On Gun Broker. Current bid, $6,500 (reserve not met).
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=330527098
Sounds like it is already past what's it's worth.
But whoever answered the phone at USFA said it was worth $9500. ;D
Quote from: Old Doc on February 23, 2013, 09:19:10 PM
But whoever answered the phone at USFA said it was worth $9500. ;D
For those prices I at least want a few extra inches of steel.
Very nice ... and one of a kind ....interesting 1996 date means Uberti parts, finely US finished.
I downloaded and enlarged the barrel picture. It is one of the early "Patent" marked guns.
Yes Sir Photo # 11 , also states U.S. Patent Fire Arms in the discription
photo # 13 & 14 states it's origin date ...surely is special & desirable piece
If I had cubic cash flow , I could bid :-\ .....I don't though :(
The USFA Sears revolver is no longer listed - Must have sold off-line.
J.D. Press
Apparently the reserve price wasn't met. Be interesting to see if it is listed again.
In another post I offered the opinion that this gun was the ultimate USFA "collectable." As far as I know, only two were ever produced. The second gun is, or at least was, kicking around here in the Northwest (Seattle area). .38 cal. with bark ivory grips. It has been sold a couple of times for around $5000. Beautiful gun but not as "historically correct" as this one due to caliber and grips.
The originals Colt Sears gun had a 5 & 1/2" barrel and carved pearl grips. While much of the engraving and gold inlay on the USFA gun replicates that of the Colt, the cylinder on the USFA differs from the original. There are several other subtle differences. The original Colt Sears gun was, at one time, owned by Mel Torme.
Here is a photo of the original Colt;
I believe it had several days left when it was pulled. I suspect someone bought it.
Quote from: Invinoveritas on February 25, 2013, 05:40:24 PM
I believe it had several days left when it was pulled. I suspect someone bought it.
Will post some photos when it arrives? :)
Despite what it says, I believe you are right! Looking at it again I see that it was only listed for 3 days. It would be interesting to know what it went for.
Quote from: Invinoveritas on February 25, 2013, 05:40:24 PM
I believe it had several days left when it was pulled. I suspect someone bought it.
Hope they knew it was a Uberti.
There was also one in 32-20. I believe RMB Enterprises in CA had it.
Quote from: Old Doc on February 25, 2013, 06:51:12 PM
Hope they knew it was a Uberti.
Nothing wrong with that, A fine gun, unique & rare , its origin manufacture would be irrelevant.
Colt has used Uberti, as did USFA unitl 2003.
I venture to say Uberti out sells both Colt & USFA is SAA's (or in USFA's case... did )
I would not say it is "irrelevant ". It would be worth more if a fully built USFA. Uberti is fine, but I have several collector, engraved USFAs which are USFA built . While that Sears gun was appealing, particularly since I have several which are Kies engraved, it would have been more so if a later build.
I guess I just don't get it. Never have. Six to Nine grand for a toy your never going to play with. Silly. I realize collector guns have out performed stocks for profit the last decade, but toys were made for play. I got my new "Woody's blaster pistol" out of it's package Christmas Day to play with it. Thru the package away too. The dog hates it, by the way.
Yep. Uberti out sells Colt and out sold USFA by a bunch. Price point.
There is no historical significance to either reproduction of the Sears gun any more than imagined historical signifance of the original Sears gun. Just a nicely engraved new build Colt and new built USPFAs. Now, had they been carried by Bat Masterson, we'd have some historical significance.
Coffinmaker
I suppose I'm 100% with you there :) "Six to Nine grand for a toy your never going to play with" ::)
But if you have the CLAMs and it don't tilt the bank ... :-\ you can't take it with you,
Quote from: Old Doc on February 23, 2013, 09:19:10 PM
But whoever answered the phone at USFA said it was worth $9500. ;D
Actually, that's what they said it would cost me to replace it.
