Getting A Grip On Colourful Colts:

 I've dropped my Thesaurus somewhere - so now I'm lost for words to describe how sad I am about that .. 

1851 Colt Navy Above An 1861 "New Model" Navy

- Fine Looking Specimens .. Are They "Originals"?

These Two ARE Original* Colt 1849 & 1861 NZ Antiques:

- the fuzzy textured surface under the objects is Adopted-Old-Stray-Cat-Fur

I have two fine (& costly) Colt books by Robert M Jordan, COLT'S POCKET '49 - and COLT 1851 & 1861 NAVIES .. and one of them mentions that the factory used ALKANET ROOT to stain red the Walnut grips .. Both books are filled with well focused images of Colts - around half of which have timber grips glowing REDLY from the book.

I have indeed seen reddish tinted grips around but mine appear more dirty-dark-oil-stained-dented. The much debated original recipe seems to be to use powdered alkanet root immersed in boiled Linseed Oil - possibly thinned with alcohol - OR - anything else you fancy .. including stuff that PURDY themselves are said to buy and use.

You really can learn something some days eh ..

Note 1: here linked are 32 pages of chatter on-topic red stain gun stock finish ..

https://doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=384&page=1

Note 2: NOW .. as to the VARNISH used on Sam Colt's early revolver grips or stocks - it seems likely that this stuff is DAMMAR GUM VARNISH also known as "long oil varnish". - The gum is dried resin tapped from a Southern Asia tree dissolved in real turpentine, that was introduced as a picture varnish in 1826. An all natural vegetable product so you may feel OK to have a chew on your early pistol grips when peckish eh. 

*Note 3: The lower revolvers ARE original but the brass candle lantern is a 'repro' copy of a STONEBRIDGE  WW1 windproof military lamp - even using percussion-resistant mica glazing rather than glass. - Don't you love such items?

Note 4: Slackum Oil or Slacum Oil is a stock finishing oil made from boiled linseed, pine Turpentine, Carnauba Wax (or Beeswax), and 'Venice Turpentine' - which is a resin from European Larch trees ...

Note 5: When admiring the aesthetics of my home curtilage - visitors are advised that old stray cats are well known for regurgitating minced horsemeat onto the rarely vacuumed carpets .. while an escapee refugee Ausie black hen, regularly fed with handsfull of rolled oats - shits everywhere while she begs & clucks for food - especially on the back doorstep.

- But, like the finish of Colt's antique revolvers ... it's all natural eh.

Marty K.