Colt Commemoratives Crash
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hawg
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Nobody wants them. Colt commemoratives have always resold for less than factory versions. The only ones that sell for close to that are the ones you have to really look at to tell they're commemoratives.
thirty-eight
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Ouch, my eyes hurt. The shop should be offering to pay someone $650 to get whatever that is off their property.
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Mark_Mark
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LOL!Ouch, my eyes hurt. The shop should be offering to pay someone $650 to get whatever that is off their property.
I kinda like it! 60’s 70’s gun bling before it was a thing!
RetiredUSNChief
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Probably because them being labeled "commemorative" does not automatically equate to "collectable" in the market.
To be sure, they were marked as commemorative precisely so that people would think they were collectables in order to get people to buy them. That's part of how marketing works.
As someone else mentioned in another thread, items sold as collectables does not automatically equate to them actually being collectables. It's got to be both viewed and desired as such by people interested in them. If not, then it's "just another rifle".
I think that such items can become collectable once they've developed an exceptionally long history. Time can account for some of this for a variety of things. But they won't have the deeply ingrained history of something that was actually USED. These are, in effect, glorified show pieces.
They might become more collectable some decades after they've no longer been produced. Or if, over the decades, many have succumbed to poor handling and storage habits.
To be sure, they were marked as commemorative precisely so that people would think they were collectables in order to get people to buy them. That's part of how marketing works.
As someone else mentioned in another thread, items sold as collectables does not automatically equate to them actually being collectables. It's got to be both viewed and desired as such by people interested in them. If not, then it's "just another rifle".
I think that such items can become collectable once they've developed an exceptionally long history. Time can account for some of this for a variety of things. But they won't have the deeply ingrained history of something that was actually USED. These are, in effect, glorified show pieces.
They might become more collectable some decades after they've no longer been produced. Or if, over the decades, many have succumbed to poor handling and storage habits.
jmorris
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Could be a decent deal. How much would it cost to make it look presentable without being embarrassed?
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Mark_Mark
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it’s a shame that nobody shot these guns because they think it will go up in value. I’m going to shoot everyone one of them and wear them on my hip… even when I’m grill outside alone
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Mark_Mark
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oooh man! I think it’s ClassyCould be a decent deal. How much would it cost to make it look presentable without being embarrassed?
jmorris
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AlexanderA
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It looks like all the gold plating was done on easily replaceable parts (the cylinder, hammer, trigger, screws, etc.). I would total up the cost of standard versions of these parts, deduct that from the going price of a standard gun, and use that as the basis of an offer for the commemorative. Then, if I got the gun, I would replace all the gold-plated parts (and save them, of course, for the next owner).
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
There was never a market to crash. They're probably higher now than they've ever been. Same for all the trillions of commemorative Wincesters. Of which I have two. I like them because they're often a way to get a higher finished or unique configuration at reasonable prices. Like this Legendary Frontiersman .38-55. Same for Colt but to a lesser extent. Most of them are not quite as appealing.
I do like the Alaska Pipeline and Winchester models but any 2nd generation Colt for the prices you paid is worth having.
The AP would be a good one to have engraved.
I do like the Alaska Pipeline and Winchester models but any 2nd generation Colt for the prices you paid is worth having.
The AP would be a good one to have engraved.
Driftwood Johnson
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I said that. A manufacturer declaring something to be 'collectable' is not the same as a product that has over time proved it is regarded as collectable by actual collectors. Just look at the crap the Franklin Mint turns out. No true coin collector would ever buy that stuff.
There was no 'crash' in the value of commemorative guns.The Commemorative Colts have never been prized by actual collectors. As has been stated, they were simply a marketing campaign to induce uninformed buyers to buy one. As I believe I also stated, Mike Venturino bought a Commemorative Colt, I don't recall which one, because it cost less than any other Colt. The one he bought was not a barbecue gun, it only had very subtle marking on the barrel that was filled with gold declaring it to be a commemorative Colt. Mike covered the gold with cold blue and you would never know it was a commemorative if you did not inspect it closely. He simply bought it because it cost less than a similar SAA.
By the way, I have been known to buy a commemorative gun on occasion. This is a S&W Model 25 chambered for 45 Colt. Most of the Model 25s were chambered for 45ACP. The only way I could buy one chambered for 45 Colt was to buy this commemorative.
Yup, it's pretty gaudy and would make a good barbecue gun.
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RetiredUSNChief
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Thanks! I couldn't remember who that was that I was referring to, but I should have guessed it would have been you!
People also collect for a lot of reasons, not all of which have to do with some kind of official collector's value. Some collect because they simply like a certain item/theme. Other's collect for beauty. Still others because of the memories they invoke. I'm sure the list goes on.
And that's a beautiful S&W.
People also collect for a lot of reasons, not all of which have to do with some kind of official collector's value. Some collect because they simply like a certain item/theme. Other's collect for beauty. Still others because of the memories they invoke. I'm sure the list goes on.
And that's a beautiful S&W.
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Mark_Mark
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I like the commemoration Colts and Winchester over the plain Jane! they just look better. And at prices and conditions 2x to stock stuff! SOLD
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Mark_Mark
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If I had to do 25yo again, had stock market money… no family, bills, humility…. I would do the teeth grill!!! match with a Colt Special Gold everything!!! and a 82 Buck Regal with matte black paint job! SOLD
dickydalton
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I have some...
RetiredUSNChief
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No, it doesn't
The reason why is that not only is the gun itself, in my opinion, a work of art, but that style of artwork on a firearm is indicative of the genre of classic historical artwork.
Both are beautiful together.
Jim Watson
Member
At that time. The 125th Smith .45 LCs had the same length cylinder as the .45 ACP, limiting you to factory OAL.
M25-2 was the three screw ACP, M25-3 was the plainer commemorative short cylinder LC, M25-4 was the engraved deluxe short cylinder LC.
The M25-5 is the followon standard production model and has the long cylinder of the .44 Magnum to accommodate whatever bullet you and Elmer might choose.
hawg
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I don't mind the engraving but don't like the gold wash. That's a left handed gun. The bullhead is on the wrong side for a righty.
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Mark_Mark
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Nice call out on the left handed bullhead!!
I am a lefty but can do everything (except writing) equally well with my right
after I pay off the 2 Colt Pimp guns (about 2 weeks) I’ll put a offer of $500 for thr lefty eyesore Colt Gold Spike gun
hawg
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It's most likely a wash instead of plating. It might be plating if Colt did it. So many commemoratives are standard guns that were gussied up by a third party. A lot of them aren't even real Colts, especially 1911's.
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