A3 BOOK BLUE NO4 COLT Frontier A3 - Classic Arms

In 1879 the .44WCF or .44/40 cartridge was introduced in the "Colt Frontier Six-Shooter." The advantage of this was the Winchester '73
was chambered in this powerful cartridge. Then a cowboy or a ranger could carry one cartridge belt instead of two, and one supply of
ammunition instead of two. In a fight, putting a .44-40 cartridge in a .45 Colt chamber could be quite dangerous.
The Forgotten Forty-Fours
The beginning of the cartridge era immortalized some cartridges and left others in the dust bin of history
12.7.2004 The roughly cut out Frontier.
This is a 5½ inch barrel, the main parts are here ready for sculpturing, at this stage
it is important to see how the woodgrains are going to look and to select the grip
wood as in this case it will be checkered & it would be a shame to put in the work on
checkering if the wood grain did not compliment it. The barrel is rifled at this stage.

This old-timer dates to the early 1870s and is still alive and well in the cylinders and magazine tubes of original and replica firearms of the frontier era.
The round was originally known as the .44 W.C.F. (for .44 Winchester Center Fire) and made its debut with the 1873 Winchester rifle.
Eventually Colt got the bright idea to chamber its Peacemaker for the cartridge, calling the new pistol the Colt Frontier Six Shooter
and forever linking the .44/40 to handguns. It is an effective and efficient round, ballistically close to the .44 Special.
Once considered a difficult cartridge to reload because of its semi-bottlenecked contours, the .44-40 is now a widely loaded round by the Cowboy shooters.

Classic Classic Arms
Arms
COLT COLT mid.1880’s mid.1880’s FRONTIER FRONTIER in in the the making
making
Colt Firearms was forced to wait until the S & W patent expired before they could offer their firearms in larger caliber. Once cleared, they converted
weapons designed as “cap and ball” revolvers to fire cartridges. These unique Colts are known to collectors as “conversions,” and they were produced in
comparably small numbers. There were 72,000 of nine models made over a short period of time compared to the 1860 Army (250,500), the 1851 Navy
(215,348), and the 1849 Pocket (325,000).
Colt’s initial non-converted handgun (Model 1871-1872 Open Top) appears be a conversion, but it was actually Colt’s first revolver specifically
manufactured to fire a cartridge. There were 7,000 produced. Regardless of the fascination conversions possess, they pale in historical comparison to the
New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol, or Model P, introduced in 1873.
The Colt factory had begun work on the Single 100 rounds. The only difficulty was having one defective cartridge fail to fire. Major J. B. Benton laid the
weapon in the snow, poured water over it, and left it for three days and nights. When officers retrieved the Colt, they found it had rusted considerably “but
worked perfectly” as they shot another 200 rounds. Only two cartridges failed to fire. The weapon was tested for accuracy by firing ten shots at a target at
fifty yards distance. The Colt’s mean absolute deviation was only 3.11 inches. Although the board tested a Smith & Wesson, as well as other revolvers,
Colt’s new revolver outperformed the others so well that the Army ordered 8,000 of them for its cavalry the following year.
The sturdy handgun was a single action (the hammer had to be pulled back and cocked before it could be fired), and this movement produced four
distinctive clicks that, the legend goes, spelled C-O-L-T. It was a six-shot, .45-caliber revolver with a 7 ½-inch barrel and a pinched frame (constriction of
the top strap to form the rear sight). On serial numbers 1-24,000, COLT’S PT.F.A. MFG. CO. HARTFORD, CT. U.S.A. was engraved in italics and slanted
on the first 100 manufactured.
The grips were one-piece walnut, and the 1871 and 1872 patent dates appeared in two lines on the left front of the case-hardened frame through the first
34,000. After that, the two dates were put on a single line with the 1875 date added on line below. The rampant colt trademark was stamped next to these
dates at the beginning of the 130,000 serial number range and was continued with only slight variation.
Contrary to popular belief, neither the cartridge nor Colt’s new single-revolver action caused an immediate switch from cap-and-ball firearms. It took
nearly two years for Colt to complete the Army contract and offer the new gun to the public. Men familiar with cap-and-ball weapons were reluctant to
place their lives in the unproven capability of a cartridge. However, as more of Colt’s single actions were made available, the guns quickly earned the
confidence of those who depended on a reliable weapon, and the .45 caliber “Peacemaker” was on its to way to becoming the most famous sidearm of
the American West.
In 1874, Colt offered its new revolver to the public. No changes were made until 1875, when it was offered with a 7 ½-inch or 5 ½-inch barrel as well the
Single Action Colt Frontier Six-Shooter in .44/40. Colt continued to meet public demands and, in 1875, offered a 5 ½-inch barrel for the first time.
Eventually, there were thirty different calibers to chose from.
The Colt Factory offered another variety of their fast-selling Single Action Revolver in 1882 with the Sheriff’s or Storekeeper’s Model. This weapon came
without an ejector in various calibers and barrel lengths from 2 ½ to 7 ½ inches. Six years later, the Flattop Target model came in calibers from .22 to .476
Eley. In 1894, the Bisley Single Action Army and the Flattop Target were introduced to the public in calibers similar to the Flattop. Its most common barrel
lengths were 4 ¾, 5 ½, and 7 ½.
During 1893, along with different models, Colt also changed from one-piece wood grips to two-piece hard rubber ones with the Colt logo, an eagle, and
shield. The hard-rubber eagle grips were discontinued during 1896 and replaced with two-piece hard-rubber grips with a rampant colt within an oval
circle. As always, plain or carved ivory grips were available as well as nickel-plated finishing or hand engraving.
The Colt Single Action was the handgun of the Old West, and Texas Rangers, soldiers, sheriffs, civilians, and outlaws turned the workhorse into an
American legend. Over the years, the revolver was given nicknames such as “Equalizer,” “thumb-buster,” “plow handle,” “hog-leg,” and “Peacemaker.”
Longer slogans were offered when an admirer had more time to speak, and many an ear listened as an old-timer repeated, “Fear no man regardless of
his size . . . pull me, and I will equalize,” or “Judge Colt and his jury of six.”
The term “Peacemaker” was first used by Captain Samuel Walker to address Sam Colt in an 1847 letter from Mexico. Although the “Peacemaker” model
was a Single Action in .45 caliber only, many have used the term for all Colt Single Actions Revolvers
The gate,
this one part
takes just over a day
to create

