Is this Colt worth it?

[Steelharp]

Help, been out pawn shoppin' again... ran across a Colt Stagecoach .22 tube fed rifle. Looks really cool, has a few scratches on the stock, but all in all looks fine. It was made in 1970. I can get it for $225. What do you think? Is it worth it?

Mikey D...

 

[gun-fucious]

seems like a deal compared to this one:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976311254.htm

Colt Stagecoach Carbine

Category: Colt Rifles - Modern GA#: 976311254
Model: Colt Stagecoach Carbine Seller #:
Price: $525.00 Seller: Old Dave's/David D. Rotman
Return Policy: 3 Days
Shipping Terms: Actual Cost
FFL Dealer
Additional Seller Information
store hours 6:30PM to 9PM T/TH In business for 13yrs Access to antique Colts and Many in Stock.
(See boxes below to contact)
Description: Colt Stagecoach saddle ring carbine .22 semi-auto in very good condition. s/n SC0886. Ship to FFL only. Buyer pays $15 shipping.

 

[Old Fuff]

Do you want it as a shooter or a collectable? I'd say as a shooter it's overpriced. It didn't have a particularly outstanding reputation when it was being made. For that kind of money you could do better with a Ruger 10/22.

As a collectable you might come out, but very few people collect Colt .22 rifles. In any case a gun that's for sale is only worth what someone will pay you for it. I'd think long and hard about this one.

 

[Steelharp]

Old Fuff, I'm not a collector, I would just shoot it. What sort of problems did they have?

Thanks, Mikey D...

 

[Old Fuff]

Colt didn't make the gun, they bought it from someone else and put their name on it. Like many .22 tubeular-magazine rifles you can get feeding jams. Now if the rifle was priced at around $100.00 or less it might be worth taking a chance on it for a shooter. But for the asking price you can get a new Ruger 10/22 which is a lot better gun, and likely for less money. If shooting is you're game, not collecting Colt's I'd look around a bit.

 

[Steelharp]

Old Fuff, I e-mailed my friend Cindy at Colt. This was her reply:

"According to "The Book of Colt Firearms" by R.L. Wilson (page 513) the
Stagecoach was made at the Colt factory. Some of Colt's bolt action
rifles were not made in the factory, however the auto loaders were."

Guess it's a Hartford product...

Mikey D...

 

[Old Fuff]

I think you really, really want this rifle, and are looking for an excuse to buy it. This is O. K. and there is nothing wrong with that. I think the truth of the matter is that it was *assembled* at the Colt factory with parts obtained elsewhere. Put simply, the market wasn't big enough to justify the cost of tooling from scratch. Hint: Just for grins you should look at a picture of High Standard's model 34 (a.k.a. JC Higgins model 583.3403).

If you have the $225.00 and the seller won't come down, go buy it. It may work out fine, in which case you will be a winner.

Tell 'um the "Old Fuff" sent you.

 

[Steelharp]

Old Fuff, thanks; I appreciate it. I'm not sure I really, really want it; I have a weakness for Colt's because my great Uncle Al Bradlaw used to work at Colt's as a gunsmith from 1936 to 45. I guess I'm looking for a reason NOT to buy it...

Mikey D...

 

[Old Fuff]

I have a weakness for Colt's too - that is REAL Colts. Real Colts were originally designed by and manufactured by Colt. Before World War Two all of the parts that went into a Colt were made "in house." (Source: 1936 Colt catalog). Colt handguns were impecably crafted from the finest steels available. A decade after World War Two the bean-counter's took over. All they were interested in was the bottom line on a financial statement.

By all means collect Colts. Not all of them are expensive. Last week I picked up a .38 Police Positive in reasonably good shape for far less then that rifle's asking price. "Real" Colts are well worth having. On that you can bet you're bottom dollar.