In a pawn shop today, I ran across a used boxed set of Colt .22 Short derringers. The proprietor claimed that Colt had made them in the 60's or 70's. Anyone familiar with these? What price range should they be?
Thanks,
John
Thanks,
John
Colt Derringer Set
- Thread starter JShirley
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Sylvilagus Aquaticus
Member
Cased set of 2 on a red velveteen bedding? Greenish barrels with gold plated frames, wood grips, .22 short chambering? My dad had a set. It was the first firearm I ever fired. I have them now, much worse for wear after suffering through a devastating fire at my brother's ome several years ago. The Bullet Trap in Plano, Texas has a minty looking set priced at $550. last time I was in there.
http://www.bullettrapinc.com/
They appeared NIB. Seems to me like they were a limited run in the late 50's, early 60's. Drop a line to the Bullet Trap for a price check and grade comparison. The price seemed high to me, but then again, I'm not really a Colt collector by any stretch of the imagination.
Regards,
Rabbit.
http://www.bullettrapinc.com/
They appeared NIB. Seems to me like they were a limited run in the late 50's, early 60's. Drop a line to the Bullet Trap for a price check and grade comparison. The price seemed high to me, but then again, I'm not really a Colt collector by any stretch of the imagination.
Regards,
Rabbit.
popeye
Member
Colt marketed them in the period stated. Along the way they had a few color variations. They were avail singley or as a set. Orig. release was gold plated frame with black nickel barrel and walnut grips (Lord). Then came total gold frame n barrel with pearlize grips (Lady) As I recall some total nickel were avail also. They came in cased sets Lord n Lord, Lady n Lady, and Lord n Lady.
This one was made same circa. Copy of a Sharps 4 barrel derringer. I wanted one ever since I saw "Yancy Derringer".
This one was made same circa. Copy of a Sharps 4 barrel derringer. I wanted one ever since I saw "Yancy Derringer".
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The Bullet Trap price is real high. I came across a set for a bit under 200 which was an great price. Three to four hundred is a more normal price with over five hundred being ridiculous. They are remakes of the original Colt model two (I think it was the model 2) made around the late 1800’s early 1900’s. And as mentioned, they were only made for a few years.
English John
Member
Colt derringers
Colt made a #3 derringer in .41 after the Civil War. The look-alike #4 was made in .22 short in the 60's as stated, I had mine shipped to me in VN and ended up trading it to a Korean officer to take home to his wife. Inspect them carefully, as Butler made them after Colt. I have a pair of Butlers, but they didn't hold up as well as the Colt. They're still fun though.
Colt made a #3 derringer in .41 after the Civil War. The look-alike #4 was made in .22 short in the 60's as stated, I had mine shipped to me in VN and ended up trading it to a Korean officer to take home to his wife. Inspect them carefully, as Butler made them after Colt. I have a pair of Butlers, but they didn't hold up as well as the Colt. They're still fun though.
Texas Bob
Member
I never new what it was worth, but my father won them at a church raffle back in 1962 for $2.00 and gave them to me years later. Hardcase "book" labeled Colt Derringers and inside in red velvet are two nickel w/white pearl grips w/ con ser#'s. I was there at the time and he didn't really want to part with the $2.00 but it was the "last" ticket and for a good cause. Rember when churches and civic groups raffled a firearm and there was no paperwork.Sylvilagus Aquaticus
Member
oh, I figured the Bullet Trap price was out of line. They do take a good deal of consignment pieces and I bet some folks naturally have a preconceived notion of what "sum'pin's worth". I bet this is one of those cases. If I get out that way tomorrow or Monday I'll have a look and see if they're still there and get the skinny on it, just for purposes of discussion.
Regards,
Rabbit.
Regards,
Rabbit.
I've seen many of those Colts have enameled barrels, they flake off easily.
I wouldn't plan on shooting them if you bought them.
I wouldn't plan on shooting them if you bought them.
Hello JShirley:
I asked a question about the very same thing over on thefiringline.com about a yr and a half ago...
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=105837
The reply I received on value was just about right. In 100% condition, expect around $350. I made many inquiries, including writing to the company, and was told the same thing...give or take. One collector that had been looking for a NIB set, like what we had, was willing to pay upwards of $500-600. That was an extreme amount in my opinion, offered by the collector because he had been looking for several yrs for a NIB set.
Keep in mind, to a collector, they are worth what the buyer is willing to pay. In the condition you state and being used however, the collector value is significantly deminished. If you are planning on purchasing them as shooters like you say, I'd suggest trying to get them for less than the current asking price.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
Slabside
I asked a question about the very same thing over on thefiringline.com about a yr and a half ago...
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=105837
The reply I received on value was just about right. In 100% condition, expect around $350. I made many inquiries, including writing to the company, and was told the same thing...give or take. One collector that had been looking for a NIB set, like what we had, was willing to pay upwards of $500-600. That was an extreme amount in my opinion, offered by the collector because he had been looking for several yrs for a NIB set.
Keep in mind, to a collector, they are worth what the buyer is willing to pay. In the condition you state and being used however, the collector value is significantly deminished. If you are planning on purchasing them as shooters like you say, I'd suggest trying to get them for less than the current asking price.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
Slabside
This thread brought back memories.
My Dad had a set of the nickel w/ivorex grips.
Someone had given them to him as a gift.
I don't know if he ever shot them.
Me and my brother did!
I don't remember being able to hit anything with them.
We weren't supposed to touch them, but my older brother got a night job and felt like he needed protection.
He put one of Dad's derringers in the glovebox of his car, and it was stolen.
Dad still had the other gun when he passed away. The velvet box was gone.
For some reason, one of my sisters had always liked those guns, so we gave the remaining one to her.
The finish held up well on his guns.
As I said, not very accurate, but fun to shoot.
My Dad had a set of the nickel w/ivorex grips.
Someone had given them to him as a gift.
I don't know if he ever shot them.
Me and my brother did!
I don't remember being able to hit anything with them.
We weren't supposed to touch them, but my older brother got a night job and felt like he needed protection.
He put one of Dad's derringers in the glovebox of his car, and it was stolen.
Dad still had the other gun when he passed away. The velvet box was gone.
For some reason, one of my sisters had always liked those guns, so we gave the remaining one to her.
The finish held up well on his guns.
As I said, not very accurate, but fun to shoot.
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