it to their attention. I was sent down the road by the "larger" of the two gentleman who worked/owned the booth. It was from then on that I responded a few times with my experience and referred to them as Chat-ah-CHEAT-me. Tony also ended up with one of these guns and had the same problem I did. He posted responses as well from time to time.

It was when Tony offered his for sale with the whole run down on it that I posted in response to someone's question with my experiences. It was a few days after that I received a phone call from the man who owned Chat-ah-hooce. He wasn't to happy with me or the other posts about his guns. We spoke for over an hour. He didn't recall me as it was his larger friend who dealt with my complaint. I told him that mattered neither here nor there as it was his company. It was two or three years after I went to them that they figured out there was in fact a problem. He said it only effected SEVEN or EIGHT guns as best they could figure out and I was the first to bring it up. He told me the few he knew of he'd told them to have Hoyt reline them on his dime. (Dang I can't remember his name now) Anyway,,,,,, I told him I had to buy a barrel for my gun, how much I was out and even after all these years I'd be happy for the cost of a reline in compensation. That offer to make amends was ignored. After hearing more about his advanced years and health issues and how he'd been treated by unhappy customers I figure I'd not respond anymore in public but rather in a PM IF,,,,someone really wanted input on the Amoskeg guns

But in closing his final word was that if the other few guns ever surfaced that Bobby Hoyt knew about them and would relined them on Chat's dime. That being said I never had cause to call Bobby to verify the claim and it's been a year since the phone call. To be fair I have seen plenty of the 2 banders that shot just fine.

Been thinking about selling the unfired 3 bander that Colt Black Powder sent me.

[William H. Shuey]

Hi Patrick:

Bobby Hoyt did a fine job on my Amoskeag 2 bander but it was on my "dime", not CH's. That said, the weapon will shoot better than I can now. I'm using Lyman's 575602 and am quite happy with the results I get.

Bill Shuey
1st Maine Hvy. Art.

[toolmaker251]

Hi Patrick:

Bobby Hoyt did a fine job on my Amoskeag 2 bander but it was on my "dime", not CH's. That said, the weapon will shoot better than I can now. I'm using Lyman's 575602 and am quite happy with the results I get.

Bill Shuey
1st Maine Hvy. Art.

Bill, when you purchased your Amoskeag 2 banderfrom CH how many lands and grooves did the barrel have?