Colt Frontier Six Shooter

[Old Fuff]

I think I better use my S&W 29-5 for deer hunting this year.

While the .44-40 cartridge is adequate enough for taking down a whitetail, and especially so if handloaded, the Old Fuff is completely lost as to why someone that has a S&W .44 Magnum (model 29) would decide to go deer hunting with a nickel plated Colt Single Action. But to each his own.

Looking at things from another angle, does anyone besides the Old Fuff have any idea what will happen to Colt SA prices (especially those that are unique and unfired) if Colt comes out of bankruptcy, and new management decides to discontinue the old six-shooter or make it worthwhile by doubling catalog prices?

 

[buck460XVR]

Thanks---Knowing the guy I inherited from he'd say shoot it---

I wonder why he left it unfired then?

I tend to agree with Craig on this. My guns get shot, my dad's and grandpa's guns still get shot, by me, my son's and my grandkids. Guns are mostly about making memories to me and not much about making money. That said, I too would use the .44 for deer this year until I was sure about what to do with the .44-40. Since the previous owner didn't shoot it, he obviously didn't like it or meant for it to be an investment. Either way, it would mean an easy sell for me for something I may use/enjoy more.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

Well the shoot every thing you have no matter what bunch is on board, but I would urge some caution. Two things come to mind very quickly.

The combination of caliber (.44-40), finish (nickel plate), and 7 1/2" barrel was not commonly made, and its value should not be determined by current values of past cataloged options. The total number in existence (not counting commemoratives) is probably in the low hundreds and maybe substantially less.

While it is very decorative, nickel finish can peel and flake if you shoot it, especially around the cylinder's front face. Even the Colt company advises that this particular model is made primarily for collectors, and they can be expected to sharply drop in value if they are fired. Of course those that are insisting that it must be shot have nothing to lose.

In addition, at the present moment the Colt Company is in the middle of bankruptcy proceeding, with the final outlook completely unknown. What ultimately happens might have a substantial affect on your revolver - in an upward direction - if it remains unfired.

Also with it's relatively crude fixed sights, and chambered in a somewhat difficult to find cartridge, the revolver has little to recommend it for the purpose of deer hunting. If this is the primary use you would put it to, you would be better off to sell it to a serious collector, and use a part of the return to purchase a Ruger Super Blackhawk, chambered in .44 Magnum, with a 7 1/2" barrel, and easier-to-see/fully adjustable sights, with a blued finish.

Unlike the Colt, it is designed and made for the purpose you have in mind.

In any case before heading for a shooting range with the gun you have, I suggest you call and discuss this situation with someone at the Colt Company. I am sure you'll find what they say is far different then some of the advise you are getting here.

I agree w/ Old Fuff.... I wouldn't be shooting that Colt Frontier either. I can see the value go right down the tubes. I personally don't care for a Nickel firearm but that's what it is and could deal with that in your position.

If you want a S/A to hunt with go put this Colt away and get a Ruger SBH as mentioned. I still have some of the older Colts but I regret selling or trading some of them even though that was back several years ago. If Colt does indeed go completely belly up they will do nothing but appreciate in value.
Of course it's yours to do what you see fit doing with it.

I have my safe queens and then I have my shooters or beaters. I'm sure a serious Colt collector with pay a premium for a NIB Colt.

 

[CraigC]

I can see the value go right down the tubes.

Down the tubes, seriously??? On a $2000 firearm, maybe 20% at most. If shooting a new Colt sends value "down the tubes", then where are all those cheap used ones because I never see them.

...the Old Fuff is completely lost as to why someone that has a S&W .44 Magnum (model 29) would decide to go deer hunting with a nickel plated Colt Single Action.

Probably the same reason why I hunt with guns other than Rugers and S&W's when I have Rugers and S&W's. Probably the same reason I hunt with traditional muzzleloaders when I have bolt-action centerfires. Probably the same reason why next season I'll be hunting with a $5000 custom ivory stocked and engraved Ruger .500 instead of a box-stock $500 Super Blackhawk. I don't see what one has to do with the other. Do you do much handgun hunting?

Looking at things from another angle, does anyone besides the Old Fuff have any idea what will happen to Colt SA prices (especially those that are unique and unfired) if Colt comes out of bankruptcy, and new management decides to discontinue the old six-shooter or make it worthwhile by doubling catalog prices?

They will go up and that will hold true no matter what condition the guns are in. Not exclusive to NIB guns.

 

[35 Whelen]

Up until a few weeks ago I owned a 3rd Generation Colt in 4 3/4" .44 Special. It was beautiful and I had planeed on putting it to good use. But after three years of thinking about it, I decided it would be more wise for me to sell the revolver and use the money to buy a reproduction which would be mechanically and functionally identical. The Colt brought something shy of $1800, I bought a reproduction for less than 1/3 of that, put the rest in the bank and I'm happy as a lark. But that's just me. Some like owning and using g the finer things in life and that's OK too!

