Colt Single Action Army?
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J Miller
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Bullet,
If indeed your friend has a genuine first gen Colt SAA, new in the box, then the first thing he needs to do is get a factory letter. It will cost, but when verified and authenticated that revolver might be worth a small fortune.
I'm not sure about where to find Colt collectors, but here is Colt's commercial web site. http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/home.asp The archive section has contact info there.
Joe
If indeed your friend has a genuine first gen Colt SAA, new in the box, then the first thing he needs to do is get a factory letter. It will cost, but when verified and authenticated that revolver might be worth a small fortune.
I'm not sure about where to find Colt collectors, but here is Colt's commercial web site. http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/home.asp The archive section has contact info there.
Joe
jamz
Member
It's worthless. I'll take it off your hands for $15.00
-James
-James
Gordon
Member
A new in box gun, documented would start at $7000; depending on year of manufacture and barrel length , grips and sights this figure could go down 30% or up 100% !!!
Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Aw, heck! Just because I'm such a nice guy, I'll go to $20.
Lone_Gunman
Member
These guys are trying to screw you. Its worth $25 easily.
Where do I send my check?
Where do I send my check?
Bullet:
Look at the frame in front of the trigger guard, and you should see the serial number. If you post that number we would know a lot more about the gun. In particular, note if it is just a number, of if the number is preceeded by or ends with any letters.
Look at the frame in front of the trigger guard, and you should see the serial number. If you post that number we would know a lot more about the gun. In particular, note if it is just a number, of if the number is preceeded by or ends with any letters.
I see 30% 1st G SAAs selling for $3,000-$5,000. An actual, unfired 1st G Colt SAA would likely bring $15,000-$25,000+ at auction (my guess since I've never seen a gun like this for sale).
Such a gun would be a 1 in a 1,000,000 find. Faked early Colts abound.
"In the box." What does this box look like?
I would want multiple indipendent verifications of authenticity before buying this gun.
Such a gun would be a 1 in a 1,000,000 find. Faked early Colts abound.
"In the box." What does this box look like?
I would want multiple indipendent verifications of authenticity before buying this gun.
Lone_Gunman
Member
Has anyone ever seen the box that a first generation SAA would have been shipped in?
I have seen numerous 1st gen SAA's, but never a box.
I have seen numerous 1st gen SAA's, but never a box.
Oh yes, there are such things. But between 1873 and 1941 the style changed several times.
Anyway, in this instance there is far too little information to make a judgment. While finding a new-in-box Colt Single Action made during the late 1890's is not impossible, it is improbable - and because of the multi-thousand dollar value of the real thing, fakes abound.
Anyway, in this instance there is far too little information to make a judgment. While finding a new-in-box Colt Single Action made during the late 1890's is not impossible, it is improbable - and because of the multi-thousand dollar value of the real thing, fakes abound.
Sharps Shooter
Member
I'm wondering about the math. How old is the friend whose grandfather bought a 1st generation Colt SAA and served with Teddy Roosevelt in the army? I'm 57, and if my own grandfather would have served with Teddy Roosevelt, my grandfather would have been all of 13 years old at the time - the Spanish American war was in 1898.
I'm not saying it's impossible. I feel it's unlikely though. I think the friend is a bit confused.
I'm not saying it's impossible. I feel it's unlikely though. I think the friend is a bit confused.
I thought of that, and again it's unlikely but not impossible. My father was born in 1898, so his father (my grandfather) could have easily served in the Spanish-American War.
But he didn't, which might have been a good thing for me ...
But he didn't, which might have been a good thing for me ...
Thank you for your replies. I will probably see my friend again within a month and will try to get more info. When I talked to him last I told him I would post a question about his Colt to see what it might be worth. My friend said he didn’t care what it was worth because he would not sell it because this has been handed down to him through his family. After hearing that it was new in the box and unfired I told him that it might be worth a lot and I became curious to its value. According to my friend it is in a safety deposit box and will remain with him to be passed on to his family.
Keeping it in a safety deposit box is probably a good idea if it's genuine. However he should remove it long enough to have some good photographs taken, and record the basic details (caliber, No. shots, barrel length, style grips and finish - along with the serial number - for his records. That way he can "display" the gun with the photographs, but keep the real thing safe.
He also needs to have a correct, current value. Otherwise it may get passed on to someone who is ignorent of the truth, and sells it for a fraction of its worth.
He also needs to have a correct, current value. Otherwise it may get passed on to someone who is ignorent of the truth, and sells it for a fraction of its worth.
SASS#23149
Member
danger,will robinson!!!
IF it truly is NIB ,don't turn the cylinder or even open the loading gate if you hadn't already.That is IF he was going to sell it.A nib,unturned gun would bring a small fortune,even a turned and fired one WITH THE BOX is worth big bucks!!!
The box would bring a sizable sum itself.
Pleeze,oh pleeze don't tell us it's a 2 digit serial number...or LESS.
IF it truly is NIB ,don't turn the cylinder or even open the loading gate if you hadn't already.That is IF he was going to sell it.A nib,unturned gun would bring a small fortune,even a turned and fired one WITH THE BOX is worth big bucks!!!
The box would bring a sizable sum itself.
Pleeze,oh pleeze don't tell us it's a 2 digit serial number...or LESS.
BluesBear
member
Now I ain't gonna say impossible (even though thats exactly what I'm thinking it) but I will say highly improbable. The chances of winning the lottery are better.
Now why in the heck would he do that? Why take a personally owned .44 that you couldn't get ammo for on campaign when you have a personally owned .45 that you could get ammo for? Unless it was a .44-40 it would be noticably less powerful.
I was born in 1955, by father was born in 1910 and his father was born in 1882. So it is possible for someone living to have a grandfather who walked up San Juan Hill after the old Bull Moose.
I'd be donating it to the Cody Museum thereby imortalizing myself and my Grandfather.
But then I am always doubtful of people who say they have such and such rare gun but then never seem to have access to either it or even a photograph of it.
Father Knows Best
Member
I'm with BluesBear. Color me skeptical.
I've got a week's pay that says it doesn't exist, or at least that it is not as advertised. If it is truly a new-in-box SAA, it is no earlier than a second gen.
I've got a week's pay that says it doesn't exist, or at least that it is not as advertised. If it is truly a new-in-box SAA, it is no earlier than a second gen.
While the Old Fuff is skeptical, he isn't making any bets, because on several occasions he has handled 19th century Colt Single Actions that were indeed in like-new condition, and in their original boxes. The same is true of a number of Smith & Wesson revolvers pre-dating 1898. Indeed, his collection includes a S&W that is probably unfired, and in its box - dating from about 1910. Obviously another gun made only 12 years earlier could still be around, and in the same condition.
Let us not rush to judgment, but rather wait and see what might turn up ..
because on several occasions he has handled 19th century Colt Single Actions that were indeed in like-new condition, and in their original boxes. The same is true of a number of Smith & Wesson revolvers pre-dating 1898. Indeed, his collection includes a S&W that is probably unfired, and in its box - dating from about 1910. Obviously another gun made only 12 years earlier could still be around, and in the same condition.Let us not rush to judgment, but rather wait and see what might turn up ..
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