I decided to keep it. That's why I pulled the auction. I'm glad I did. :)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/925e843e-b39a-427e-ac29-67a3f748a164_zps5b575458.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/925e843e-b39a-427e-ac29-67a3f748a164_zps5b575458.jpg.html)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/a1fb29a7-c86f-442f-be6c-5de72b902ca1_zps7bf615d0.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/a1fb29a7-c86f-442f-be6c-5de72b902ca1_zps7bf615d0.jpg.html)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/002_zps3939f7ad.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/002_zps3939f7ad.jpg.html)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/2ddb8c1a-68bf-46a5-a08f-4e2e92140ff2_zps564557f9.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/2ddb8c1a-68bf-46a5-a08f-4e2e92140ff2_zps564557f9.jpg.html)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/1454bd0f-68d1-42e1-9538-8d9c3a4c8493_zps24ade3ff.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/1454bd0f-68d1-42e1-9538-8d9c3a4c8493_zps24ade3ff.jpg.html)
(http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo5/TimmyV_2008/504fa4b5-2ac1-4f64-9bb3-bf110b2804d7_zps51418346.jpg) (http://s356.photobucket.com/user/TimmyV_2008/media/504fa4b5-2ac1-4f64-9bb3-bf110b2804d7_zps51418346.jpg.html)
Good for you, Hopalong! Without a doubt, the prettiest gun USFA (or USPFA, for that matter) ever produced. Like I said earlier, the "ultimate" USFA collectable. Had the chance, a couple of years ago, to buy one that was .38 cal. with bark ivory grips. I still regret not getting it. It was manufactured around 2004.
Thanks, Capt. John! :)
WOW, absolutely one amazingly incredible looking piece!
Wow what a piece. Thanks for the photos.
Every time I look at the detail and craftsmanship of a Kies' gun, especially this Keis' gun, I have a renewed appreciate for the skill a master engraver has. And why this gun is worth $10K.
Yahoody,
Do you think a Sears that is made with all American parts would be more valuable than the Uberti gun? Seems like they are so rare it would not make a great deal of difference.
Philip
Philip,
I would imagine that it would make a difference, considering that most people seem to value the "all US" made guns over the imported parts models.
There was an "all US" Sears gun kicking around the Seattle area couple of years back. Made in 2004, it was .38 cal. and had bark ivory grips. Not quite as accurate a replica as the .45, pearl model. Unlike the original Colt/Sears model, which had a 5 & 1/2" barrel, this one also had a 4 & 3/4" barrel.
Not like I am any authority but I have thought about it some.
Uberti USFA guns are going for $1000+ plus easy these days. USFA USA guns are 1500+ or much higher mostly. A decent 3rd gen Colt is $1500+. But generally the Colt is a lot cheaper than a NIB USA USFA blue and cased right now. And I suspect it will be well into the future.
The best investment in a engraved gun IMO (for whatever that is worth) is always going to be a Colt. USFA USA guns 2nd on the list and a Uberti of any flavor 3rd. May be even a distinct third from the other 2.
But master level engraving with gold inlays and pearl is always going to be a 8 to 10K gun. At least that is what it will cost you to duplicate the gun (any gun) with the price of the gun included. Journeyman engraving likely worth half that, at least for me having examples of both.
Quality of the engraving is huge to the guys who with the education to recognize the difference. Not so much if you haven't been around engraved guns much. It is an expensive apprenticeship/learning curve.
At some point you are putting lipstick on a pig. But where do you draw the line? Factory Uberti? Uberti USFA are some pretty nice guns. Cimerron Ubertis are nice guns as well. USA USFA guns arguably better than a Colt for fit and function. But they will never have the cache and history behind them a Colt has.
I had the chance to buy two gold inlayed guns built on USFA guns. One was a Uberti the other a USA gun. I liked the Uberti better actually for the engraving and caliber. I only bought the USA USFA gun. I would have bought both but the engraver started telling me, "What does it matter? You'll never shoot them!"
And I thought..."you're an idiot". Guns are made to be shot. At least mine are! When you forget that, your "art" building is already in the shit house IMO. A really good pistolsmith can generally make a pig into a silk purse, given enough time and money. Not always, but generally.
But given enough time and money (ivory/pearl/ engraving/gold inlay) and forgetting or worse yet...not caring , that you are making a working FIREARM into a piece of working art, is unforgivable to me.
From what I know of USFA every gun that left the factory was well fit and functioned. Some one thought about that first. Job one for me.
So I don't discount the Uberti USFA Sears guns much. But I'd rather have the USA made guns. And if I am spending that kind of coin on a engraved/gold inlay/pearl/ivory gun? I'd rather have it a Colt. Given enough time and money you can make a Colt shoot :) The USFA guns? Already will I suspect 8)
As you have already speculated, a piece of art likely it doesn't matter or effect the price. As a shooter, I'd want USA USFA gun. As an investment I'd want a Colt.
I'll add this....
Ya go to the gun show. Three master level Keis' Sear's guns on the table. Everything is the same for caliber and barrel length. All factory documented master engraving. One USFA Uberti, one USFA USA, one new 3rd Gen Colt. Which one would you buy?
Which one do you think you can beat the guy up on the price? Uberti will be the most common, (not that any of them are "common") the USA gun the most rare and the Colt the highest MSRP by a good bit originally.