Cornhusker77
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Old Colt, can anybody tell me about it?
- Thread starter Cornhusker77
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Arkansas Paul
Member
Looks to be in pretty good condition. Some of the original finish appears to be on the gun and there are no glaring problems.
I'm no expert but from what I see on the NRA's museum site, it was made around 1899. There were 38,240 of them made. The caliber was introduced in the SAA in 1884.
(All of this info is found here).
http://www.nramuseum.com/media/940941/serialization-date of manufacture.pdf
Here is one to give you a starting point. Now the one you pictured won't be worth what this one is, as the one on Gunbroker is nearly mint condition, but it will let you know something anyway.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=414949877
There will be some things that will effect the value.
- Do the serial numbers match?
- Is the bore nice and shiny?
- Is there any historical significance?
I'm no expert but from what I see on the NRA's museum site, it was made around 1899. There were 38,240 of them made. The caliber was introduced in the SAA in 1884.
(All of this info is found here).
http://www.nramuseum.com/media/940941/serialization-date of manufacture.pdf
Here is one to give you a starting point. Now the one you pictured won't be worth what this one is, as the one on Gunbroker is nearly mint condition, but it will let you know something anyway.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=414949877
There will be some things that will effect the value.
- Do the serial numbers match?
- Is the bore nice and shiny?
- Is there any historical significance?
Last edited:
Willie Sutton
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If she's not hearing numbers with 4 digits starting with at least a "2" she's being ripped off.
There's not enough information on caliber, etc., to be sure of any value, but it's *valuable* and should be evaluated by someone who knows what they are doing (and who doesn't want to buy it, that pesky conflict of interest thing and all...).
Willie
.
There's not enough information on caliber, etc., to be sure of any value, but it's *valuable* and should be evaluated by someone who knows what they are doing (and who doesn't want to buy it, that pesky conflict of interest thing and all...).
Willie
.
OP
OP
Cornhusker77
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the caliber is 32 WCF (32-20?)
I don't know about the bore, I have just seen pictures
The patent dates are SEPT. 19, 1871, JULY 2, 72 and JAN. 19, 75
I don't know about the bore, I have just seen pictures
The patent dates are SEPT. 19, 1871, JULY 2, 72 and JAN. 19, 75
That's actually a nice piece and a great example of the Colt SAA. It should sell for $3000-$4000 easily.
The .32-20 Winchester, also known as the .32 WCF (Winchester center fire), was the first small-game lever-action cartridge that Winchester produced.
It was initially introduced as a black-powder cartridge in 1882 for small-game, varmint hunting, and deer.
Colt produced a single-action pistol chambered for this cartridge a few years later, the Colt SAA Army.
The name .32-20 refers to the .32-inch-diameter (8.1 mm) bullet and standard black-powder charge of 20 grains (1.3 g).
The .32-20 cartridge is getting more and more scarce.
Not that that pistol would be a daily plinker, but it would be nice to have a few boxes on hand.
-Mike
Colt SAA at gunsinternational.com for value comparison....
Here's a pic of a 1918 SAA in .32-20 off Wikipedia for comparison....
Ventura always seems to have ammo on hand: Black-Hills 32-20 Winchester-115gr-50-rounds
The .32-20 Winchester, also known as the .32 WCF (Winchester center fire), was the first small-game lever-action cartridge that Winchester produced.
It was initially introduced as a black-powder cartridge in 1882 for small-game, varmint hunting, and deer.
Colt produced a single-action pistol chambered for this cartridge a few years later, the Colt SAA Army.
The name .32-20 refers to the .32-inch-diameter (8.1 mm) bullet and standard black-powder charge of 20 grains (1.3 g).
The .32-20 cartridge is getting more and more scarce.
Not that that pistol would be a daily plinker, but it would be nice to have a few boxes on hand.
-Mike
Colt SAA at gunsinternational.com for value comparison....
Here's a pic of a 1918 SAA in .32-20 off Wikipedia for comparison....
Ventura always seems to have ammo on hand: Black-Hills 32-20 Winchester-115gr-50-rounds
Last edited:
Arkansas Paul
Member
I was reading the caliber wrong. I was reading it as .38 WCF.
The date it was introduced in the SAA is the same as the .38 WCF but there were a few less made.
The date it was introduced in the SAA is the same as the .38 WCF but there were a few less made.
BSA1
member
The 32 WCF aka 32-20 was the fourth most popular chamber in the Colt SAA (behind the 45 Colt, 44-40 and 38-40). It was the most popular chambering in the Colt Bisley. Serial # 1918xx was manufactured about 1900. This was the same year Colt started building the SAA to handle smokeless powder.
