Sagerider Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I have a neighbor who is considering the sale of a Colt SAA. He says he has been offered and refused $9000 and I have no reason to doubt this claim. A description may explain the refusal. This Colt was made in the 1890's with a black powder frame and 7 1/2 in barrel. The caliber is 45 Colt. The pistol has two modifications that appear to have been professionally done and may have been done by Colt, if that is possible. The first is the front sight. Normal height and thickness but straightened to vertical in the real rather than slanted. A small square dot is added at the top of the blade (like a dot but square). The rear sight groove appears correct but the hammer end of the groove is flat and approximately 1/2 inch wide (picture the appearance of a rear target sight). The entire surface is highly engraved with the brands of famous cattle ranches of the southwest. And the pistol is silver, not nickel, plated. The grips appear to be solid silver (neighbor says Spanish silver) and highly engraved as well. The silver plate is very tarnished due to years of storage. My neighbor has asked if I know anyone who is qualified to give a professional appraisal. My first thought was Cabelas in the Phoenix area and he had already gone there and was told $10000 minimum and no idea of top end for the right buyer. Anyone have any suggestions for a professional appraisal for value and suggestions for cleaning? I don't think location for appraisal is of any concern to the owner if the correct appraiser is in some other location other than AZ. Thanks for the advice. Sagerider By the way, if I had a spare $10,000 or so, I might try to buy this Colt and shoot it. But the sparkle would dazzle all you hot shooters and you might go and throw lead all over the place. That could be hazardous so I'll pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Dude, SASS # 51223 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 The Arizona Thumber, Bob James would be my choice. And he is right here in the Phoenix area. Bob is the Colt specialist for our area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jake1001 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 This place is here in Orange County Calif and sell Multi Millions of dollars each year for over 40 years. Little Johns Auctions know their Colts. http://www.littlejohnsauctionservice.com/ Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kajun Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Pictures please....if we can't buy it the least we can do is drool over it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Brules Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 A Colt letter would be one way to determine (to some level of certainty, anyway) what, if anything, Colt actually had to do with the alterations to the gun. The letter should tell you if it was originally shipped in-the-white, too, for engraving. My guess is that the front and rear sight work is not of Colt origin. The engraving might be typical of an old, period engraver (Colt factory? Some local guy of the period?) Spanish silver grips would mean that the metal is of treasure trove origin and contains (approximately) 5% gold, <1% platinum, maybe another fractional percent copper and the rest silver. Has your neighbor pulled the grips to see if there's any document stashed under them and what may be scratched, etched or engraved on the flip sides? He must have.....so, what did he find? An appraisal? I think it will take a real specialist to appraise something like this. The gun sounds very interesting and lots of fun. Do you have or can you get and post photos of this old gun for us to see? Cat Brules Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Don't care what it's worth..... GET SOME PICTURES..........PLEASE LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagerider Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 OK pards, I'm to receive a picture tomorrow. How I post it is another question. As a second question, when the heck is my avatar on this new SASS format? Tomorrow. Sagerider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentleman Jack Daniels Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 ABOVE ALL.......Be sure and tell him DO NOT EVER NEVER TRY TO CLEAN OR POLISH IT!!!!!!!!! GJD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manatee Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Cattle brand engraving. Didn't Sears Roebuck have that done for a couple of their custom Colts way back when? The name Cole Agee pops up from the 1930's. Then there is this one.... http://jamesdjulia.com/auctions/view_lot_info.asp?lot=1382-331 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagerider Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Pards, I have some pictures for posting if I can get Photobucket and the Wire to cooperate. Sagerider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geronimo Jim SASS # 21775 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I second Bob James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagerider Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 No Joy! Will try again. Sagerider 1.http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/paledun/library/?page=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RHL Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I'd love to see the pics but don't know how to post either. USFA had a cattle brands special issue years back, they were awesome looking, so i can only imagine these with silver grips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sagerider Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Well even the uneducated are able to follow directions every now and then. The pictures are posted. http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/paledun/library/?page=1 Sagerider Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellowhouse Sam # 25171 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chance Derringer, SASS #19985 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 + 3 for Bob James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 WOW!! LG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manatee Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Well, first off, a letter from Colt is mandatory. Second, you need some professional fotos of the firearm. Third, there are a number of high end auction houses who the pictures should be sent to. From there a value can be assessed. i'd say from the very grainy pictures that your friend might have a real HonestToGod treasure there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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