Colt Commemoratives Crash

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jmorris said:
Absolutely not, I appreciate the work that went into it, even if it’s not something I would pay for.
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I was thinking about about having one of these unfired Gen 2 Colts Meme Guns and using it as a base gun for a engraver! Why not, bought 2 for a reason
 
If you look at the original prices for the commemorative guns of all genres, they are pretty steep!!!
They are/were paid for by people with LOTS of money to invest.
They had been told that guns were a good investment (which is true of HISTORIC firearms!)
Most of the theoretical runs of the commemoratives were never fulfilled (for one marked #10 of 500, it might be #10 of 10!)
There were lots of lookers, but few original buyers!
When the original buyers decided to cash in on their "investment," they received a terrible shock!
Like the car that looses value when you leave the dealer's lot, no one wanted to pay the original price, let alone more.
America Remembers and United States Historical Society commemoratives were made by various companies including Uberti and Armi San Marco as well as Colt.
The Colt made ones have held their value better that those made by other companies (I have several ASM commemoratives that I paid around $400 for cased that were originally over $1000) just because they are COLTS.
Colt historically made lots of engraved and ornamented guns for presentation and those are TRUELY collectible and have greatly appreciated in value.
If you can get either or both of these Colts at a price that is reasonable to you after checking out what they have sold for in the past, go for them!
 
Ephraim Kibbey said:
If you look at the original prices for the commemorative guns of all genres, they are pretty steep!!!
They are/were paid for by people with LOTS of money to invest.
They had been told that guns were a good investment (which is true of HISTORIC firearms!)
Most of the theoretical runs of the commemoratives were never fulfilled (for one marked #10 of 500, it might be #10 of 10!)
There were lots of lookers, but few original buyers!
When the original buyers decided to cash in on their "investment," they received a terrible shock!
Like the car that looses value when you leave the dealer's lot, no one wanted to pay the original price, let alone more.
America Remembers and United States Historical Society commemoratives were made by various companies including Uberti and Armi San Marco as well as Colt.
The Colt made ones have held their value better that those made by other companies (I have several ASM commemoratives that I paid around $400 for cased that were originally over $1000) just because they are COLTS.
Colt historically made lots of engraved and ornamented guns for presentation and those are TRUELY collectible and have greatly appreciated in value.
If you can get either or both of these Colts at a price that is reasonable to you after checking out what they have sold for in the past, go for them!
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I think they are a bargain, compared to a factory 1964 unfired Gen 2 Colt. $4000+! no bueno sinnora
 
Driftwood Johnson said:
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.

View attachment 1114094


View attachment 1114095




Yup, it's pretty gaudy and would make a good barbecue gun.

View attachment 1114096
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I need to learn about Smith’s Guns
 
One of the most hideous commemorative guns I've seen was S&W 29 Elmer Keith- with the awful cartoony gold plate picture of Elmer on the side. It's like someone at S&W held a grudge against him and was finally getting payback.
 
Blkhrt13 said:
If indeed the concept is correct, I will absolute buy commemoratives and shoot them. I just love holding good examples of functional machines with good design. I don’t care about surface stuff.
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hardly fired 1964 Colt SAA in a wood presentation box for $1200, because collectors don’t like Colt Franklin Mint style gun art work… More for us to shoot!
 
A couple years ago I had the opportunity to assist a local museum with preparing a donated collection of 25 Winchester commemoratives for display. There were a couple that were very attractive, subtle markings, excellent wood and checkering. Many of the others were a hard pass if I'd seen them for sale even at decent price for similar rifles.
 
Mark_Mark said:
must have been a trend from 1960 to 90’s. There was a Colt commemorative for everything!
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Commemoratives, Colt or other, have never been hugely successful. They sold I guess but collectors like what they like and mostly that seems to mean original in as fine condition as is possible. Scarcity sometimes but not always factors into that equation
CraigC said:
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.

View attachment 1114078


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.

View attachment 1114079

View attachment 1114080
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that Winchester is a dandy.
 
Mark_Mark said:
All seriousness,

Colt Guys… does this gun Bother you?

View attachment 1114126
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This would find a home in a fancy hand done leather holster that would cost a house payment and show off as much of the gun as possible. I would then be referred to as a Pimp named “Mr.Redneck”. Obviously needs fringe covered vest and Pearl button shirts. I’m going for cheap new oil money Texas look.;0)
 
There's an old saying that goes something like, "There's no countin' for some people's taste." That would seem to apply to the subject of commemoratives.

Dave
 
"One of the most hideous commemorative guns I've seen was S&W 29 Elmer Keith- with the awful cartoony gold plate picture of Elmer on the side..."

Kookla, sounds like you might have been looking at the Elmer Fudd commemorative instead of the Elmer Keith.

-----krinko
 
Blkhrt13 said:
This would find a home in a fancy hand done leather holster that would cost a house payment and show off as much of the gun as possible. I would then be referred to as a Pimp named “Mr.Redneck”. Obviously needs fringe covered vest and Pearl button shirts. I’m going for cheap new oil money Texas look.;0)
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I would keep it simple!

odern-fashion-cowboy-wearing-brown-hat-and-blue-jeans-shirt-picture-id466177353?s=170667a&w=1007.jpg
 
anybody know the original prices of those 60’s Colt Franklin Mint Gun?
 
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