BigBlueEyedDevil
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My uncle gave me a Colt 38 Super Auto. It came complete with a .22 conversion. The .22 kit has a slide stop, slide, barrel, extractor and magazine.
Here are the pictures.
Here are the pictures.
Is my Colt .38 super worth anything? Pics Inside--------->
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BigBlueEyedDevil
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Black Majik
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Take it out to the range, if it runs great... you'll realize that the Colt that was given to you by another family member is "priceless".
Gotta give congrats to ya on a fine looking Colt though. That's a beauty.
(Sorry it wasn't quite the answer you were looking for)
You might wanna give a little bit more infor, such as when it was made and such. The condition you would rate it, how it performs. Then, someone here might be able to give a better idea of how much that pistol is worth.
Good luck.
Gotta give congrats to ya on a fine looking Colt though. That's a beauty.
(Sorry it wasn't quite the answer you were looking for)
You might wanna give a little bit more infor, such as when it was made and such. The condition you would rate it, how it performs. Then, someone here might be able to give a better idea of how much that pistol is worth.
Good luck.
Jim Watson
Member
If the serial number is in the 20,000 range as it appears to be, it is a pre WW II .38 Super. (The last Super before Colt went over to wartime production of .45s was near 37,000.) The .22 conversion has the old style adjustable sight and is very likely prewar, also. In its factory box, too. The outfit in UNALTERED condition is worth a good deal of money, two or three grand in the Blue Book. I'll look at some ads and see what the speculators are asking for them.
Unaltered. Don't be tempted to have a nice old piece like this refinished or customized. If you don't like the way it shoots buy something new. Any alteration could cut its dollar value in half.
Not to mention the family connection which would be worth a lot to me.
Unaltered. Don't be tempted to have a nice old piece like this refinished or customized. If you don't like the way it shoots buy something new. Any alteration could cut its dollar value in half.
Not to mention the family connection which would be worth a lot to me.
BigBlueEyedDevil
Member
Serial number is 71xxx. Any idea as to what year it would be?
Yes, Big Blue. The serial number indicates that it’s an early post World War Two gun, made in 1948. I think the grips have been replaced, but correct ones are available and inexpensive. The .22 Conversion Unit was made about the same time and may have been purchased with the gun. In their present condition(s) both are valuable collector’s items as well as good shooters. I would strongly advise that other then possibly changing the grips you don’t make any alterations to either. My off-hand estimate would value the whole setup at between $1,200 to $1,500 dollars, perhaps more to the “right party.â€
But I hope you keep them in the family.
But I hope you keep them in the family.
BigBlueEyedDevil
Member
Thanks for the reply old fluff. What do the original grips look like? Should I just look at a mil-spec SA??
They were made out of a brown plastic called "Coltwood" and looked much like the ones on the gun except there was a Colt Pony logo molded into the upper-middle part. Most people didn't like them and replaced them with something else. The only reason to get a pair (often found at gun shows in someone's junk box) is if you want to return the gun so that it is exactly as original. I wouldn't be suprised if someone on this forum had and extra pair.
Edited to add: I think the grips on the gun are WW-2/USGI.
Edited to add: I think the grips on the gun are WW-2/USGI.
Josey
member
RE: the plastic grips that Colt used was an early phenolic plastic resin material. They had a very bad habit of "curling". Most people replaced them with USGI surplus grips. I agree completely with Old Fuff regarding the price and NOT shooting it. I suggest a NRM Colt or Rock Island Arms 45. The RIA 45 is the closest to a genuine USGI 45 that I have seen. Springfield has quality control problems and I would not suggest buying one.
Mr. Mysterious
Member
How long has it been in the family?
BigBlueEyedDevil
Member
Was given to my Uncle by my grandpa's brother. So been quite a while. BIG BLUE
Andrew Wyatt
Member
Those people who tell you to not to shoot it are wrong, IMHO.
It was given to you by a family member and has a lot of family history. that's even more reason to shoot it. dollar values mean nothing if you're not going to sell it.
It was given to you by a family member and has a lot of family history. that's even more reason to shoot it. dollar values mean nothing if you're not going to sell it.
Coltwood grips tend to crack over time. I'd bet that is worth a pretty penny, just based on the going prices for a .38 Super on Guns America.
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BluesBear
member
That Super .38 will headspace on the cartridge RIM instead of the mouth.
They're a little persnickity accuracy wise. If it was mine and i wanted to shoot it I would get a Bar-Sto barrel for it that headspaced on the case mouth for better accuracy. And keep the original barrel pristine for the value.
They're a little persnickity accuracy wise. If it was mine and i wanted to shoot it I would get a Bar-Sto barrel for it that headspaced on the case mouth for better accuracy. And keep the original barrel pristine for the value.
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