Help several of us price this Colt

[Jim PHL]

I've offered a Colt Police Positive Special in the Buy, Sell Trade Forum, packaged with a Kel-Tec. I was mainly interested in a two-for-one trade but I've had several offers to buy the Colt outright. I've requested help with value on other boards and have never really gotten a straight answer. Most replies are along the lines of: "Don't sell it, you'll regret it later". That's part of the reason I wanted to trade. If I sell it, I risk pi$$ing the cash away on food or utilities or other unimportant things and end up with nothing to show for it. My thought is if I trade it for another gun I like better, then I'll never regret it!

Mfr date is around 1912-1913. Ser #74xxx. Finish is well worn but "in a good way" and yes, she's a shooter. Small chip missing from the original grips. I offered to include an old style duty holster that attaches onto a belt. Two rows of cartridge loops above a swivel. Holster hangs from the swivel. I can e-mail pics but if someone has even a rough idea to start with it might help.

 

[JV_2108]

From the little I've seen of Colt pricing, it's not consistent with what's in the pricing guides, though they can be a reference (e.g., Blue Book of Gun Values), which would list this gun at anywhere from $155 at a 10% condition to $650 as NIB. Trick is that since they're no longer manufactured and people like to shoot them, you have collectors and shooters competing for guns, and those prices are probably very low.

A couple of thoughts on how to estimate the price, given the situation:

1. Get a local, reputable gunshop to do an appraisal.
2. Follow prices on gunsamerica and gunbroker till you have a sense of what the market's doing today.

And, if you really want to sell it without having to determine the value/learn about the gun, why not sell it on gunbroker at auction? Highest bidder wins, and you don't have to think about it. My guess is that in learning about it, you may change your mind and decide to keep it.

Just make sure that if you do sell it you apply the funds to something other than rent or groceries. After all, guns are clearly more important than food and shelter.

Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[thatguy]

I sold the same gun made in 1923 last year for $150. I think that unless it's in truly fine collectable condition they really aren't worth all that much. I see them on the gun auction sites at $150-$200 quite frequently.

Search the auctions on auctionarms.com and gunbroker.com to get an idea of the market on these.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

The Colt Police Positive is not one of Colt's more collectible old guns, but there is still some interest. I agree the Blue Book doesn't always seem to be accurate when it comes to the actual selling price of old Colts.

You think your gun is in the $200-300 dollar range, but it is just going to depend on the right person coming along.