New pretty and the dilemma that came with it

[C Younger]

I received this stainless Colt 1860 2nd gen in the mail today. When I bought it, it was listed as “very good” condition. What I received is like new and I’d be pretty safe in assuming it hasn’t been fired, though there is some evidence that the cylinder has been turned. I had a feeling it would be in better than advertised condition since the yellow tag was still hanging off the trigger guard. The box matches and all manuals and paperwork are still sealed in plastic. I’m pretty sure the factory oil is still coating the thing since it’s now a little sticky (like old oil gets). I paid $715 including shipping and know that if it really is unfired it could be worth much more than that.
The dilemma: I’m not much of a collector, so do I shoot the thing and decrease its value, or put it in the back of the safe?
What say you?

 

[.38 Special]

The one thing I wouldn't do myself is just put it away. All my guns get shot, and if that's a gun I'd always wanted, I'd shoot it.

If, though, I'd be just as happy with an Italian gun - and had good reason to believe the Colt is worth much more than $715 (I honestly don't know) - then I'd sell it.

 

[Zulch]

C. Younger, It sure is a beauty. I think I would have to shoot it. Sure is nice one you got there.

 

[desmobob]

Shoot that beauty! I don't have any safe queens; even my Colt SAA from the custom shop gets fired.

 

[44 Dave]

2nd gens. were made to be looked at, get a later Uberti or Pietta to shoot. They have better internal parts and fitting.

 

[LonesomePigeon]

At $715 you got it at a very low price. It's probably worth about $1,000 if it really is new in the box with all the paper work. If you shoot it it will still be worth about $700 as long as you take good care of it.

 

[Captain*kirk]

Your caIl. If you have no intention of selling it, don't fret over the value. Shoot it and enjoy it. Why worry about the perceived value for the guy who ends up with it after you're gone?

 

[C Younger]

2nd gens. were made to be looked at, get a later Uberti or Pietta to shoot. They have better internal parts and fitting.

I’ve got an 1860 army Pietta that I bought about six years ago. Fun to shoot and has held up great. I can’t say as though the fit is any better (or worse for that matter) than the Colt. I did have to make some mods for it to fire reliably.

 

[C Younger]

At $715 you got it at a very low price. It's probably worth about $1,000 if it really is new in the box with all the paper work. If you shoot it it will still be worth about $700 as long as you take good care of it.

That’s about where I’m at in my thinking. I’ve seen used ones in the $700-$800 range. Since it appears the cylinder has been turned, I’m not sure how that affects the value. I think my main concern with actually shooting it, is breaking an internal part or buggering up a screw trying to take it apart for cleaning.

 

[woodnbow]

I’d shoot it. But I’m not wealthy enough to have any guns too valuable to shoot.

I’ve been lucky with the second generation Colts. I think two of a dozen or so haven’t been good enough to keep as shooters. The rest have been fine and better than the Italian replicas of that time period. They’re closer dimensionally to the genuine article as well.

Wrt buggering up a screw, do you have gunsmiths screwdrivers? Go carefully. But really there’s no need to take any screws out of the gun for at least a year or so…

Grab a cheap plastic syringe and a tube of Mobil One Synthetic grease, pump the interior of your pistol full of the grease, clean, load and fire the gun. Have fun with it! When you get home, clean the bore, cylinder and exterior of the gun with a little bit of water, lots of wet patches and then a damp cloth and an old toothbrush, dry it and put it up until next time. If you’re so inclined, you could use a small steam cleaner and clean the cylinder, bore and exposed surfaces so well that nobody could tell it’s been fired. Stainless steel is pretty great that way.

 

[Fingers McGee]

Since you are not a collector, IMHO, shoot it and enjoy yourself

 

[dave951]

Since it's a "real" Colt 2ng gen unfired, I wouldn't shoot it. Get a repop for that.

 

[desidog]

Stainless 1860 is one of my grail guns. I got my other, a 1860/1960 Centaure, a while back. I haven't shot my 1860 Pietta's eversince. IF you have buyers remorse, I'll take it off your hands!

/I'd shoot it.

 

[C Younger]

Stainless 1860 is one of my grail guns. I got my other, a 1860/1960 Centaure, a while back. I haven't shot my 1860 Pietta's eversince. IF you have buyers remorse, I'll take it off your hands!

/I'd shoot it.

There’s one on Gunbroker right now with a buy now of $875.

 

[C Younger]

There’s one on Gunbroker right now with a buy now of $875.

And it sold already. I went back and looked at the pictures and saw that the serial was consecutive to mine. What are the odds? Oh well.

 

[bannockburn]

C Younger

I have a Colt Gen. 3 Model 1860 that I have never fired. I got it as a gift many years ago and I have kept it more as a collectible that I can enjoy having without the desire to shoot it.

Besides that's what I have a Pieta Model 1860 for!

 

[woodnbow]

 

[C Younger]

I like his videos

 

[Zulch]

C Younger

I have a Colt Gen. 3 Model 1860 that I have never fired. I got it as a gift many years ago and I have kept it more as a collectible that I can enjoy having without the desire to shoot it.

Besides that's what I have a Pieta Model 1860 for!
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That 3d Gen Colt is a beauty bannockburn!! thanks for posting the picture.

 

[bannockburn]

Zulch

You're more than welcome!

As far back as I can remember I have always loved the stylish design and graceful lines of the Colt Model 1860.

 

[45 Dragoon]

Well, if they were built to spec, they screwed up. All of them I've ever worked on have had short arbors. I have 8 + in the shop and they all have short arbors. That'll change of course . . .

Mike

 

[Zulch]

Zulch

You're more than welcome!

As far back as I can remember I have always loved the stylish design and graceful lines of the Colt Model 1860.
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Stunning. I like the "text stamp free" barrel too. Nice and clean it is.

 

[45 Dragoon]

A new thread just popped up about "wedges" asking "what's the purpose" and "how far". It made me think about this thread dealing with 2nd and 3rd gen Colts. I know I am pretty rough on them but then again, I've worked on a LOTTTT of um and across the board they are simply the hardest bunch to get to a "high mechanical state". It doesn't mean I don't like them and I've said so many times.
My point is, if nothing else is done to one of these Colts, the one most important " fix" one could do is to correct the arbor length. The other differences are for another thread but since the "wedge thing" came up I thought of this thread.

Mike

 

[C Younger]

Zulch

You're more than welcome!

As far back as I can remember I have always loved the stylish design and graceful lines of the Colt Model 1860.
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It took me a while to warm up to the looks of the open top. Now, however, I find the 1860 to be about the most beautiful handgun ever made. It’s interesting how tastes change over the years.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Okay, I'll admit to being uncertain about this; watched the video, which was fun and informative.
My understanding; the earliest 2nd generation 'Colts' were mostly made here, and will legitimately letter as a Colt. I have a '52 Navy; gun show find, never fired. It would letter as an actual Colt.
Again, my understanding, later 2nd gens are mostly made across the pond, and won't letter. There is perhaps a difference in nomenclature that I'm ignoring.
Which takes us back to the OP's question; would his gun letter?
And if I'm wrong about this, certainly feel free to sort me out.
Moon