Alright, just got back into the shop. The barrel is 10" nominal, 10 1/8" actual.
I'll try contacting Turnbull. What about the serial number? Did Turnbull or USFA offer custom sns?
Regarding serial numbers, custom serial numbers was a thing USFA was willing to do,
and "I think " Turnbull did as well ( since Turnbull is technically a "manufacturor" they can!) and as long as they are unique, the gov't doesn't really care ...
For example, this photo from a gunbroker auction shows 2 USFA rodeos with "special" serial numbers.
Not being an expert, I would have expected the Earp serial number from USFA to be more perfectly lined up and , well, prettier...
but what do I know, after perusing several hundred USFA serial number images on the web, I guess it all depends...
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Was there a run of Wyatt Earp guns? I would have just written it up as a USFA buntline, but the serial number and presentation case got me wanting to look into it further.
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yes there were a number of buntlines made with those special flipup sights.
here is a discussion of one special order from Turnbull's
http://singleactions.proboards.com/thread/11694/44-special-usfa-buntlineand we can see from auction sales there was a run of USFA 16" bunltines with shoulder stock and cardboard box
https://www.gunsamerica.com/926236344/USFA-Buntline-Special-45-Colt-16-inch-shoulder-stock-cased-box-and-papers.htmU.S. Firearms (circa 1997) copy of Colt's Buntline Special revolver. This blued and case-hardened .45 caliber Single Action has a 16-inch barrel, correct adjustable flip-up rear sight and gas escape hole as per originals. Having only been fired approximately 20 times by the original owner, it remains in nearly pristine condition other than a scratch in the bottom of the grip frame where the stock attach screw makes contact. Included is the detachable shoulder stock, oil bottle and the original cardboard box with all paperwork and packing material.
and here
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/11939379_usfa-colt-buntline-45-shoulder-stock-in-box-ffl--------
However, your wood case, brass plate, and skeleton stock do not appear original to the gun. The wood case looks like it was made for a 16" barrel.
and nobody in the US would pair the stock with a 10" barrel pistol.
The front and rear sights show it's the real deal, though, so it is most likely that the original owner got a USFA or Turnabull 10" buntline
revolver and put together the rest. Usually, Turnbulls have the Turnbull name on the barrel, tho, unless they did it for USFA....
without provenance or doco, it is really hard to know the whole story.
And , of course, "The Antiques Road Show" and "Pawn Stars" have taught us that
"dead great grandpa's sworn story" doesn't buy much.
just for fun here is a pdf of the old 2007 catalogue (but it doesn't show the buntlines)
http://www.louiscandell.com/pdf/fire/2007_usfa_catalog.pdfFor basic research this is a great page for "what is it"
http://pistolsmith.blogspot.com/2015/05/uberti-or-usfa-or-parts-gun.html?m=1This is fun, but I hope Gary shows up...
yhs
prof marvel