24.9.2004 the Frontier .44 / 40
As shown here is well on it’s way to being finished,
at this stage there is about two weeks work to be done.

24.9.2004 the Frontier .44 /40
The main differences between the Peacemaker and the Frontier are:
Mr. Talbot has made this Frontier with a 5½ barrel.
The Frontier is a .44 / 40 the Peacemaker is a .45 caliber .
The Frontier has a two piece grip, this makes the Frontier easier to strip for maintenance.
The Frontier has a “push locking spring bolt”, instead of the Peacemakers screw, this makes the Frontier easier to dismantle.
The Frontier has a “moon shaped” ejector rod head, this again makes the revolver more compact and the head of the ejector rod was not as easy to catch on things.
The Frontier also has checkered grips, yet to be done.

It is interesting to note the Frontier has just about the same amount of parts as
the double action Webley.
When talking to Mr Talbot today he is talking about doubling the price of each revolver,
as he has proven himself as a craftsman of unique talents. The website has been a great
success and at 79 years of age, time for him to enjoy and reflect on the past few years work.
The various books that we have printed to compliment the set have been very successful,
the artwork of all printed material will be cut to disc and kept with the set for future generations.

10.10.2004 the Frontier .44 /40 finished
Mr Talbot has marked it as a 1878 but they were produced by Colt through the 1880s

10.10.2004 the Frontier .44 /40 finished
The set comprises of
Revolver
Cleaning Rod
Oil Bottle
Screwdriver
22 x .44/40 Cartridges

10.10.2004 the Frontier .44 /40
I hope those who see this collection can appreciate the skills of Mr Talbot, not only is he a world renowned
gunsmith, at the age of 79 he has taken years of knowledge and made the history of firearms in
wood. Stop...think of the brilliance of this man. The collection is made as close as possible to the originals,
some modifications have had to be made so they work in wood but I personally am amazed by the work.
Anybody that has a R.A.Talbot wooden revolver, cherish it as it is a collectors item.

10.10.2004 the Frontier .44 /40
The artwork for these books was done by Ken Lewitzka and there is only two complete
sets of books, one set for Mr Talbot the other for myself that should stay with my collection.
Any other A3 books are only part of the artwork put together from proofs.
The website www.classic-arms.com, has been developed by Sandra and Philip of Virtual Visions,
and paid for by myself. I can only hope that this website will be kept up over the next years
by contributions from other owners and collectors of Mr Talbot’s wooden revolvers. It has added
thousands of dollars to their investment. At this stage I cannot believe that other collectors have
not listed themselves as a collector and pay one years payment towards keeping the website
operational.
I can only hope in the next year others will contact Virtual Visions, Victor Harbor and pay a years
operational costs to keep the website running. webdesign@virtualvisions.com.au

10.10.2004 the Frontier .44 /40
Mr Talbot has taken 2 years, working very solidly to complete the sets,
it is the only set of Mr Talbot’s, woodcrafted revolvers that will be produced.
I believe with this set, called “the K.D.Lewitzka Collection” a little more has been
added to the history of revolvers, and certainly to the woodworking craft & artwork
of the world.
I am pleased that I have been able to produce the two sets of books that go
with the collection and show future generations what was produced, by Mr Talbot,
in Victor Harbor, South Australia, between 2002 and 2004.
The only public exhibition of the complete set, while I own it, will be held at
Scott’s Victor Harbor Winery on 15,16, 17, October 2004.
I have no family interested and who would value the collection, to pass this
magnificent set onto, so eventually is has to be sold to a collector who will value it....
it is a totally priceless set!
Thank you Mr Talbot for allowing me to own it!
Kenneth Dean Lewitzka 14.10.2004