The 32-20 is an outstanding target round and hunting round although by today’s standards it is too small for deer. It’s great for use on skunks and coyotes.
It appears to me that the gun is still showing casehardening color on the frame. Most Colts this old the case color has faded to silver. It shows strong bluing with signs of holster wear. The front bottom of the grips show wear but they don’t look to be cracked.
I would agree that this gun should easily go for $3,500 - $4,000 dollar range.
The 32-20 is an outstanding target round and hunting round although by today’s standards it is too small for deer. It’s great for use on skunks and coyotes.
It appears to me that the gun is still showing casehardening color on the frame. Most Colts this old the case color has faded to silver. It shows strong bluing with signs of holster wear. The front bottom of the grips show wear but they don’t look to be cracked.
I would agree that this gun should easily go for $3,500 - $4,000 dollar range.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I think some of the value estimates might be a little optimistic. I would say closer to $2500-$3000.
OP
OP
Cornhusker77
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Thanks for the info guys
I know one thing, I couldn't afford it, but hopefully the interested party can
I know one thing, I couldn't afford it, but hopefully the interested party can
Arkansas Paul
Member
I'd do like Craig said.
I'd start at $3k or $3500 and let them haggle you down to $2500.
I certainly don't think I'd take less than that.
I'd start at $3k or $3500 and let them haggle you down to $2500.
I certainly don't think I'd take less than that.
I personally wouldn't sell it for less than $5000. If she doesn't need the money, she shouldn't sell it at all. That should be passed to her heir(s).
If some third party is hounding her to sell it, he likely has an ulterior motive like reselling for a profit. I'd price it high enough to drive him away, if not just flat out refuse to sell it to him.
I vote for a professional appraisal, then double that. I've got this thing about charlatans weaseling old folks into selling their property for pennies so that they can profit from it. He'd have to sell a kidney to get that Colt away from ME!
If some third party is hounding her to sell it, he likely has an ulterior motive like reselling for a profit. I'd price it high enough to drive him away, if not just flat out refuse to sell it to him.
I vote for a professional appraisal, then double that. I've got this thing about charlatans weaseling old folks into selling their property for pennies so that they can profit from it. He'd have to sell a kidney to get that Colt away from ME!
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It ain't worth five grand.
I'd stick it on Gunbroker with PLENTY of good pics, set the reserve price for $2500 and see how far it goes. If this prospective buyer is not one she would want to cut some slack, he can bid on it like everybody else.
I'd stick it on Gunbroker with PLENTY of good pics, set the reserve price for $2500 and see how far it goes. If this prospective buyer is not one she would want to cut some slack, he can bid on it like everybody else.
Arkansas Paul
Member
From what I can see here no one is trying to weasel anyone out of anything for pennies. If they were, I would certainly agree with you.
And I agree that it would take a lot to get it from me as well. A Gen 1 SAA that could be a shooter is one of my bucket list guns, so if I had it I wouldn't sell it even at market value. I'd rather have the Colt. The Gen 1s aren't going anywhere but up in value.
BSA1
member
Pooh on $2,500.
New production Colts are going for $ 1,500.00.
This gun has color in the case hardening with blue finish remaining and no pits.
New production Colts are going for $ 1,500.00.
This gun has color in the case hardening with blue finish remaining and no pits.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I've seen `em with seven figure price tags but what does that mean? Nothing.
There is the price range that speculators and unscrupulous dealers will price their old Colt's at in the hopes that some ignorant soul will come along with money and no knowledge. Then there's the price range that someone who actually knows about such things will pay. I give this recent discussion on Colt Forum as an example.
http://www.coltforum.com/forums/single-action-army/77235-need-some-feedback-saa.html
For those not wanting to venture elsewhere, it is a 1st generation SAA in similar condition and the consensus among the Colt collectors is that it's about $500 over priced at $2999. The sixgun in question here is a very nice example but it also lacks its original grips and like I've been saying, $2500-$3000 is about what a collector or knowledgeable shooter will pay for it. If you want to hold out for more from somebody who doesn't know any better, that's fine but it ain't worth five grand.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Gun-..._a67a11ff&WT.mc_id=al40661&rid=12&WT.tsrc=AFF
BSA1
member
Are these the same Colt collectors that are doing you a favor by taking that old Colt off your hands for $2,500?
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Oh please, Cabela's is always over-priced on their guns and the asking price is a long way from your wild guess.
I think $3000 is in the ballpark. The overall condition is pretty good, the screws have not been messed with and the trigger is in the right place, important things to look for in an SAA. Someone might pay more, and that would be good for the seller, but three G's is a fair price.
Jim
Jim
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