Old Colt double action revolvers(lots of pics)

[Ro1911]

I got these Two old Colts at a gunshow this weekend, I paid $400 for the pair. I thought I got a pretty good deal, because not 15 mins later I was talking to a dealer further into the show and he offered me $700 to take them off my hands.

The first is a second generation Colt detective special in about 98% condition.

The second is a prewar Colt offical police in about 60% condition.

Does anyone know how much they're really worth?

Whenever I hear a dealer offer cash like that it makes me think that they are worth at least double what he just offered me, am I right?

 

[Ro1911]

More pictures!

 

[oldfool]

"makes me think that they are worth at least double what just offered me, am I right?"

yes
(if both mechanically sound, at least double)

CPE and G should be along shortly to give you a better evaluation

 

[Ro1911]

They both shoot and have good lock up and timing.

 

[Dr.Rob]

STOP THIEF!
Great prices indeed.

I'd say as high as $500 for the DS, $250-300 for the OP.

depends on what part of the country you are in.

 

[Ro1911]

I kind of feel like a thief, except when I hold that detective special then I feel like a P.I.

Its literally perfect there is only one small ding on the right side of the barrel.

The official police has enough holster wear on it that I know the owner carried it alot and was right handed.

Oh and no rust on any of them, I hate that as well.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I think they are worth about double what you paid. I'd happily give $400 for a DS like that, but wouldn't be surprised to see it fetch closer to $500 for the right buyer. As far as the OP goes, I recently turned down a nice one offered to me at $300.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // A couple of months ago, I bought a Colt DS, green parkerized, much worn, the rebound lever had slipped of the hand for $250.00.

So I'm glad to hear yours is worth at least $400.
The grips look great and buffed up the finish would look as good as one locally for $600.(no dings)

All in finding the right person.
The OP is a fine addition and I'd consider it a free handgun with $400 paid for the DS.
Most OP of that grade sell in the $300 range around here.

Many Americans have counted on that combo daily to save lives.
Congrats on an outstanding snag/save. (at a gun show table no less)

**I was last in Springfield the winter of 80-81.
We were cutting firewood for a friends mother in Niangua and decided to go to town for a meal and a movie, very nice place.

 

[Guillermo]

the DS is worth close to 500 around here.

I think the OP is possibly worth more than others are suggesting. That is easily worth 3 bills instead of being the upper end.

As Dr. Rob said "Stop!!! Thief!!!"

 

[SaxonPig]

At least twice what you paid.

Was the seller a fool or are they hot?

 

[Standing Wolf]

I got these Two old Colts at a gunshow this weekend, I paid $400 for the pair.

You're either one heck of a bargainer or a decidedly nimble-fingered felon. Outstanding!

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Told a hunting buddy about this.

He always finds great bargins but avoids GunShows like the plague ... first time he been speechless.
Bet I see him at the next show.

He then asks if it was right before closing and the guy needed gas money?

///////

I checked the local gun stores today.

DS with fake stag grips $629 very good cond.
OP with worse grips $329

but only one of each in 7 stores.

 

[llwsgn]

proud of ya my man

 

[Ro1911]

The seller was not a fool and they are definitely not hot, the old man I bought them off was a retired cop and he had paperwork proving that he bought the OP as a newly minted officer in 1930 and he had paper work showing that he bought the DS when he was a detective in 1955.

And for those trying to do the math he was 103 years old according to his I.D.

P.S. He refused to tell me what he paid for them, but you can guess it was alot less the $400

 

[Ro1911]

Oh and has anyone herd of The Bluebook of Guns, I ordered one and it gets here tomorrow, I'm hoping it confirms what you all said.

 

[SaxonPig]

I dunno... selling guns for half or less of their value sounds pretty foolish to me...

 

[Ro1911]

Me too but not to everyone, I just couldn't belive how old he was. I mean he was going around the gunshow in a motorized wheel chair, but he didn't look like he was even in his seventies.

Good genes I guess

 

[ColtPythonElite]

In my experience, the Blue Book is waayy low for what most Colt DA revolvers actually bring.

 

[Ro1911]

CPE

I had a guy tell me this when he was trying to sell me a colt lawman for $750, but i used a friend of mines blue book and it said like $400 for the same pistol. was what he was asking a fair price.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // If he had the paper work to go with the revolvers they could be worth more.

The truly rare find is the gentleman.
If I could know the history of my old firearms I'd love it.

If you know his name, look for some old newspaper articles or contact him.
He knows the life story of these two handguns, a rare treat indeed, at least to me.

I'm sure he knew what he was doing.
At 104 my Great Grandmother looked/acted like most 80 year olds, some things she valued more than others.

Hope you enjoy them.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm a big fan of the Official Police...I've got three of them now. The oldest, from 1939 is stamped "Treasury Department Secret Service" on the backstrap. I paid $369.00 for that one a couple of months ago. That one was neither carried nor shot a lot. The other one a beater from 1950, I paid $250.00 for. The third one is a MK III, so it really doesn't fit in with the other two, but that one was about $350.00 also. They are all good shooters.

I've never cared much for the small frame "snubbie" 38's for some reason. I did see a VERY rough Colt DS last week tagged at $350.00. It had an interesting "patina" shall we say. I was tempted to make some silly offer just to see if they'd take it. If it's still there today, I might yet.

 

[eazyrider]

Lucky bastard!!!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

CPE

I had a guy tell me this when he was trying to sell me a colt lawman for $750, but i used a friend of mines blue book and it said like $400 for the same pistol. was what he was asking a fair price.

$750 is pretty steep money for a Lawman unless it is NIB, especially if it is not a more rare 2" model. However, $400 is pretty cheap money unless it is beat up. If those two contradictory sentences make any sense. I'd figure a really nice Lawman should be worth more than $400, but well less than $750.

 

[Ro1911]

CPE

the lawman was in better shape then the DS in the picture but no box

 

[Ro1911]

content

I have his phone number, I'll have to call and get all the info he had, he said that I could get most of it from Colt.

I think the only reason he sold them to me is because he didn't want his children to have them apparently they were anti gunner's, and as soon as I told him that once I finished school I was applying for a job in law enforcement he pulled these guns out from under the table and said I could buy them for $400 if I wanted them.

Oh and I agree about snubbies I've always been more of a full size person myself.