35W

 

[Old Fuff]

I think the only mistake you might have made was that you acted too soon. Time will tell.

 

[Old Fuff]

Do you do much handgun hunting?

Used to, but time and old age has slowed me down.

Anyway, when it comes to hunting deer I'd pick the best handgun for the purpose. A Smith & Wesson model 29 offers adjustable sights with a white outline on the rear notch and a red insert in the front blade, that are faster to pick up then those offered on a Colt SAA (except the New Frontier's). A blued finish beats full nickel plate any day of the week, and the .44 Magnum cartridge is a better choice for the purpose.

Under other circumstances I've used what some call "primitive weapons," and when the target was made of paper I've logged a number of shots out of original Colt and Remington C&B revolvers, including an 1848 2nd Issue Dragoon. This of course was well before the currently available reproductions came on line. I've also shot a small number of similar caplock rifles.

Current postwar Single Action's do have a place, but deer hunting isn't one of them, considering the much better choices that are available.

 

[Jim K]

I wonder if the "go ahead and shoot it" cry would hold up if that gun lettered to, let's say, Arnold Schwartzenegger or Ronald Reagan.

Jim

 

[Malamute]

Anyway, when it comes to hunting deer I'd pick the best handgun for the purpose

Uh, wouldnt a scoped TC Contender or XP-100 be the better tool than a mere open sighted revolver?

I guess I dont live in quite the same world as some that imagined monetary value is the main consideration of owning or using a gun. Imagined, because if you dont sell it, the market value means zip. Nothing. Its not all that rare, just unusual enough to be intersting and a little special snowflake cool.

as Craig said, the value., if thats a driving force, still goes up if NIB or used if Colt goes bleey up or stops bulding SAA's.

I too would like to know where all those gently used, nearly valueless SAA's are. People cam PM the info to me. Sounds like theres tons of them laying around that nobody wants because they were fired.

 

[CraigC]

Current postwar Single Action's do have a place, but deer hunting isn't one of them, considering the much better choices that are available.

What's "better" is 100% up to the individual and there are plenty who choose to take game with the more svelte SAA over a heavier, bulkier Ruger.

White outline/orange insert sights are hardly ideal and none of my hunting guns wear such sights.

I wonder if the "go ahead and shoot it" cry would hold up if that gun lettered to, let's say, Arnold Schwartzenegger or Ronald Reagan.

Is that what the "keep it new" crowd is banking on???

You gonna fork out the $150 for the Colt letter if it was shipped to Job Bob's Hardware Store in Nowheresville, USA?

 

[Old judge creek]

:banghead:

I just don't get why folks get so "het-up" over this topic.

Yes, the value of any NIB piece is going to exceed the value of any <gasp> fired one (AKA "used"). Yes, any gun proven having been owned by a famous person will have more value than and identical one that belonged to Old Joe Whoo.

I started twice to reply to this thread because, as it happens I have this particular Six Shooter's twin. Its a 44-40 that came from the Colt Custom Shop, wears a black powder frame, bulls-eye ejector rod button, nickel plating, and ever so slightly oversize scales that are supposed to be Rosewood and yet are a beautiful red-orange - in fact when I saw the grips and wrapped my paw around then... it was love at first sight.

Anyway, it was my second 44-40 battery handgun and kilt many a steel target on the SASS circuit until, following one match, I was cleaning it and noticed there was a teensy bit of nickel plate, flaking on the cylinder face of one chamber.

I put the old warhorse into semi-retirement. It still come out for fancy dress shooting matches, and since the rule is (as it always has been) five beans in the wheel and hammer down on an empty chamber - I simply don't shoot that chamber.

I'll also add that (unloaded and so verified by a second person) this piece regularly gets (very careful and gentle) use as my gavel on certain special SASS occasions.

The handgun was made to shoot and I've no intention of paying good money for the privilege of keeping it in my safe... unused. And I've no doubt that between 1878, when Colt introduced the Colt Frontier Six Shooter, and WWII more than once a 44-40 has seen service as a gavel.

 

[Jim K]

"You gonna fork out the $150 for the Colt letter if it was shipped to Job Bob's Hardware Store in Nowheresville, USA?"

Well, until you fork out for the letter, you don't know if it was shipped to Job Bob's or to John Wayne. I have never seen a Colt factory letter that said anything interesting or that added anything to the value of the gun, but hope springs and all that, which is why Colt can charge, and get, that money.

Jim

 

[Old Fuff]

In this case a Colt Historical Letter is a moot point.

Because it was a Custom Shop special order the revolver came with one. All the new owner needs too do is carefully preserve it.

Thread Highjack:

We had one instance on THR where a member purchased a historical letter from S&W and learned that his .32 Hand Ejector/1st Model had unique adjustable target sights. It was a long shot and he won.