So What would U pay?

Curley Cole · September 24, 2012, 04:21:47 PM

Have a chance to pick up this first gen....person thinks it was military, but I am not sure on that..serial nos match all cept the loading gate.
Serial no is X4xx1 seller indicates a date of 1885-88. Hasn't been papered..

seller wants $1900 but is willing to negotiate with me....(even a layaway plan)

so what say you

curley

Drydock · September 24, 2012, 08:11:41 PM

Well, clearly the barrel has been cut. Does it still have the "U.S." stamped in the left side of the frame? In any case, with the weapon altered, and not by the armoury, it no longer justifies the premium that Martial Colts bring. Unless it had certain provenance/documentation, which it does not have. So the price should simply be for a 1st generation Colt of that vintage and condition.

Check the various auction sites, to see what a Colt of that age and condition normaly brings. $1900 seems high to me.

Curley Cole · September 25, 2012, 01:17:22 AM

I felt the same way, I won't be offering anywhere near that. Old Top thinks I should go for it, (but he likes to take in stray dogs, of course he just got an 1887 shotgun for just over $300)

anyways I would like to hear what others think. I will take a closer look for the US stampings...

thanks
curley

Abilene · September 25, 2012, 01:32:14 AM

Howdy Curly. The number on the loading gate is not a serial number, it is an assembly number. It should match another number on the frame (I forget exactly where) that you can only see when you pull the grip frame.

Pettifogger · September 25, 2012, 01:58:57 PM

With the "X" at the beginning of the serial number it is impossible to say when it was made. Should be before 1885 since by then they were up to six digit numbers. Lots of websites have serial numbers so you can do a little research and find out when it was made. In the condition it is in with the shortened barrel and that awful front sight it is not a prime collectible. It appears that it was also made early enough that the materials in the gun aren't all that strong so its not going to be a CAS shooter. Unless it was General Custer's gun at the Little Big Horn and there is documentation, you are looking at a non-original, not terribly good conditioned old Colt. (If it was made before 1876 collectors might still be interested if it is in the "Custer" serial number range for guns that could have been used at the Little Big Horn.) Unless you can get a for a good price it would be a hard sell to a collector and most shooters wouldn't buy it because of the age and materials.

Forty Rod · October 05, 2012, 11:34:38 AM

You been fiddling around for about two months over that thing. Do you even have a gene for decisiveness?

Old Doc · October 05, 2012, 10:22:05 PM

I don't know anything tougher than trying to determine the value of a first generation Colt . That's a job for experts .

Old Top · October 06, 2012, 12:39:58 AM

Curly always dithers over buying firearms, or at least he has for the last 45 years.

Top, Old, one of

Forty Rod · October 06, 2012, 10:34:58 AM

Quote from: Old Top on October 06, 2012, 12:39:58 AM
Curly always dithers over buying firearms, or at least he has for the last 45 years.

Top, Old, one of

"Dither"? Do real people still say "dither" these days? Is everyone I know a nantique but me? Are nantiques taking over the world? Why am I phrasing everything as a question? Do you think I might be watching Jeopardy too much? How do I stop this? Will someone please answer me before I go nuts?

Curley Cole · October 06, 2012, 12:35:11 PM

Quote from: Forty Rod on October 06, 2012, 10:34:58 AM
"Dither"? Do real people still say "dither" these days? Is everyone I know a natique but me? Are nantiques taking over the world? Why am I phrasing everything as a question? Do you think I might be watching Jeopardy too much? How do I stop this? Will some please answer me before I go nuts?

"BEFORE", u go nuts, I thought we all arrived there on the same train...(of thought that is)

curley who just keeps "dithering" so he can go back and visit that there pretty redhead...ahaaaaa...

BTW: she now has it posted for $1799

wildman1 · October 07, 2012, 03:40:25 AM

MA-HELP! They're pickin on Curly again.

WM

Old Top · October 08, 2012, 12:59:15 AM

Wildlman, someone has to pick on him

Curley Cole · October 08, 2012, 01:22:54 AM

"ifn ya keep pickin on that banjo player he won't never heal....

ahaaaaaaa "no more drinks for the dwarf"

curley who represents that remark..

Shotgun Franklin · October 08, 2012, 09:55:08 AM

If the deal includes the holster then you need an opinion on how old that might be. I seriously doubt it's as old as the gun but if it's in good shape it does add value to the deal. Having said that IMO I'd be willing to pay $1,500 for it, if I had $1,500.

Trailrider · October 08, 2012, 11:45:15 AM

The holster is probably early 20th Century. It would be nice to be able to read the logo on the lower skirt band.

As to the gun being military, what leads to that conclusion? Even if the gun has the "U.S." stamped on the left side of the frame, it doesn't mean it was "military." When the U.S. Army was purchasing Colt's SAA's the "U.S." was stamped on the frame before the gun was finished. Inspectors then checked the gun to see if it was acceptable by military criteria. An otherwise perfectly good gun that deviated from the inspectors' criteria and was rejected from government acceptance was often sold by Colt's on the open market. Then, too, Colt's sometimes did an "overrun" of guns so that if some guns were rejected by inspectors, Colt's could still meet the delivery deadlines. What you have to look for are inspectors' stampings that are in addition to the factory's inspectors marks.

The grips on that gun are after-market, as the military never bought anything like those, mostly one-piece walnut grips. As was observed in a previous post, the barrel has been cut and a new front sight installed that is nowhere near a factory job. What is the actual barrel length?

With the finish being what it is, I would offer no more than $900! (If I had the money, which I don't!

)

Forty Rod · October 08, 2012, 01:15:08 PM

Quote from: Old Top on October 08, 2012, 12:59:15 AM
Wildlman, someone has to pick on him

True, and there is NO shortage of volunteers.

litl rooster · October 08, 2012, 02:25:31 PM

Quote from: Trailrider on October 08, 2012, 11:45:15 AM
The holster is probably early 20th Century. It would be nice to be able to read the logo on the lower skirt band.

The grips on that gun are after-market, as the military never bought anything like those, mostly one-piece walnut grips. As was observed in a previous post, the barrel has been cut and a new front sight installed that is nowhere near a factory job. What is the actual barrel length?

With the finish being what it is, I would offer no more than $900! (If I had the money, which I don't! )

Both of these have some resale value. Even if they are not original to the weapon. So tac on vintage grips and holster to the $900. (If'n I had the money but I am like Trailrider) I did not see if the gun actually works, did I miss it?